In its latest attempt to coerce Congress, the lobbying arm of The Humane Society has taken out $100,000 in online ads to force the removal of a key animal rights amendment from the 2013 farm bill, according to The Hill (http://thehill.com.).

The ads, which began running Friday, target members of the newly formed House-Senate farm bill conference committee, which began work last Wednesday.

At issue is an amendment sponsored by Rep. Steve King (R-IA) that attempts to stop states such as California from banning goods made in other states based on the means of production.

The California law is aimed at eggs laid by hens kept in battery cages, and helped spur an agreement between the Humane Society and the United Egg Producers to phase out battery cages. A smaller group of egg producers and lobbyists for other growers, including pig farmers, are behind the King amendment.

The Humane Society Legislative Fund is targeting Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT), Tom Harkin (D-IA, and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN.) and Reps. Collin Peterson (D-MN), Tim Walz (D-MN), Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Steve Southerland (R-FL), Martha Roby (R-AL), Rodney Davis (R-IL), Austin Scott (R-GA), and Glenn Thompson (R-PA).

In 2012, the Humane Society Legislative Fund spent heavily in a failed effort to defeat King, whom the group views as its chief foe in Congress.