Ohio’s Issue 2 in voters’ hands Tuesday

The livestock industry is watching Tuesday’s election in Ohio, where voters are deciding whether Issue 2 will become law. If the issue passes, it establishes an Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board charged with setting standards for livestock and poultry care.

Issue 2 is a proactive approach to animal rights groups, such as the Humane Society of the United States, which want to impose handling and housing standards on Ohio producers.

HSUS spokesman Paul Shapiro says Issue 2 won’t help farm animals.

“Many people may vote in favor of Issue 2 for the precise reason that they think that it’s pro-animal,” says Shapiro, “[but] they’ve been misled by the agri-business lobby into thinking that it’s a pro-animal vote.”

On the other hand, Ohio Farm Bureau spokesman Joe Cornely says issues determining animal welfare go far beyond housing, which he says is the primary focus of HSUS, but he says it’s clear that society wants more say over animal care.

“So the choice now becomes, do you want a panel of Ohioans who have expertise, knowledge and understanding of what it takes to feed the world to make those decisions, or do you want [HSUS President] Wayne Pacelle and his $10 million advertising budget to make that decision,” Cornely told Brownfield Monday from his office in Columbus, Ohio.

AUDIO: Joe Cornely (6 min. MP3)

If Issue 2 passes Shapiro says the HSUS is prepared to launch a statewide ballot initiative campaign to ensure that animals in Ohio have enough room to turn around and extend their limbs.