By CELESTE BAUMGARTNER
Ohio Correspondent COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio voters overwhelmingly passed State Issue 2 in the recent election. Now the work begins of establishing the board and then seeing what follows.
Agriculture leaders from the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) and other areas shared their thoughts:
ODA Director Robert Boggs “I believe that the board is going to be embarking on a very long and detailed process that will be inclusive of all groups and individuals who want to participate in discussing the issue of the livestock care standards,” said Boggs.
“I was delighted to see that not just farmers, but a lot of people in non-rural areas understood the importance of livestock care and how it relates to employment, how it relates to nutrition, how it relates to local food.”
Nobody wants to import food from outside Ohio or the United States, Boggs said. Yet if regulations are too tough, that drives livestock production out of the state. Nobody wants them to be too easy because people care about the humane treatment of livestock, and it does have an impact on food safety and quality.
“We’ve got to get it right, and I think we can,” he added.
Ohio Farm Bureau Federation Before the board is established, a bill that implements legislation must be passed, said Keith Stimpert, Ohio Farm Bureau’s (OFBF) first vice president, public policy.
That legislation will cover length of terms and conditions of service, Stimpert said. It will talk about the rule making authority that the board has, and about what the board can and cannot do within the confines of the resolution.
The 13-member board will consist of the director of agriculture as chair, a dean of a college of agriculture and the state veterinarian. One family farmer will be appointed by the speaker of the House, and one family farmer by the president of the Senate. The balance of the board will be appointed by the governor, Stimpert said.
Ohio Farmer’s Union OFU was opposed to Issue 2. Yet while they didn’t agree with the issue, Ohio Farmer’s Union (OFU) President Roger Wise said the voters have spoken and OFU will do what it can to achieve the best outcome possible.
“I think the proponents pretty well controlled the thing from front to back I guess they should be congratulated,” Wise said.
“I hope it does what they say it will do,” he said. “I hope it doesn’t cost family farmers too much. I hope consumers stay friendly to agriculture and producers and I am willing to do whatever I can to make it a positive process.”
Ohioans for Livestock Care “We feel that Ohioans spoke and want to protect the livestock industry in the state of Ohio and they understand that this is about Ohio protecting Ohioans,” said John Lumpe, president of Ohioans for Livestock Care, which was formed to educate Ohioans about Issue 2.
“The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) did have concerns with Ohio, and this is Ohio’s way of addressing what their concerns might be, but we’re doing it in a science-based body of expert’s way,” Lumpe said.
American Farm Bureau “I think it shows that common sense will prevail amongst the voters once a program is proposed that will use a science based approach to animal care,” said Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau.
“We’re pleased that it happened,” he said. “Having said that this doesn’t end the battles; it’s just another step in a long process, but it shows that we can be successful when the facts are presented to the voters.” |
