Beef Buzz News
Protect the Harvest is Working to Protect Agriculture in the U.S.
Tue, 21 Dec 2021 10:54:01 CST
Scientists have evidence that humans have been practicing animal husbandry since at least the Neolithic Revolution, about 10,000 years ago. Fast forward to present day, there are people in the U.S. who think animal agriculture should stop. The folks at Protect the Harvest (PTH) dedicate their lives to inform, educate, protect and respond on behalf of the entire agriculture community.
As the global pandemic has slowed life down for many, more free time has translated into a rise in animal rights extremist group activity in the last year-and-a-half. That's why KC Sheperd, associate director for Radio Oklahoma Ag Network, spoke with Mike Siemens, a member of the Board of Directors for PTH, about the role the organization plays for the agriculture industry.
"We have put together an organization that goes out and supports all aspects of agriculture - To push back and educate the public on what the activist groups are doing to the industry," Siemens said. "I have been involved in the animal-welfare arena for about 20 years now, and there are a lot of misconceptions out there."
He pointed out that many activist groups may look or sound harmless at first glance. Through positive names and clever marketing, these extreme groups gain public support to push the vegan agenda, eliminate production of red meat and eliminate ownership of animals, he added.
"It is our moral responsibility to make sure the general public realizes what they are up against in terms of having a safe and affordable food supply," Siemens said.
As the global population increases, food demand rises and cultivatable land decreases. According to the PTH website, by 2050, it is expected that the world's population will grow to nearly 9 billion; thus, increasing our need for food by more than 100%. That means 80% of the additional food required to meet demand in 2050 will need to come from land already under cultivation. The result is that our farmers and food producers must produce those higher yields using the same (or less) acreage than they use today while relying on fewer natural resources.
To make a real difference, Siemens said efforts must go beyond educating people.
"You have got to get in the game, participate and put the elbow grease in there to really push back, whether that is pushing back on legal initiatives, ballot initiatives or where it is uncomfortable for the general commodity groups," Siemens said. "Somebody has to do it. If not, the erosion will continue."
Click on the LISTEN BAR below to hear more from KC Sheperd and Mike Siemens as they talk about the threat animal rights extremist groups have on animal agriculture.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
Listen to KC's conversation with Dr. Siemens here.
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