Undercover videos spark change in Florida dairy industry

Two Okeechobee dairy farms facing accusations of animal cruelty have sparked new regulations within the industry. Southeast Milk Incorporated addressed the issues head-on Monday, vowing to make sure cows are treated properly on all of their farms. By: Maxine Bentzel Source: CBS 12 News Link: http://cbs12.com/news/local/undercover-investigations-spark-change-in-dairy-industry
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This comes after an animal rights group released undercover videos they claim were shot inside Larson and Burnham dairy farms in Okeechobee County.
The group ARM, or Animal Recovery Mission, said the video shows workers abusing cows.
It’s something Southeast Milk Incorporated who oversees dairy farms across Florida was shocked and horrified to see.
The first thing they plan on doing is holding comprehensive remedial management trainings.
“These remedial trainings will be mandatory for all of our members and will reinforce the importance of employee supervision, cow care, and strong support the ongoing on farm culture of continuous improvement,” said Jim Sleper, CEO of Southeast Milk.
SMI is also working with the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management, also known as FARM to accelerate their new program FARM 3.0 at all of their farms over the next six months.
“Version 3.0 of the FARM program requires enhanced training for workers, stricter requirements for working relationships with veterinarians, and stronger corrective action plans required for farms that are not meeting the guidelines and standards,” said Sleper.
Sleper said it’s essential farmers are able to evaluate every part of their day-to-day operations at a moment’s notice.
“SMI is working with all of its member farms to introduce or strengthen video surveillance in order to help ensure animals are being treated respectfully and humanely in all hours of the day at all locations of the farm,” said Sleper.
The first remedial management training will take place the week of December 11.
Larson and Burnham Dairy are both still on probationary status.
 

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Así lo expresó Domingo Possetto, secretario de la seccional Rafaela, quien además, afirmó que a los productores «habitualmente los ignoran los gobiernos». Además, reconoció la labor de los empresarios de las firmas locales y aseguró que están «esperanzados» con la negociación entre SanCor y Adecoagro.

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