Cattle raisers fear additional regulations might be added to Farm Bill

The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association would not feel left out if the 2012 Farm Bill mostly ignored it. While numerous special interest groups are jockeying for prime position in the multibillion dollar legislation, TSCRA members want lawmakers to ditch the part of the bill specifically aimed at them, the livestock section. "We would rather the government stay out of our business, and we would give up any kind of government support if they would," said TSCRA President Joe Parker Jr. of Byers. It's not just the government these ranchers want to keep from meddling in their business. They fear the livestock section provides ample opening for new regulations fostered by animal rights groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Humane Society of the United States. "We're concerned that groups like that have an agenda to put animal agriculture out of business, and they will go to great lengths to do that in the farm bill," said Jason Skaggs, TSCRA executive director of government and public affairs...more