Message to keep calm and farm on
South West farmers are convening to overcome the heightening animal activism threat, spruiking a simple message to fellow producers — calm the farm.
WAFarmers dairy section president Michael Partridge and predecessor Phil Depiazzi have opted to hold an informal meeting trumpeting the three-word message in Harvey tonight to address the rising pro-vegan movement.
The longstanding Brunswick dairy farmer and his Dardanup-based counterpart are calling for the region’s farmers to remain composed and “calm the farm” in the face of rising animal activism adversity.
Mr Partridge, who succeeded Mr Depiazzi as WAFarmers’ lead dairy representative in 2016, said the meeting would explain farmers their rights if confronted by activists.
“It’s about minimising risk, calming your farm and not getting stirred up by activists,” he said.
The scheduled Harvey meeting comes as a wave of activism shrouds the region’s agricultural sector, after a series of pro-animal rights attacks near the renowned dairy district.
Last Sunday, two members from Direct Action Everywhere’s Perth branch broke into GD Pork’s former piggery near Pinjarra.
It followed members from the same group targeting Harvey dairy farmer Jason Parravicini in an unprovoked attack earlier this month.
Protesters also blocked trucks from entering Harvey Beef in December, while controversial online “attack map” Aussie Farms, detailing producers’ property details, was launched in January.
Mr Partridge’s White Rocks property in Brunswick is among the farms listed on the platform.
Leading Perth agribusiness lawyer Phil Brunner, of Bailiwick Legal, will attend tonight’s meeting alongside Dairy Australia’s Georgia Nicholls.
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