The following article first appeared in

Farmers Rally for Safe Farms

By Judy Brown, Regional Editor

(See also related story: Mink Ranchers Appeal for Help)

PLYMOUTH, WISCONSIN: Against a backdrop of the burned-out United Feeds mill across the street, more than 100 farmers participated August 26 in a Safe Farms Support Rally.

The rally was intended to show support for U.S. farmers in their efforts to ensure safe farms, said Teresa Platt, Coronado, Calif., Executive director of Fur Commission USA, an organization of more than 600 fox and mink farming operations.

"In California we are seeing things like cattle getting shot and fences cut. And this is not unusual with sabotage against ranchers," she said.

Asked what organizers hoped to accomplish in view of escalating attacks on farms and businesses associated with animal production, Ms. Platt said:

"I would like all the politicians out there to say that crime and attacks against hard-working farmers will not be tolerated anywhere in this country."

"We want safe farms and criminals who prey on farmers should be prosecuted. They have to be tracked effectively across state lines because they're traveling. We've got to get better at fighting this."

One way fur farmers hope to attack the problem is by signing on to the National Animal Interest Alliance's "Call for Action" which has demanded that the government commit resources to stop vandals preying on the livestock industry, medical research and anyone who is involved in animal and resource-based industries, Ms. Platt said. The alliance represents about 1,000 groups with a million members, she said.

She has testified before Senate Judiciary Committee in Congress, stating that many animal rights extremist organizations and individuals are engaging in conspiracy that has resulted in increased violence.

According to the Fur Farm Letter, four actions in August in Wisconsin and Michigan are the work of ALF (Animal Liberation Front) and ELF (Earth Liberation Front).

ALF claimed responsibility for the Kenosha attack in a statement from David Barbarash from Vancouver, according to the Fur Farm Letter.

About 4,000 mink were released August 3 from a Kenosha County farm. On August 7, vandals set fire to a fishing boat in the driveway of a veterinarian in Escanaba, Mich.

On the garage door, graffiti said: "Fur is Murder, ELF."

On August 9, the United Feed mink feed plant near Plymouth, was burned with losses estimated at $1.5 million.

About the same time, around 3 A.M., 3,000 mink were released at Gene Meyer's Fur Farm near Plymouth.

"Politics is about enough people saying we need something and our representatives responding," said Ms. Platt, who encouraged the Wisconsin farmers to contact Sen. Herb Kohl and Sen. Russ Feingold, who both are on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Attending the rally on his 74th birthday was Mel Blanke, president of United Feeds, who said the board had voted to rebuild and replace the torched feed mill. The company has 26 stockholders.

Third-generation mink farmer Dennis Preissner, New Holstein, called for stricter laws aimed at individuals who destroy property and animals.

"In Wisconsin, they can break into your farm three times and it's only a misdemeanor. They are very well schooled," Mr. Preissner said.

Steve Frye, a northern Illinois mink rancher, had 4,000 mink released on his farm. That resulted in a loss of about $500,000, he said, because breeding records were no good when mink could not be identified.

He hoped Congress could pressure the government to investigate the funding of organizations and individuals who carry out crimes against animal agriculture.

"I'd also like to see the non-profit status of these groups investigated to see where local cells of terrorism are getting their funding," Mr. Frye said.

These people are forcing their views on the American people, he said.

"Right now they are going about it by attacking farmers. They are going right to the source of food and clothing products," Mr. Frye said. "They are burning buildings, fire-bombing trucks, letting animals go and shooting cattle."

Asked why it's taken the mink industry so long to fight back, Mr. Frye agreed with several others who thought isolated incidents over the years would fade away.

See also:

PRESS KIT SPECIAL FEATURE : Safe Farms Support Campaign

For further information contact: Teresa Platt, Executive Director, Fur Commission USA, PMB 506, 826 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118-2698 USA, (619) 575-0139, (619) 575-5578/fax, furfarmers@aol.com, www.furcommission.com.

To take a cyber-tour of a fur farm, visit Fur Commission USA's Fur on Film at http://www.furcommission.com/video/index.htm

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