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Anti-ag activists step up social media attacks on farmers
The Animal Agriculture Alliance says the COVID-19 restrictions have changed the focus of anti-farming activists’ activities.
Hannah Thompson-Weeman says, “Now, we’re seeing a lot of them turn their efforts online because of the current restrictions on gatherings.”
Thompson-Weeman tells Brownfield producers need to pay close attention to social media sites, where the attacks have stepped up. “Specifically, dairy farmers have been attacked on their social media pages, nasty comments, a flood of messages from a bunch of people, comments on posts going back months, negative reviews, those are just a few examples.”
Thompson-Weeman says the one benefit to more online and less on-farm protesting is less property damage and improved biosecurity and safety for animals and producers. But she says farmers and ranchers need to watch more than Facebook and Twitter. She says, “Claim your farm’s name on pretty much every social media platform, even if you don’t plan on using it.” She says this prevents others from impersonating the farmer and sending false messages to the consumers on social media.
Thompson-Weeman says activists have also tried to blame animal agriculture for the coronavirus pandemic, which she says is baseless.
The Animal Agriculture Alliance says producers and livestock haulers must still be aware of in-person tactics including animal theft and harassing truck drivers.
