September 24, 2009

For Immediate Release

MIgrfc108h Contact: Beth Anne Mumford -- 309-256-0755
bamumford@americanveal.com

Michigan Senate Approves Legislation Banning Veal Stalls by 2012

The Michigan Senate Committee on Agriculture and Bioenergy today approved a bill that prohibits the use of stalls or cages for pork, egg and veal producers while providing a transition period for producers to meet the prohibition. As written, HB 5127 gave pork and egg producers ten years to transition while providing just one year for veal producers.

AVA publicly opposed the bill and has worked actively with the MI Cattleman's group, Senators and others to argue that the bill is unfair to veal producers and ignores the leadership shown by the veal industry which has already committed to voluntarily transition to group housing by 2017.

Several veal producers attended the hearing this morning to argue for fair treatment and discuss the difficult task of transitioning a farm in 12 months given the current market conditions.

With encouragement from AVA, the MI Cattlemen's Association and the veal producers at the hearing who all argued for the same time frame given to pork and egg producers, the Senate did approved a one-year extension of the transition period giving Michigan veal producers until 2012 to meet the new standards.

HB 5127 was introduced and passed the Michigan House of Representatives on September 16. We expect it will become law as it is currently supported by the Michigan Farm Bureau and other agriculture groups in Michigan.

However, AVA continues to oppose this legislation which treats veal producers unfairly.

Below (click here) you will find the press release the AVA issued on September 22 and delivered to the Michigan Senate. The AVA also submitted written testimony for the hearing record asking for a change in the time frame given to veal producers for transition. Please contact Beth Anne Mumford at bamumford@americanveal.com or bethanne@cmakc.com for a copy.

Some of the agriculture groups in Michigan were willing to negotiate the housing issue with the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) to head off a more costly ballot initiative. HSUS will continue this strategy in other states and has already initiated it in Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire – so it is vital that veal producers and industry participants make every effort to reach out to the state Farm Bureau, Beef Council and other agriculture groups to ensure that your voice is heard in these discussions and that state laws do not unfairly and arbitrarily demand on-farm changes from veal producers.

The AVA will continue to monitor these state initiatives.

Please contact Beth Anne Mumford at bamumford@americanveal.com or bethanne@cmakc.com or call 309-256-0755 if you want assistance in making these contacts or have any questions about the Michigan activity.