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Ohio livestock groups support Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

A coalition of Ohio livestock organizations are calling for continued support of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative or GLRI.

Bryan Humphreys, Executive Vice President of the Ohio Pork Council says the coalition is concerned the initiative will be drastically cut or eliminated in the Trump Administration’s 2017 budget proposal.

“The livestock groups sat down and said you know what? We have a moral obligation here to be a part of something that’s bigger than just agriculture, bigger than just the livestock industry. We need to stand up and support all of the initiatives going on regarding water quality in the Great Lakes,” says Humphreys.

The Ohio Pork Council, along with the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association, Ohio Poultry Association and Ohio Dairy Producers Association have joined forces to lobby for continued support of the GLRI. Humphreys tells Brownfield farmers were some of the first environmentalists.

“And ARE some of the most ardent environmentalists. We talk all the time about wanting to improve water quality, soil health and environmental issues in agriculture because we do, and we truly care. So if we’re going to stand up for environmental issues then we need to stand up and fight for these types of efforts,” says Humphreys.

Humphreys says members have been meeting with lawmakers in Washington DC to lobby for the initiative. Last year, GLRI-funded projects totaled more than $154 million and more than $13 million of those funds were directed specifically to Ohio.

Audio: Bryan Humphreys, Executive Vice President, Ohio Pork Council