The Humane Society of the United States has made no secret Ohio is one of the next states targeted for their effort to ban the use of calf crates, sow crates and battery cages.
The Ohio State Legislature has made a move to head HSUS off, passing a proposed constitutional amendment which would create a 13-member Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board. That board would develop best-practice standards for the confinement of animals. The State Director of Agriculture would chair the group made up of the State Veterinarian, a college agricultural dean, a county humane society member, two consumer representatives, a food safety expert and farmers. The rules and standards would be enforced by the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
The final version of the resolution, once approved, will put the measure on the November ballot.
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Awesome. This is good thinking on the part of our legislature. Creative advertising and messaging will be critical to get our urban neighbors in this great state to understand to importance of such a group for the sustainability of Ohio animal agriculture.
HSUS will definitely be in the papers and on the airways showing the deplorable ways in which this, currently non-existent, group will promote animal abuse within our Ohio borders. Their methods of subtle intimidation are well documented and have proven effective for their, misaligned, cause.
We must be prepared to speak clearly, concisely, and with enthusiasm to educate our neighbors of the importance of the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board. This should be fun.