Safe, Local Ohio Food Launches Statewide Issue 2 Outreach

from: cattlenetwork.com

“Advocating for an ample supply of safe, affordable, Ohio-raised food and excellent care of the state’s livestock and poultry, leaders of Ohioans for Livestock Care today announced the first phase of the statewide outreach campaign in support of passage of State Issue 2. Issue 2 calls for the creation of the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board (the Board) – a board of Ohio experts in animal care, veterinary medicine, food safety and farm management, as well as consumer and humane society members.

The campaign committee has purchased television advertising in media markets across Ohio, which is complemented with online advertising and the addition of a new campaign Web site, http://www.safelocalohiofood.org.

The ads and Web site feature Brenda Hastings, a mother of two and dairy farmer from Burton, Ohio, sharing her story about the role that responsible farm animal care plays in ensuring Ohioans have a safe, affordable supply of food raised in the Buckeye state. The Hastings family is a third-generation dairy farm family, and as a mother, Brenda knows the value that parents like her place on assuring food safety and maintaining excellent care of food animals.

“Without question, we want Ohio voters to understand that Issue 2 is about the relationship between how farm animals are cared for and how decisions about animal care can impact food safety, food affordability and food availability,” said Jamie Butts, campaign spokeswoman. “Issue 2 is a reasonable proposal to address that relationship, and that’s why creation of the Board through the passage of Issue 2 will make sure our farm animals receive the best treatment, and Ohioans have access to quality, food produced by Ohio farmers.”

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Ohio Animal Care Campaign Begins

from: hoosieragtoday.com

“The Ohioans for Livestock Care/Yes for Issue 2 campaign got its start on Saturday at Bowling Green University in Ohio. The weekend event was the first of 12 rallies scheduled to be held throughout the state through mid-October. State Issue 2 is a proposal on the November 3 state ballot to create the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board. The 13-member board will be comprised of Ohio experts in animal care, food production, farm management and food safety who will establish standards governing care of the state’s livestock and poultry.

Campaign spokesperson Jamie Butts said, – these rallies are vital in building support among Ohioans for State Issue 2. Butts added, – we hope everyone who attends one of these events will become involved in the campaign and help us educate voters about why creating this board is so important for Ohio’s number one economic contributor – agriculture.

Organizers say passing Issue 2 will ensure excellent care of the state’s livestock and poultry and help maintain an adequate supply of safe, affordable, Ohio-raised food.”

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Flap over hen housing heats up

from: capitalpress.com

“A Modesto egg producer plans to invest $3.2 million in a facility it says will meet the requirements of Proposition 2, but supporters of last fall’s ballot initiative are crying foul.

Prop. 2, passed last November, prohibits the “confinement of farm animals in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs.”

The measure requires hens be able to extend their wings without touching other hens.

The measure would outlaw cages currently used by egg producers by 2015.

J.S. West & Company announced Sept. 15 that it plans to start construction within two months on a “enriched colony system” for egg-laying hens. Eric Benson, president of J.S. West, said in a phone interview that the company believes the system, which gives each hen nearly 116 square inches of room plus other amenities, will satisfy Prop. 2 requirements.”

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Official Statement on Animal Care From OSU Dean

from: agvanwert.wordpress.com

“The College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) at The Ohio State University has historically been an advocate for food animal care and well-being for maintaining a safe and adequate food supply, for protecting the safety of farm workers, and for providing Ohioans with access to locally raised food.

We believe in taking a proactive, comprehensive approach to animal care in this ever‐evolving field. We know that education of those who directly manage animals is the most consistently successful approach to improving animal care and wellbeing. As such, producer education and the education of 4‐H youth in the area of animal care has been and will continue to be a high priority for the college.

The college advocates an approach that is research based. OSU has animal welfare specialists located in CFAES and the College of Veterinary Medicine. CFAES studies multiple food animal species, and conducts research on housing, breeding, feeding, animal care and more. The partnership between the Australian Animal Welfare Science Centre, CFAES and the College of Veterinary Medicine positions us to establish a world‐renowned research and education collaboration in animal welfare science.

The Ohio legislature placed on the fall ballot a constitutional amendment that would establish an Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board. The 128th General Assembly Joint Resolution states that among the thirteen members, “the dean of the agriculture department of a college or university located in this state” will be appointed to the board.

My expectation is the proposed board will provide an important mechanism for the state to take a proactive approach to high quality animal care. I would expect the composition of the board to reflect a variety of viewpoints. For success, the selection of people for the board will be critical, not in the titles they hold, but in their ability to seek and listen to reputable and diverse information sources to fill knowledge gaps and stay current with the rapidly evolving science of animal care.

Should the amendment pass, the College is committed to assisting the board by contributing sound, current science and information about animal care and well‐being issues and policies.

An openness to education and learning will help the board’s decisions be fair and effective and result in a level of animal care and well‐being that we all seek.”

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Ohio Livestock Care Board – Official Ballot Language

from: agvanwert.wordpress.com

Official ballot language for Ohio’s proposed Livestock Care Standards Board.

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Livestock Care Standards Board will benefit Ohio, agriculture

from: chillicothegazette.com

“Creation of a state Livestock Care Standards Board will offer a way to ensure safe, locally grown food for Ohioans, support the long-term future of the state’s agriculture industry and help the industry regain some control of the animal welfare debate, according to the featured speaker at the Ross County Farm Bureau’s annual meeting Wednesday.”

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Ohio Panel Approves Wording On Livestock Ballot Issue

from: cattlenetwork.com

“The Ohio ballot board has approved wording for ballot issues to regulate the care of livestock and allow bonuses to be paid to war veterans.

The board on Wednesday finalized the language for the two issues that will be submitted to voters on November’s ballot.

The livestock amendment would create a bipartisan board to set guidelines for the care of livestock. Voters will also have a chance to approve the selling of bonds to raise money to give bonuses to veterans of the Iraq, Afghanistan and Persian Gulf wars.”

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Shelled-egg bill placed on hold

from: capitalpress.com

“A bill that would have applied cage size restrictions on out-of-state producers who sell eggs in California has been put on hold until next year.

The measure’s sponsor, Assemblyman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, cited an impasse between stakeholders as his reason for delaying action.

The bill, AB1437, would apply the rules created by Proposition 2 to out-of-state producers whose eggs are sold in California. Prop. 2, enacted by voters in November, mandates that food-animal enclosures allow freedom of movement. It would apply mostly to egg production.

Egg producers complain that the initiative’s vague language contains no enforceable standard for cage sizes. That means compliance can be subject to personal opinions, leaving producers with a high risk of non-compliance, says Dennis Albiani, a lobbyist representing the Association of California Egg Farmers.”

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Details of Ohio’s Livestock Care Standards Proposal

from: agvanwert.wordpress.com

The proposed Livestock Care Standards Proposal will go to Ohio voters this Fall. Following a lengthy battle over the state’s budget, the House and Senate agreed on July 13, 2009, by joint resolution to place a constitutional issue on livestock care before Ohio voters on November 3rd, 2009. Each legislative body had passed different versions of the proposal in the past few weeks. The final version adopted on July 13 by the legislature proposes an amendment to the Ohio Constitution that creates the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, to include:

The director of the department of agriculture, who shall chair the Board;

Ten members appointed by the Governor with Senate approval, as follows: 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; two family farmers appointed by the Speaker of the House and the Senate President.

No more than seven members of the same political party.

Grants the Board exclusive authority to establish standards for the care and well-being of livestock and poultry, subject only to the authority of the Ohio General Assembly, and requires the Board to consider factors including but not limited to: agricultural best management practices, bio-security, disease prevention, animal morbidity and mortality data, food safety practices, and the protection of local, affordable food supplies for consumers.

Delegates authority for administering and enforcing the standards to the department of agriculture.

Gives the Ohio General Assembly the power to enact laws necessary to carry out the purposes of the constitutional amendment.

States that no other provision of the Constitution shall limit or impair the power granted by the constitutional amendment.

You may view the joint resolution at http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/res.cfm?ID=128_SJR_6_AS.”

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Slight Holdup in Ohio Animal Care Standards Initiative

from: hoosieragtoday.com

“Stimpert says the only issue is in the language. He believes that’s minor. “The core concept of a 13-member board that would set forth the standards by which we would care for livestock in the state of Ohio, remains intact. Nobody got into the details of what that’s about. In fact, we found overwhelming support for that. I think the senate just felt that they were making it stronger from a legal standpoint, so we’ve just got to resolve that.”

Stimpert has confidence in Ohio voters if this issue makes it to the November ballot. Some farmers do have concerns about the legislation leading to more regulations. But Stimpert says the initiative will benefit Ohio’s livestock producers. “As farmers do by and large, care for their livestock, I don’t think there’s any worry at all. In fact, I think this sets up the kind of program and the kind of known environment of regulation that can help farmers actually succeed in this state.”

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Ohio Governor Supports Introduction of Animal Care Amendment

from: thedairysite.com

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland supports a comprehensive animal care amendment for the November 2009 ballot in Ohio.

The amendment would create the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, a 13-member state board that would determine and enforce guidelines for the care and well-being of livestock and poultry in Ohio in order to protect food safety and locally produced food for Ohioans.

“This effort will help further the mission of Ohio farmers to provide high-quality, locally grown food,” Strickland said. “The Board will ensure that Ohioans continue to have access to a safe and affordable local food supply and will make our state a national leader in the level of animal care and responsibility.”

The proposed amendment is supported jointly by Governor Strickland, House Speaker Armond Budish, Senate President Bill Harris, House Minority Leader Bill Batchelder, and Senate Minority Leader Capri Carafo. He’s joined in support by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, state Pork Producers Council and Poultry Association.

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Senate Joint Resolution on Livestock Care Standards for Ohio

from: agvanwert.wordpress.com

“The Ohio Senate has introduced a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Ohio Constitution to address the care of livestock.

Here’s a quick summary of the proposed constitutional amendment:

Creates a thirteen member Livestock Care Standards Board consisting of the Director of the Department of Agriculture, ten members appointed by the Governor, a family farmer appointed by the Speaker of the House and a family farmer appointed by the President of the Senate.

Grants the Livestock Care Standards Board the authority to establish and implement standards governing the care and well-being of livestock and poultry.

Directs the Board to “endeavor to maintain food safety, encourage locally grown and raised food, and protect Ohio farms and families” and to consider factors such as agricultural best management practices for care and well-being, biosecurity, disease prevention, animal morbidity and mortality data, food safety practices, and the protection of local, affordable food supplies for consumers.

Grants the Ohio Department of Agriculture authority for overseeing and enforcing the standards established by the Board.”

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[California] Egg bill moves forward

from: capitalpress.com

“The [California] Senate Committee on Food and Agriculture on Tuesday passed a bill that would extend the cage-size restrictions of Proposition 2 to out-of-state egg producers.”

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The Economics of Animal Welfare Regulations Proposed for Ohio

from: ohioagmanager.osu.edu

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) seeks to phase out battery cages for Ohio’s laying hens, gestation crates for its pregnant pigs, and crates for veal calves in favor of group housing (FarmPolicy [farmpolicy@gmail.com], May 5, 2009). As the nation’s second largest producer of eggs (27 million laying hens) and a major producer of swine and dairy cattle, Ohio agriculture has a major stake in the outcome of this HSUS effort.

HSUS is likely to put its proposal before Ohio voters next year if poultry and livestock producers don’t cooperate with HSUS to write legislation changing the way producers operate. This is no idle threat. Last year California voters approved a similar measure (Proposition 2 or Prop 2) mandating as of January 1, 2015 that it shall be a misdemeanor for any person to confine a pregnant pig, calf raised for veal, or egg-laying hen in a manner not allowing the animal to turn around freely, stand up, lie down, and fully extend its limbs. At least four other states have passed laws similar to California’s Proposition 2.

Is such legislation a good idea? The following discussion is especially focused on laying hens, the enterprise likely to be most affected in Ohio. The following analysis addresses animal welfare dimensions of Prop 2-type regulations before addressing the economic dimensions.”

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Will Politics And Social Agendas Phase Out US Livestock Production?

from: farmgate.uiuc.edu

“How would you react to non-farm folks imposing rules on your livestock production? It is one thing if those rule makers were from your own state, but what if they did not even live in your state, much less have no economic interest in livestock production? That is what has happened in some western states, and may well happen soon in Ohio and in the not-to-distant future in other Cornbelt states.”

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