Issue 2 Vote in Ohio Has Arrived

Tuesday is the day Ohio voters influence the future of animal agriculture in their state. They are able to vote on Issue 2, which calls for the creation of a 13-member Livestock Care Standards Board that would include Ohio's agriculture director, family farmers, veterinarians, a representative from a local humane society, and consumers.

Issue 2 is a proactive strategy designed to prevent out-of-state activist groups from dictating how food is produced in Ohio. Last fall, the Humane Society of the United States was successful in pushing through California's Proposition 2, after a multi-million dollar lobbying campaign. This time, Ohio's agriculture leaders have made the first move in what proponents call an attempt to prevent thousands of farmers from going out of business while preserving food safety and affordability.

Agriculture is Ohio's top industry, and individual farmers and ranchers, farm organizations, veterinarians, and consumers have rallied behind Issue 2 in order to help ensure the future of food production in the state. Proponents say that by opposing the new Livestock Care Standards Board, HSUS has shown that its true motivation is not the improvement of farm animal welfare but the elimination of animal agriculture altogether.