Issue 2

In Ohio, Issue 2 came in to the ballot in 2009 for mistreated animals on factory farms. It created thirteen Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to establish standards for governing the care of livestock and poultry. It requires minimal standards, approved by the Humane Society of the United States to maintain food safety, encourage locally grown and raised foods, and protect Ohio's farms and families. The board includes thirteen Ohio residents including representatives of family farms, farming organizations, food safety experts, veterinarians, consumers, someone from the agriculture department from an Ohio university or college, and a county humane society representative. The board will consider agricultural best practices for care and well-being, disease prevention, animal morbidity and mortality data, food safety practices, and the protection of local, affordable food supplies (Ohio 1).

Issue 2 did pass in Ohio. I am very glad it did, but it is still going to take a long time to change anything. The board is going to have to work very hard at it. I hope everyone cooperates to these new regulations. Of course, I know not everyone will, but I hope eventually we can live in a fair, humane world for factory farm animals.

"Ohio Livestock Care Standards, Issue 2 (2009)." Ballotpedia.org. 17 Oct 2010 <http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Ohio_Livestock_Care_Standards,_Issue_2_(2009)>.