More selective reporting from the AP?

I just finished filing a story that gauges reaction over a Kansas rancher's lawsuit that seeks to block any funds from the Beef Checkoff from going to the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. The rancher, Michael Callicrate, and his Organization for Competitive Markets got a considerable amount of help from the Humane Society of the United States, which is a frequent thorn in the side of animal agriculture.

From my story, which you'll find at CapitalPress.com soon:

Humane Society president and CEO Wayne Pacelle told the Capital Press the group isn't trying to dismantle the checkoff but wants to make sure its funds aren't used for lobbying. He said the NCBA has been fighting egg-industry reforms sought by HSUS.

“Talk about staying in your lane,” Pacelle said. “I don't understand why the NCBA is trying to prevent the egg industry from passing legislation to protect that industry for the next generation. We're trying to have improvements for 285 million laying hens. That's an animal welfare issue, and we don't want to see checkoff dollars used for lobbying against that.”

NCBA chief executive Forrest Roberts responded that the group has opposed an amendment in the 2012 Farm Bill that would codify HSUS' agreement with egg producers on cage sizes, but that the activities weren't funded by checkoff dollars.

“For the first time, it would take any animal care guidelines out of the hands of experts and put them in the hands of the federal government,” Roberts said. “It's not the right approach for animal agriculture. While this amendment only pertains to egg production, there's absolutely no assurance whatsoever that this will not be used as a blueprint for the entire livestock community.”

Callicrate's use of the HSUS for what Pacelle described as legal research and information was instantly seized upon by the NCBA and drew a rebuke from the U.S. Cattlemen's Association, an NCBA rival. The HSUS' involvement is also mentioned in stories by the Kansas City Star, Meat and Poultry, the Daily Yonder and Farm Futures.

Yet incredibly, a lengthy story about the lawsuit by the Associated Press made no mention of HSUS. What, did the reporter not do her homework? Did she not think the involvement of a national group that's been behind numerous livestock industry reform efforts and ballot initiatives is relevant? After all, it's not as if Wayne Pacelle wouldn't have called her back. He knows exactly what the Capital Press is and has probably read our editorials, yet he returned my call within the hour and has always been friendly and gracious in our interviews.

Look, the Capital Press uses AP, and I occasionally post their stories online. But if you get your news from an organization that relies on the wire service as its sole source of national stories, you really have to wonder if you're always getting the whole story. Or whether a given report has been scrubbed for political purposes.