“Ag-Gag” Bill Isn’t Just About Animals
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
BOISE, Idaho - It's expected the Idaho House will vote on the so-called "ag-gag" bill this week. Much attention has been focused on animal abuse at an Idaho dairy and how secret recordings can hurt agricultural operations.
However, Courtney Washburn, community conservation director, Idaho Conservation League, pointed to other disturbing details in the bill. For example, an "agricultural operation" can be a grazing allotment on public lands.
"We fear that someone could take a photo of an agricultural operation on public land and end up being charged under this bill," Washburn said.
The charge carries jail time and/or fines. She contended that the bill also would discourage reports and/or documentation of environmental violations, because it singles out banning recording of pesticide applications. Prepping land - such as tilling - also is listed as protected from recording without express permission from the farmer.
The bill's backers frame it as a private-property issue, and some proponents claim that organizations are "setting up" the animal-abuse scenarios, or that property was damaged.
Washburn pointed out that when this type of bill has been introduced in other states, it usually has been rejected because of doubts it would stand up in court and animal welfare concerns related to graphic images of abuse. However, she predicted Idaho will see this law make it to the books.
"It would criminalize the whistleblower, and we're concerned that that will deter workers on facilities from making complaints that they witnessed something like groundwater pollution," she said.
A similar law in Utah is being challenged in court. Washburn said the Utah law does not categorize public-lands grazing as an "agricultural operation," while the Idaho version does. Idaho's legislation already has Senate approval.
get more stories like this via email
United Nations experts are raising concerns about chemical giants DuPont and Chemours, saying they've violated human rights in North Carolina…
Social Issues
The long-delayed Farm Bill could benefit Virginia farmers by renewing funding for climate-smart investments, but it's been held up for months in …
Environment
Conservation groups say the Hawaiian Islands are on the leading edge of the fight to preserve endangered birds, since climate change and habitat loss …
Environment
April has been "Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month," but the pests don't know that. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it's the …
Health and Wellness
The 2024 Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium Public Conference kicks off Saturday, where industry experts and researchers will share the latest scientific …
Environment
Environmental groups say more should be done to protect people's health from what they call toxic, radioactive sludge. A court granted a temporary …