Egg-producer groups vow to keep hen welfare legislation from passing

By DAN WHEAT

Capital Press

Opponents of federal standards for the welfare of egg-laying hens are trying to prevent a bill from being introduced, but an aide to Oregon Rep. Kurt Schrader says a bipartisan bill will still be proposed.

Schrader, a Democrat, intends to introduce the bill on behalf of United Egg Producers and the Humane Society of the United States before the end of January, said Chris Huckleberry, Schrader's legislative director.

The bill would require the nation's egg producers to switch to larger, enriched-colony cages for egg-laying hens over 15 to 18 years at a cost UEP has estimated at $4 billion. UEP represents 200 commercial egg farms and about 85 percent of the national production, Mitch Head, UEP spokesman, has said.

Several other large egg producers have formed another group, Egg Farmers of America, to oppose the effort. They were joined by national beef, pork and turkey associations and the American Farm Bureau Federation, which fear it could lead to federal law regarding the care of other livestock.

"Our intent is to battle this across the board and make sure it is defeated if it's introduced. Right now our effort is to make sure it isn't introduced," said Colin Woodall, vice president of governmental affairs at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

The association is part of a coalition talking to Schrader to keep him from proceeding with the bill, Woodall said.

"We've found we have a lot of support in the House and Senate from members who think setting a precedent would be bad. Some have been asked to co-sponsor or sponsor the bill and decided not to," he said.

Huckleberry verified that potential co-sponsors were dissuaded but said Schrader intends to proceed and will have bipartisan co-sponsors.

Dave Warner, communications director of the National Pork Producers Council, said the organization has been fighting introduction of the bill and "will oppose it very vigorously" if it is introduced.

"We don't want the federal government telling us how to raise our animals. We said back in July that we didn't want their (HSUS-UEP) agreement codified into law," Warner said.

"Federal legislation is the proverbial camel's nose in the tent. There wouldn't be anything to stop HSUS from broadening that to dairy, pork or veal," he said.

"Protestations to the contrary are flat given that even at the press conference announcing the agreement (HSUS president Wayne) Pacelle was asked why enriched cages rather than free range, and he said this is a first step. So it sounds like they have even more business to do with the egg guys," Warner said.

Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the group is opposed to federal animal care regulations and is working with the coalition to do whatever it can to oppose the bill.

The American Farm Bureau and Oregon Farm Bureau tried to persuade Schrader not to introduce the bill, said Kelli Ludlum, American Farm Bureau director of congressional relations.

Sherrie Rosenblatt, vice president of marketing and communications for the National Turkey Federation, said that group is opposed to federal legislation, is monitoring the situation and will decide how active to get if a bill is introduced.

"We have good animal care practices that are scientifically based and written by veterinarians. We are confident that's enough without federal regulations," she said.

The Turkey Federation, Farm Bureau, Pork Producers, Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Farmers Union, American Sheep Industry Association, National Milk Producers Federation and Egg Farmers of America signed a Dec. 6 letter to U.S. House Agricultural Committee leaders opposing any bill.

Egg Farmers of America is a group of about a dozen egg producers formed to oppose the agreement. Member producers own about 50 million to 60 million egg-laying hens, or 20 percent of the national flock, but some members are not active, the agribusiness newspaper Feedstuffs reported Dec. 28.

Tyson Redpath, lobbyist with the Washington, D.C., firm of Russell & Barron, said Jan. 3 that he was no longer working for Egg Farmers. He said members come from states like Minnesota, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Kentucky. He said he believes the group and others will continue to vigorously oppose any egg-deal legislation.

Ken Klippen, executive director of governmental relations for Sparboe Farms of Litchfield, Minn., the nation's fifth-largest egg producer, said Sparboe is not a member of Egg Farmers but would not say if it ever was or answer other questions.

In a Nov. 23, ABC News story, the HSUS's Pacelle said Sparboe had lobbied against the HSUS-UEP deal. Sparboe lost major customers, including McDonald's and Target, following an ABC News investigation showing apparent animal abuse and unsanitary conditions in Sparboe facilities in three states, ABC reported Dec. 1.

Sparboe rejoined UEP and switched from opposing the HSUS-UEP agreement to supporting it, Feedstuffs reported Dec. 10.

Head, the UEP spokesman, said the group has been unable to find out who belongs to Egg Farmers, the group's size or status.

Paul Shapiro, HSUS Factory Farming Campaign senior director, also said he does not know who belongs to Egg Farmers.