By CELESTE BAUMGARTNER
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Center for Food and Animal Issues is a new programming effort of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) to address challenges facing livestock agriculture.
A big part of the programming of the center will involve public relations and education. To integrate animal care into Farm Bureau’s education program Ag in the Classroom, to have animal agriculture integrated further into 4-H, FFA, and other youth development and leadership programs.

“But it will go beyond that ... there’s a high likelihood that we are going to revamp our entire food inspection system in the United States both for imported food and what we produce locally across the country,” Fisher said. “Maintaining a very effective and efficient food inspection system is high on our list.”

Another issue is the concern about use of antibiotics in livestock feeds. The center will look at the entire picture involving animals in society.

“How do we maintain our quality of life and continue to have the opportunity to put people first and have the benefit of all the things that animals do for society,” Fisher said. “All of the time remembering that animal well being certainly has a prominent role in that discussion.”

Farm Bureau is about working together to serve the needs of farmers, said Jack Fisher, executive vice president of OFBF.

Yet the Center will encompass the entire animal kingdom, Fisher said. While OFBF has ties to farmers and rural community, the center will also be involved with the hunters and fisherman, the Ohio zoos, local animal shelters. Fisher wants the Center also to be involved in the discussion in the state about the use of animals in research.

“We are going to start an Animals For Life Foundation within the Center for Food and Animal issues and its main purpose will be to raise funds and to figure out how we can find resources, both dollars and people, for local shelters, zoos, and to do the public relation and education that we need to do on a long term basis here in Ohio and nationally.”