By DAVE BLOWER JR.
Farm World Editor

COLUMBUS, Ohio — During last week’s election, Ohio voters overwhelmingly showed their support for Issue 2, a measure that would create a board to monitor the standards of livestock care.
With 63.6 percent of the vote in favor of Issue 2, many livestock groups believe that the state’s animal agriculture business can now be protected from legislative threats from organizations such as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Robert Boggs was pleased with the election results.

“With the passage of Issue 2, Ohioans have proven their support of keeping the state’s number one industry - food and agriculture - vibrant and strong,” Boggs said. “The Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board will serve Ohio’s citizens in a way that will be transparent and open. Ohioans who desire to have their voices heard will have an opportunity to do so during this public process.
“The diverse group of experts serving on this board, together with Ohio’s citizens, will work to create a fair, uniform set of standards that ensure the safe and humane treatment of the state’s livestock and poultry, therefore sustaining the viability of Ohio’s family farmers and assuring safe, affordable food for all citizens.

“I look forward to serving Ohioans in my new role as chairman of the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board.”

The Ohioans for Livestock Care Political Action Committee (PAC) was among the entities campaigning in support of Issue 2.

“Ohioans have spoken and clearly understand that a board of experts is the appropriate entity to make decisions on behalf of animal agriculture and food production in our state,” the PAC stated in a press release last week. “Voters agree with Ohio’s farm community and our diverse base of supporters - decisions about food and farming should be made in Ohio, by Ohioans.”

The Board will consist of 13 members: three family farmers, two veterinarians, one food-safety expert, one representative of a local humane society, two members from statewide farm organizations, the dean of an Ohio agriculture college, the ODA director and two members representing Ohio consumers.

The Ohio Livestock PAC said, “The Livestock Care Standards Board created through passage of Issue 2 will provide an effective mechanism for determining and enforcing guidelines for the care and well-being of livestock and poultry, and for ensuring the quality, safety and availability of locally produced food in Ohio. We look forward to working with the Ohio General Assembly on the implementing legislation.”

The ballot issue was viewed as a blueprint for other rural states to avoid such laws being imposed. American Agri-Women President and Ohio farmer Marcie Williams stated that, “Hopefully other states will now look at this and step up to the bat and oppose other threats from HSUS in their states.”

Some animal rights’ groups have vowed to mount a future Ohio ballot campaign instituting farm animal protections.
“We don’t intend to relent and allow this very unfair outcome to stand,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive of the HSUS.