I’m a long-time subscriber and this is because the WLJ covers sticky issues evenhandedly.
Jason’s article from Feb. 5 about Washington State’s Mandatory ID proposal was disturbing because he covers Cattle Producers of Washington’s (CPoW’s) reaction to the proposal without checking with the Washington Cattlemen’s Association (WCA)! While CPoW purports to represent producers in our state, they are a very small group. The WCA has worked diligently with our State’s Department of Agriculture for decades to insure protection of our industry with a healthy and well-managed Brand Department.
With financial problems facing the program, the WCA is again at the forefront to come up with solutions to the crunch. CPoW’s reaction to this proposal is the same one they used over 10 years ago when we began the process of leading the move towards a traceability program that worked. Claiming that our privacy and security might be at risk while denying the necessity of protection of the health of our livestock and industry, as well as the protection of our ownership is monumentally short-sighted.
Please check with the WCA for information about the industry in Washington State. Thank you!
As an aside, I see the rebuttal to Kendal Frazier’s editorial by Bill Bullard asks Drovers to help put a debate together! Seems like old Bill could at least write you a personal letter! — Dick Coon, OR
