Farm Animal Welfare

Agriculture, especially animal husbandry, is under attack by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). This past year California voters passed a proposition that may end the egg industry in that state as well as impact many other areas of livestock production. The voters in California have joined with voters in Florida and Arizona to regulate specifics of raising and caring for livestock through the ballot.

Ohio has taken a different path in this Novembers election. The voters passed issue 2 by a 64 to 36 percent margin. Issue 2 establishes a thirteen member Livestock Care Standards Board. No more than seven members on the board may be of the same political party. The Ohio General Assembly would have the power to set the terms of office for the Board members and determine any conditions for the Board members' service. The proposal states that the Board would consist of:

The director of the department of agriculture, who would serve as chair of the Board;
Ten members appointed by the Governor with Senate approval, which must include: one family farm representative, one member knowledgeable about food safety in Ohio; two members representing statewide farmer organizations; one veterinarian licensed in Ohio; the State Veterinarian; the dean of an Ohio college or university’s agriculture department; two members of the public representing Ohio consumers; one member representing a county humane society; One family farmer appointed by the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives; and One family farmer appointed by the President of the Ohio Senate.

In addition the Department of Agriculture will be vested with the enforcement authority.

Instead of depending upon voters making decisions based upon campaign ads or bumper stickers, which may not be accurate, Ohio farmers will have the advantage of science, best practices, and thoughtful consideration being a part of the process to create the rules that they must live and operate under.

The HSUS has a reputation of being an extremist animal rights organization with tremendous amounts of money to spend to accomplish their goals. From my perspective, after visiting their website, they care more for animals than for the people who's livelihood depends upon the care of those animals.

I would challenge every Grange member to research issue 2 from Ohio and to consider what the possibilities of this issue are in your state. Isn't it better to create an opportunity for farmers and others to work together in creating livestock management practices based on good science rather than face a ballot based upon an emotional argument that might harm a portion of our agricultural economy?