Dead cattle, a torched machine shed, vandalized feed equipment and the suspicious loss of a 370-head nursery building to fire have investigators searching for answers. These incidents also represent a growing trend of violence directed toward families interested in growing their livestock farms – a trend strongly condemned by the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers and its six founding organizations.

"Farm families who raise livestock are reporting increased incidences of violence directed toward them, their family members and property," says Bruce Berven, executive vice president of the Iowa Cattlemen's Association and a CSIF board member. "We urge law enforcement officials to take these events seriously and to conduct comprehensive investigations. Those responsible must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law."

Since August 2006, CSIF has fielded seven reports from farmers detailing acts of violence or threats directed at property and family members – including five incidences in the past two months. Aaron Putze, executive director of CSIF, says much of the harassment has been directed at farmers who are raising hogs or planning to construct new indoor swine finishing barns. He lists some examples.

Livestock farmers being harassed

* A southwest Iowa farmer has lost 12 cattle this winter to shotgun and high-powered rifle blasts. The shootings began shortly after the farmer expressed interest in constructing two new swine finishing barns. The farmer also received a phone call in early January in which an unidentified person said, "I guess you know we mean business."

* A feed truck owned by 21st Century Cooperative (Cumberland) was vandalized shortly after a representative of the farmer-owned company spoke in favor of two hog facilities proposed for Cass and Adair Counties. The co-op will provide feed to the new farm. While waiting to speak in support of the proposed hog farm at the hearing, the feed co-op's manager was presented a note, "You'll be sorry."

* On Jan. 12, a suspicious fire destroyed a 370-head nursery building operated by Dan and June Muff of Ventura and their son Andy. It was the second fire detected on the farm in less than two months. The Muff's have been the target of periodic episodes of vandalism and harassment since constructing a new 2,400-head hog farm three miles north of Clear Lake (the farm opened for business in October 2006). Two livestock activists also erected a billboard adjacent to the farm accusing Andy of "brutally murdering" his community.

* Other farmers in Iowa have recently reported suspicious fires to their homes and machine sheds, vandalized livestock equipment and telephone callers threatening to poison their livestock and harm their families.

Be alert to any suspicious activity

Law enforcement officials encourage farmers to be alert and mindful of any suspicious activity and report it immediately, including the date, time and location of the incident as well as a vehicle description and license plate number if motor vehicles are involved.

"Farmers who have been targeted with these threats and acts of violence have committed no wrong," says Berven. "We urge anyone with information on these events to contact their local sheriff department immediately. It's our hope that those responsible for these incidents are quickly apprehended and prosecuted."

CSIF is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping livestock farmers grow responsibly and successfully. It's a collaborative effort funded by the Iowa Cattlemen's Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Poultry Association and Iowa Soybean Association. The organization was founded in May of 2004. To date, CSIF has provided a helping hand to nearly 600 Iowa farm families in the areas of regulatory compliance, neighbor relations and farm site location.

For more information, log on to www.supportfarmers.com or call Aaron Putze, executive director & public relations officer at 800-932-2436.