Good has come from undercover ag work

Iowans, and anyone who consumes Iowa's agricultural products, are being done a great disservice by the passage of the so-called ag gag bill.

Undercover investigations by Mercy For Animals and other animal protection groups have led to landmark corporate animal welfare policy reforms, new and improved laws to protect frame animals and the environment, felony convictions of animal abusers, increased consumer protection and critical food safety initiatives, and the closure of particularly corrupt facilities.

Recent polls show that 71 percent of Americans support undercover investigations of farms by animal welfare organizations. Unfortunately, at the behest of the multibillion-dollar meat, dairy and egg industries, these “ag gag” bills are being proposed in states all across the country, and one was fast-tracked through the Iowa Legislature and signed by Gov. Terry Branstad.

John Braumann

Marion