The third pass at law protecting animal producers is sacked in court.
Third Pass at Law Protecting Animal Producers Is Sacked in Court
Share
A law prohibiting undercover recording inside Iowa’s animal production facilities was overturned in federal court this week.
Transcript
A law prohibiting undercover recording inside Iowa’s animal production facilities was overturned in federal court this week. U.S. Southern District Court Judge Stephanie Rose determined the measure violated the right to free speech under the First Amendment.
Five groups including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement sued the state over what they call an ag-gag law. The groups claim the law endangers workers and keeps the public from seeing how farm animals are treated.
Lawyers for the state argued intruders could track in disease and unfairly portray livestock practices. They also contended free speech was not violated because the 2021 law applies to speech on private property where the First Amendment’s protections are significantly diminished. They said the interests of the farmer override any free speech concerns of the animal rights groups involved in criminal trespass.
A spokesperson for Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, hailed the decision as being a huge win for food workers and advocates in Iowa.
The state may appeal the decision to the 8th U.S. Circuit. A spokesman for the Iowa attorney general's office, which represented the state, said they are still reviewing the decision. The governor’s office did not return Market to Market’s request for more information.
This was the third version of this type of law passed by the Iowa Legislature in the last decade to be overturned in federal court.
For Market to Market, I’m David Miller.
Watch More
Agriculture gets sorted to the side during high-stakes negotiations with China. The yeas have it - E15 is approved in the House but not without some pushback. Revving up fans, drivers, and rural communities on the dirt track. And, commodity market analysis with Naomi Blohm.
President Trump met with Chinese President Xi this week in a highly anticipated two-day summit.
Oil, fertilizer, and protein join the discussion for our Market Plus with Naomi Blohm along with corn, soybeans and weather.
One wet blanket hangs over the corn market in our Market Analysis with Naomi Blohm. We also cover cheese and soybean demand as part of the commodity story.
The U.S. House approved the sale of year-round E15. The bill now goes to the U.S. Senate.
Underneath the fun and excitement surrounding the rituals of dirt track racing at local speedways are the spinning wheels of economic good that smalltown race tracks bring to their communities.