New Educational Video Exposes Anti-Farmer Activism Behind “Farm Action” Branding Analysis highlights leadership ties, funding sources, and policy agenda

This week, the Center for the Environment and Welfare (CEW) released a new educational video discussing the origins, funding, and policy agenda of Farm Action, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group that presents itself as “farmer-led” while quietly maintaining strong ties to the animal rights movement. 

“Farmers and ranchers deserve transparency about who is shaping agricultural policy in Washington,” said Jack Hubbard, CEW’s executive director. “The evidence shows that Farm Action’s agenda is not driven by farmers on the ground, but by radical activists who want to put farmers out of business.”

Key findings revealed in the video include:

• Leadership ties to animal rights advocacy: Both founders of Farm Action are affiliated with Humane World for Animals, an organization that opposes meat consumption and supports policies to drastically restrict animal agriculture.

• Policy positions that increase farmer costs: Farm Action has supported legislation that bans retailers from selling conventionally produced meat and eggs, effectively forcing farmers to comply with costly regulatory schemes or cutting them off from certain markets altogether.

• Concentrated funding sources: Public tax filings show that a majority of Farm Action’s funding comes from a small number of donors–including animal-rights activists, left-wing political organizations, and two California billionaires—rather than farmers or agricultural producers.

• Political activism beyond agriculture: Farm Action has publicly taken positions on unrelated political issues, including endorsing reparations and advocating for government programs that would allocate financial assistance based on race.

At a time when leaders are facing unprecedented pressure to adopt responsible environmental, social, and government (ESG) policies, it can be difficult for decision-makers and the public to separate good policy from bad. As a think tank, CEW leverages cutting-edge research to assess ESG proposals and recommend best practices that actually make a difference for animals and the planet. To learn more, visit EnvironmentandWelfare.com.