WATCH: Inside the campaign to overturn state animal welfare laws
A new report from The New Lede found that a “nonpartisan” nonprofit pushing against California’s Proposition 12 is being led by a top pork industry lobbyist.
animal welfare
Controversial Farm Bill measure targeting state animal laws heads to Senate showdown
Animal welfare advocates are preparing for a fight in the US Senate where the new Farm Bill will be taken up in the next couple months, bringing with it a contentious provision that would undo state measures to protect livestock.
House Farm Bill clears committee with controversial pesticide and livestock provisions intact
After days of debate and disagreements, the House Committee on Agriculture on Thursday passed its version of the 2026 Farm Bill, which includes controversial provisions critics say will hamper the ability of states to put in place strict rules for pesticides and animal welfare.
USDA spotlights dairy sanctioned for animal welfare violations in its “regenerative” push
When USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a regenerative farming pilot program this week, she highlighted one farmer in particular. What Rollins didn’t note, however, was that the Alexandre Family Farm was recently under investigation for a long list of alleged animal welfare violations.
WATCH: Farmers push back – feds try to block humane animal welfare laws
A coalition of family farmers and small meat companies is fighting new federal moves to block states from enforcing humane livestock rules — including bans on cramped cages and gestation crates. TNL staff writer Shannon Kelleher reports on-the-ground from Washington DC, where farmers descended this week to voice their concerns.
Farmers fight federal efforts to block states from promoting humane animal agriculture
A coalition of family farmers and meat companies gathered in the nation’s capital this week to fight federal efforts aimed at blocking state laws that promote humane, crate-free treatment of livestock.
An old battle over fur farming heats up with new environmental twist
By Shannon Kelleher
Wearing fur has long been a controversial choice in the United States, with a large roster of fashion brands embracing bans on fur garments on the grounds that the practice is cruel to the animals farmed for their pelts. But a new twist on the issue has been gaining momentum and spurring debate over the impacts of mink farming on human and environmental health.
US efforts to turn farm animal poop into biofuel spark scrutiny
By Shannon Kelleher
Industrial-sized livestock operations have long been known for contaminating the environment and mistreating animals. Now, amid growing government incentives to turn the manure generated at these operations into climate-friendly biofuels, there are mounting concerns that the efforts could make industrial farming bigger and more dangerous.