Charlie Arnot, president of CMA Consulting, a Kansas City, Mo.-based public relations firm, discussed the Arizona campaign with pork producers attending the National Pork Industry Forum.

Floridians changed their constitution in 2002 to ban stalls. Caught off-guard, it was difficult for farm groups to know if a strong campaign against the ban would have changed voters' minds.

The story for the Nov. 7, 2006 election in Arizona was much different.

A strong campaign was run to oppose Proposition 204 calling for a ban on gestation sow stalls and veal crates.

The proposal amended Arizona's Revised Statutes by adding a new section entitled “relating to cruel and inhumane confinement of animals.”

The amended law prohibits the confinement of sows during gestation as well as veal calves. Animals must be given enough room to turn around, lie down and extend limbs. The law takes effect in 2012.

The proposition passed by 62 percent for the initiative vs. 38 percent against.

Charlie Arnot, president of CMA Consulting, a Kansas City, Mo.-based public relations firm, discussed the Arizona campaign with pork producers attending the National Pork Industry Forum in Anaheim, Calif.

As a public relations firm, CMA Con-sulting served as a consultant to the Arizona campaign fighting the ban.

The Campaign for Arizona Farmers and Ranchers sponsored and oversaw the campaign against Proposition 2004.

Source: Farm&Ranch Guide