Right to Farm

[15444]

I don't think it is paranoia. It really depends on the scope of groups that we label as activists. Both the SPCA and ALF are activist groups, but their methods are very different. It is far worse in the US, but it will eventually come here.

I know of one local fellow, very nice guy, in his late 50's, farmer's son, who doesn't hold back and speaks his mind. He would like to see big operations of any kind, be it beef,dairy,grain, limited in size. No allowance for 400 cowherds, or 3000 acre grain farms. Take everything back to the way it was in the 50's/60's. Take land from those with too much and give it to those with none. Very socialist agenda where the state determines how and what you do. But can you imagine that way of thinking from someone who had a little fire behind them and wasn't afraid of the consequences?

[grassfarmer]

There are always people with different views to your own - some activists, some extremists but as long as you maintain a reasonable democracy the extremes don't get acted on.
Your guy might want to see farms return to 1950s type but he isn't able to force that on anyone. Same with ending animal agriculture in Canada - ain't going to happen.
With regimes like Zimbabwe these things, and worse, are a reality.
It's why we must always work at making our democracy function.

[DGoodrich]

If you think farmers know best how to care for livestock you should sit all day at a regular cattle sale at an auction market. You'll see all sorts of critters brought to town that should have been cared for better, or flat out euthanized at home and fed to the coyotes. But no, instead they try to get a few hundred dollars out of cripples, downers and disease carriers that should never enter the food system. Not all are like that, but I've seen a lot more than there should be.

[AmandaBrodhagen]

Grassfarmer – but what about animal rights groups sensationalizing a feedlot beef operation? You only mention cows’ grazing on lush pastures (a cow-calf operation). Not all feedlot setups are “pretty” compared to cattle out on grass.

[grassfarmer]

That's their problem if they want to raise animals in a confined feeding situation. I'm not standing up for that system.

[Cowcrazy100]

So you think a grass fed finish is the best option then? Is that really a realistic option in the Canadian context?