August 28, 2007

Anti-terrorist law in chicken farms irks US poultry producers

A proposed law that would require anybody with more than 7500 pounds of propane to register with The Department of Homeland Security has ruffled the feathers of some US poultry producers.

The Department apparently sees propane tanks as possible terrorist weapons. Propane is a combustible gas and is used to fire the heaters that keep chicken houses warm in winter.

The National Chicken Council, The US Poultry & Egg Association and the National Turkey Federation have voiced opposition to the law.

Richard Lobb, spokesman for the National Chicken Council, said there were a lot of better and easier targets terrorists could strike at, rather than chicken farms.

Up to 40,000 farms could be affected by the security proposal.

The government, however, argues that the registration rule is important as an anti-terrorist measure. Department of Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said the agency is compiling data on dangerous chemicals, even in rural areas, and said farmers would only need to spend a short time online to comply.