By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Add one more to the growing list of agricultural groups that support Ohio’s Issue 2 to create the Livestock Care Standards Board –  the Ohio Soybean Assoc. (OSA).

“Make no doubt about it, we are in support of Issue 2,” said OSA Communication Director Jamie Butts. “Issue 2 is an animal issue, yet Issue 2 is a very important issue for grain farmers, as well. From a soybean growers’ perspective, livestock is the number-one consumer of soybean meal. Without livestock here in Ohio that diminishes the market for soybean meal. We need to be supporters of Issue 2 to maintain a healthy and vibrant soybean industry here in Ohio.”

Passage of Issue 2 would set up the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board. The governor and legislature would appoint members, including family farmers, veterinarians, a food-safety expert, a representative of a local humane society, members of statewide farm organizations and the dean of an Ohio agriculture college and two consumers.

The state agriculture director would lead the panel. “We’re dealing with a board that is comprised of Ohio-based experts who will prevent out-of-state activists from coming in and telling our farmers how to exist,” Butts said.

There are 26,000 soybean farmers in Ohio and approximately 4.1 million acres grown. Ohio ranks sixth in production among U.S. states. The Ohio soybean industry is valued at $1.9 billion.

According to Butts, during the 2008-09 growing season Ohio soybean farmers produced 200 million bushels, resulting in 2.5 million short tons of meal. Ohio’s livestock and poultry consume 802,000 short tons of soy meal. Nationwide, nearly 98 percent of soy meal is consumed by livestock and poultry.

“People should vote yes on Issue 2 because we’re protecting Ohio’s number-one economic contributor, which is agriculture,” Butts said. “That’s $93 billion towards Ohio’s economy.”

OSA’s mission is to provide leadership for Ohio’s soybean producers in promoting effective policies in legislation to ensure a growing and profitable soybean industry. OSA Executive Director John Lumpe serves as director of the Issue 2 Campaign Committee.

“With any issue there are always some opposition, but we feel strong about our efforts as we’ve received more than 500 key endorsements, from individuals to organizations and from both political parties,” Butts said.

Issue 2 was placed on the ballot through a bipartisan resolution that passed in July by an overwhelming majority in the Ohio General Assembly. The measure is strongly supported by Ohio’s legislative leaders from both parties and Gov. Ted Strickland.