Vote no on Issue 2; Don't allow fox to run the henhouse

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5:09 PM Friday, October 30, 2009

Issue 2 designed  for industrial agriculture

Although I risk being ostracized by the community I love, grew up in, and work in, it’s time for me to speak up about Issue 2. My hat is off to the Ohio Farm Bureau. They have done such a tremendous job of pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes.

Using the “family farmer” as their decoy, the OFB is convincing everyone that Issue 2 is about keeping the “family” in farms, promoting “safe and local food” and defeating the Humane Society.

The farm bureau does not represent the Ohio farmer, not the one the consumer thinks or the ones the OFB portrays in their ads. The OFB represents the ag industry, or industrial agriculture. If you don’t believe me, look at the actual language in Issue 2.

The governor gets to select the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board (OLCSB). He appoints 10 members out of a total of 13 to the OLCSB.

The OLCSB will be responsible for determining best management practices for bio-security, disease prevention, food safety practices, animal care, and local, affordable food supplies for consumers. “Local” means within the state, not your local farmers market.

If Issue 2 is about letting the farmer decide what’s best, why do farmers only occupy three seats?

Vote no on Issue 2.

David Bair

Troy

Factory farms  backing Issue 2

Issue 2 is dangerous and deceptive. It is not for safe, local food, but the opposite. Issue 2 would create a Livestock Care Standards Board, stacked with agribusiness and factory-farm supporters. It would have sweeping authority to make decisions related to farms and food in Ohio that would have the force of law.

Much can be understood by seeing who is for and against it. For it are: Ohio Pork Producers Council, Ohio Cattlemen’s Association, and the Ohio Farm Bureau and Ohio Association of Meat Processors.

Against it are: Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, Ohio Farmer’s Union, Ohio Environmental Stewardship Council, Ohio League of Women Voters, Progress Ohio, Food and Water Watch, and The Humane Society.

Go to the farmers market and ask the growers for their opinion. This is an unprecedented power-grab by agribusiness over independent and small farmers. Our constitution should not be misused to make this possible. If this issue passes, standards would be passed that would make raising food in an organic, sustainable and humane manner excessively expensive and difficult.

Marie Geisel

Dayton

Don’t allow fox  to run this henhouse

The sign says: Vote Yes on 2. Safe, Local Food. Excellent Animal Care. But when 1,000 animals are confined in an area suitable for 100, it creates crowded conditions that are right for various diseases.

The animals are given routine doses of antibiotics to control these diseases, thus allowing the drugs to be passed on to humans after continual consumption. Overuse of these drugs results in more antibiotic-resistant bacteria, requiring higher doses of the drug to be effective.

Then there is the excrement from those 1,000 animals in an area adequate for 100, so the waste seeps into the ground, polluting the area for miles. These conditions are not safe.

While other states and European countries pass laws against this type of “farming,” Ohio is attracting factory farms from as near as Pennsylvania and as far as Germany.

Add to that an appointed and unaccountable board overseeing their own profits and it would be wise to remember what happened the last time the fox was in charge of the henhouse. Vote no on Issue 2.

Heather Steinbarger

Butler Twp.

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The passing of Issue 2 is a sad day for Ohio farmers and anyone who owns an animal covered under agriculture laws. Seeing who was FOR or AGAINST this issue only muddied the waters. The fact that the governor will appoint 10 people to decide how I must care for, house, medicate, transport, keep records of, etc,etc. of my animals means higher costs for me and of course consumers. Our eggs and meat will all come from China soon because the board does not rule them.

Deb Miller
7:46 PM, 11/5/2009

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How many farms have you been on? It would seem that if the pork, cattlemen, farm bureau and the quarter horse association support issue 2, they are the ones that are running these operations. I'm sorry, but I don't want the HSUS anywhere near my equine operation. I think by stating who is for and against, you made my point very clearly. Thank You.

Tammy Lickliter
9:08 PM, 11/3/2009

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