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Protect Farm Animals from Extreme Weather!

Dear John,

As winter approaches, we can expect plunging temperatures, bone-chilling winds, and massive snowstorms that will likely endanger the lives of millions of Americans. In addition to the human impact, extreme weather causes immense suffering for farm animals, many of whom die needlessly. Recent winter storms have resulted in the terrible deaths of more than 37,000 cattle in Montana in 2018, 30,000 dairy cattle in Texas and New Mexico in 2016, and up to 100,000 beef cattle in South Dakota in 2013.

However, instead of prioritizing animal welfare and disaster preparedness, some industrial farm operators take little or no precautions to protect animals during natural disasters, yet still receive taxpayer money to compensate for their losses. In fact, from 2008 through 2019, over $435 million dollars was paid out to farmers and ranchers under the USDA's Livestock Indemnity Program. Despite such a large price tag, farmers are not required to demonstrate that they provided their animals with basic protection from extreme weather or developed a disaster plan before receiving compensation. It appears that the Livestock Indemnity Program actually creates a disincentive for farmers to prioritize animal welfare in disasters.

This year, we have faced unprecedented natural disasters and extreme weather events, including heat waves, raging wildfires, and a record-shattering Atlantic hurricane season. As the climate continues to change and extreme weather becomes more common, disaster planning is more important than ever. The USDA should ensure that producers who receive compensation for the loss of farm animals due to adverse weather must first demonstrate that they took necessary and meaningful steps to protect the animals from a horrific death.

TAKE ACTION ([link removed])

What You Can Do
Please contact secretary of agriculture ([link removed]) and urge him to modify the USDA's Livestock Indemnity Program by requiring farm operators to develop preparedness plans to ensure the welfare of farm animals in the event of extreme weather or other types of disasters.

Be sure to share our Dear Humanitarian eAlert with family, friends, and co-workers and encourage them to contact the secretary as well. As always, thank you very much for your help!

Sincerely,

Cathy Liss
President

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Photo by Michelle Erickson-Jones

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Animal Welfare Institute
900 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 337-2332 | www.awionline.org ([link removed])

The Animal Welfare Institute is a not-for-profit organization, founded in 1951 and dedicated to reducing animal suffering caused by people. We seek better treatment of animals everywhere: in the laboratory, on the farm, in commerce, at home, and in the wild.

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