“Dismayed” and “betrayed” are two words being used being used by farmers and ranchers in Ohio—and across the entire U.S.—in reaction to the compromise agreement between Ohio’s ag and livestock organizations and HSUS.
Ohio Farm Bureau spokesman Joe Cornely says he understands those strong sentiments, many of which are based on the belief that HSUS wants to abolish animal agriculture.
“I could not agree more with those people,” Cornely says. “We at Ohio Farm Bureau fully recognize and believe that is the ultimate goal of the Humane Society of the United States—just as our ultimate goal is to not let that happen. We haven’t given up the battle—we’ve just changed the rules of engagement.”
Cornely says many of the production compromises made with HSUS are trends that are already taking place in the livestock industry. “The market’s already driving many of these changes—and so we may have ended up there in the future whether there was an HSUS ballot initiative or not,” he says.
And Cornely says the agreement also gives the industry more time to make those adjustments to production practices. “If we do indeed end up with a transition period, 15 years is better than six or seven years—which is what some of our critics have asked for.”
And to those who still think that Ohio agriculture “caved” under pressure from HSUS?
“I would recommend that—don’t go with your initial gut reaction,” Cornely says. “Learn the specifics of what’s been accomplished here—and give yourself a little time before you reach a final judgement.”
Everyone at the OFBF, AG leaders, OPA etc keep telling us we need to read the agreement however no one seems to be willing to produce the Actual agreement, only the chopped up one. It is hard to for us to believe the leaders when they won’t produce the documentation they tell us not to worry about. If this is so good for us, then produce the documentation and let us see it for ourselves.
Seems to me that they are still hiding something. HSUS does not cave in, they push forward. That makes me think there is more to this agreement than what the Govrnor and OFBF would have us believe.
My other issue with all of this is why is the OFBF making decisions on Exotics and Pets when all along they have made a stand that they do not get involved in those 2 areas.
