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Farmers gather to support Issue 2

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By Richard Wilson, Staff Writer 10:40 PM Monday, September 21, 2009

HAMILTON — A campaign is under way to pass an issue that proponents say will circumvent a national effort by the Humane Society of the United States to ban certain farming practices.

About 80 local farmers gathered Monday night, Sept. 21 at the OSU agriculture extension office on Princeton Road to get information and campaign materials on Issue 2 — a ballot initiative that seeks to amend the Ohio constitution and create a state livestock care standards board.

The discussion centered around what has happened in other states, where the humane society has used gory images of mistreated farm animals to sway voters in passing bans on restrictive cages for cows, pigs and poultry.

Issue 2, if passed, will reinsure consumer confidence in the local food supply and is a proactive effort to retain Ohio control over Ohio farming practices, Adam Sharp, of the Ohio Farm Bureau, told the assembly.

Amy Davis of the Ohio Soybean Council owns a 1,500-acre farm off Butler Warren Road. She told the crowd that the state regulatory board would be able to “eliminate the bad actors out there, but it won’t threaten those who are doing the right thing.”

State Sen. Gary Cates, R-West Chester Twp., and state Rep. Tim Derickson, R-Hanover Twp., both spoke in favor of the issue, citing the threat of increased food prices.

“You’ve got people here who care for animals. There’s bad apples in every bunch, but I don’t see it that much in Ohio,” Derickson said.

While Issue 2 is backed by several state farming organizations, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and others, the Ohio Farmer’s Union officially opposes the measure.

President Roger Wise said questions remain as to how regulations passed by a new statewide board will be enforced, funded and how they will impact the small farmer.

Bill Miller, the Oxford-based Miami Valley farmer’s union president, said he’s unclear about what the real impact of Issue 2 would be.

“There are some really deplorable practices out there that really need to be addressed,” Miller said. “Personally, I don’t think they need to be addressed through legislative means.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2122 or rwilson@coxohio.com.

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