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Thumb down: Farmers ought to be proud of what they do rather than trying to hide

TC Palm – March 26, 2011

editorial board

HOLD YOUR HORSES: The Florida Legislature got a lot of attention recently when Sen. Jim Norman, R-Tampa, introduced a bill that would make it a first-degree felony to take pictures at or of a farm without written permission from the farm owner.

Taking a photo of a horse grazing in a field could have cost the photographer 30 years in prison — the same as for a murder conviction — and a fine of $10,000.

The goal of the proposal was to prevent groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Humane Society from recording images of agriculture operations involving animals that might be shown to the public with claims of cruelty. Norman has also claimed the goal is to protect the farmer’s privacy and intellectual property rights.

Fortunately, some wiser heads prevailed and the penalty has been reduced to a misdemeanor if the photos were taken without the owner’s permission.

Still, why is punishment necessary for the photographer if the farm owner has nothing to hide? Whistleblowers can use photos, for example, to document conditions that might be detrimental to the food supply. That would be in the public interest.

Some farm operations may seem wrong to the uninformed even if they are perfectly acceptable. What’s needed is more public eduction rather than a cloak of secrecy.

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