For years, animal rights groups and the agriculture industry have played a cat-and-mouse game over drone videos of conditions at major farms.
asserted
groups → play → farms
Angry farmhands faced off against activists who flew their drones overhead, with the operators secure in the knowledge that the Federal Aviation Administration allows licensed pilots to soar over farmland as long as they followed its rules and regulations.
asserted
they → face → rules
Now, a new chapter has opened in these drone wars: The FAA has launched an investigation of an animal rights activist whose group’s videos of conditions at California cattle ranches sparked outrage, with the agency simultaneously proposing new rules that could prevent the pilots’ flyovers altogether.
uncertain
that → open → flyovers
The same company whose ranch is at the center of the allegations against the pilot is pushing for government restrictions on drone flights in the name of protecting the “national food supply chain.”
It is unclear whether the investigation represents a routine administrative step or the beginning of a broader crackdown, activists affiliated with the group Direct Action Everywhere said, but the group is watching closely.
uncertain
group → push → group
“We know the industry lies about us, including saying our footage is edited,” Cassie King, a spokesperson for the group, told the Intercept.
asserted
King → know → Intercept
“What would be most concerning is if the FAA believes those lies at face value and tries to take licenses away from drone pilots who are operating safely to expose to the public what animals are suffering, and basically just to help the industry shut down that work in the public interest.
asserted
industry → believe → interest
The FAA does not comment on open investigations, a spokesperson said.
asserted
spokesperson → comment → investigations
The advent of drones gave animal rights groups a major leg up in their long-running campaign against big farms, which they allege routinely deploy abusive and cruel behavior against chickens, cows and calves, pigs, and other species bred for human consumption.
asserted
they → give → consumption
For years, diehard activists faced arrest and prosecution for sneaking onto farms with cameras to document conditions.
asserted
activists → face → conditions
Those same activists have gone legal in the drone era, since federal law largely allows licensed drone pilots to fly over farms and capture video of the conditions below.
asserted
pilots → go → conditions
The activists’ videos have already created major headaches for cattle farmers.
asserted
videos → create → farmers
In February, a Direct Action Everywhere pilot caught ranch hands in California’s Central Valley kicking young calves and pulling them with pliers.
asserted
pilot → catch → pliers
One of the workers involved was fired, according to the Los Angeles Times.
uncertain
One → involve → Times
Now another Direct Action Everywhere pilot is facing turbulence.
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pilot → face → turbulence
Joseph Allman received a letter in July notifying him that he was under investigation by the FAA.
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he → receive → FAA
Allman says it is the first time the agency has opened an investigation into someone affiliated with Direct Action Everywhere.
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agency → say → Everywhere
Allman has been a licensed pilot since 2016 and previously operated a commercial drone business.
asserted
Allman → operate → business
In recent years, he has pivoted to activism, using his skills to fly drones over farms across California and providing instruction to prospective pilots for Direct Action Everywhere.
asserted
he → pivot → Action
While Allman says he carefully follows FAA rules is in the air, he faces criminal charges — apparently unrelated to the federal investigation — for an incident that happened on the ground.
asserted
that → say → ground
Allman and other activists are accused of removing two baby goats they said needed medical attention from a farm during a May 2025 action at a Kings County, California, dairy farm.
uncertain
they → accuse → farm
The FAA investigation of Allman pertains to a different business, Grimmius Cattle Co.
asserted
investigation → pertain → business
Allman says the only formal information he has received is that a complaint was filed against him on February 24 about a flight he conducted over the company’s East Ranch property in Strathmore, California.
asserted
he → say → Strathmore
The day before that complaint was made, Allman said, one of the company’s security workers confronted him as he flew a drone over the property.
asserted
he → make → property
The worker accused him of flying the drone without having it in his line of sight, according to Allman, which would violate FAA regulations.
uncertain
which → accuse → regulations
Allman denies that allegation.
asserted
Allman → deny → allegation
It is not clear who filed the complaint against Allman.
asserted
who → file → Allman
Grimmius Cattle Co. did not respond to requests for comment from the Intercept.
asserted
Co. → respond → Intercept
Allman said he has great respect for the FAA.
asserted
he → say → FAA
But he has grown concerned because the agency has not responded thus far to requests from him and his lawyer for further information about the claims against him, he said.
uncertain
he → grow → him
The mere opening of an investigation is not necessarily cause for alarm, according to Douglas Marshall, a law professor and aviation consultant who wrote a book on drone policy.
uncertain
who → accord → policy
“It’s just a form letter,” he said.
asserted
he → ’ → ?
“They crank them out.
asserted
They → crank → them
It takes them all of 15 minutes to do it.
asserted
It → take → it
It often just ends right there.”
asserted
It → end → ?
Still the agency takes “blatant” violations of its rules and flight restrictions seriously, Marshall said.
asserted
Marshall → take → rules
Because investigations can result in heavy fines and the possibly revocation of a license, he often advises pilots to seek help from a lawyer, which Allman has done.
uncertain
Allman → result → which
Part of Allman’s fears stem from industry’s push for a broader crackdown on drone pilots, he said.
asserted
he → stem → pilots
The FAA is pursuing a new regulation that could prevent pilots from flying over agricultural facilities.
uncertain
that → pursue → facilities
When the agency put out a public request for comments on new rules for “fixed site facilities,” agricultural businesses responded by asking for strict restrictions.
asserted
businesses → put → restrictions
Its chief operating officer Austin Flores complained that an activist group had submitted more than 30 hours of footage of another farm to law enforcement agencies.
asserted
group → complain → agencies
…and 41 more, not listed.
