Extreme environmental activists often reference eliminating meat consumption as a “silver bullet” of sorts, one that will make a sizeable impact in mitigating climate change.

The word “undercover” usually sends shivers down livestock and poultry farmers’ spines – and for good reason. For years, animal rights activist groups have used misleading undercover video campaigns in an attempt to make consumers distrustful of farmers.

Among the myriad of hot topics swirling in the animal agriculture industry right now (including antibiotic usage, food labeling and continued activist activity), one area of particular concern for the beef industry (and for beef eaters like me) is the Dietary Guidelines update set for later this year.

When I read magazines like Cosmopolitan, I’m not looking for the cutting edge of journalism. I’m looking for some light reading to keep me entertained during my commute on the metro. So, I got a little salty when I opened the March issue of Cosmopolitan to find an article titled “Should You Be Drinking Milk?”

In agriculture and livestock production, it is becoming increasingly more important to be beyond reproach. As undercover activists lurk in our barns and consumers become more and more attuned to animal care issues, we have enough on our plate with trying to explain humane, necessary and science-based practices that may not look pleasant on the surface (such as dehorning calves or moving a down cow) to tolerate any mistreatment or cruelty.

As much as I hate to admit it, public confrontation makes me extremely uncomfortable. A slow waitress, an aggressive driver, a misleading store advertisement … all things that I am likely to passive-aggressively tolerate with a smile in public, while inwardly rolling my eyes and shaking my head.