FB Secures Order Against Release
of Personal Data

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 4, 1999--A federal judge Monday, at the urging of the American Farm Bureau Federation and the Texas Farm Bureau, ordered the Agriculture Department to temporarily halt the release of private information about farmers and ranchers who have used a predator control device to protect their livestock.

The animal rights group Animal Protection Institute of America recently filed a request with USDA seeking the names and addresses of ranchers using a "Livestock Protection Collar," which contains a control chemical that kills predators that attack domestic livestock. The group intended to post the names of ranchers on an Internet Web site titled "The Hall of Shame."

Farm Bureau asked Federal Judge Walter Smith of the Western District Court, Waco Division, to issue the restraining order to protect the privacy of ranchers. AFBF President Dean Kleckner said any release of private information about farmers and ranchers participating in federal predator control or grazing programs for use by outside parties will not be tolerated.

"Clearly, this type of harassment violates the confidence we place in our government to properly administer its programs," Kleckner said. "Farm Bureau must ensure that the confidentiality of personal information
submitted by our members is not disclosed to others."

Judge Smith scheduled a hearing on the matter for Nov. 10 to hear arguments on Farm Brueau's preliminary injunction request.

"Disclosure of personal information by USDA and other government agencies directly threatens the privacy and confidentiality of every producer in this country," Kleckner said. "We will use our resources to ensure a swift end to this trampling of our rights."

This page was last modified Sun Nov 14, 1999 at 12:00 am