Farmers Supporting Issue 2 in Ohio

Farmers gather to support Issue 2
By Richard Wilson, Staff Writer
10:40 PM Monday, September 21, 2009

HAMILTON — A campaign is under way to pass an issue that proponents say will circumvent a national effort by the Humane Society of the United States to ban certain farming practices.

About 80 local farmers gathered Monday night, Sept. 21 at the OSU agriculture extension office on Princeton Road to get information and campaign materials on Issue 2 — a ballot initiative that seeks to amend the Ohio constitution and create a state livestock care standards board.

The discussion centered around what has happened in other states, where the humane society has used gory images of mistreated farm animals to sway voters in passing bans on restrictive cages for cows, pigs and poultry.

Issue 2, if passed, will reinsure consumer confidence in the local food supply and is a proactive effort to retain Ohio control over Ohio farming practices, Adam Sharp, of the Ohio Farm Bureau, told the assembly. Read More

Issue 2 in Ohio continues to be a much discussed topic. It’s also quite encouraging to see that many of Ohio’s farmers and ranchers have realized the importance of them being involved in the process to get this passed. If Ohio residents are truly concerned about the welfare of livestock, they will support this Issue so that a care board of experts is able to monitor animal agriculture in that state rather than having a Washington, DC based lobbying group defining it.