Dear Editor,

On November 3rd Ohio voters will have a chance to put food safety in the hands of those who know what is best for our livestock. A YES vote on Issue 2 will ensure that Ohioans will have a say in our food production and safety. Upon passage of Issue 2, the Livestock Standards Care Board will be established. The board will call upon animal experts, consumers, and farmers to look at livestock care. The Board will be overseen by the Ohio Assembly which must enact any laws to carry out the purpose and duties of the Board and to set terms of office for members.

Ohio agriculture is under attack by out of state activists who are pursuing an agenda of veganism under the guise of animal care (their own policies embrace replacing animal based protein with plants). They wish to bring new laws to Ohio that would ban time tested and proven safe livestock practices. By doing this, it would cause undo financial hardship on farmers, driving many out of business or out of Ohio. The suggested changes in practices would set back animal welfare by decades and endanger poultry and livestock safety.

Issue 2 is not about "Factory Farms" or Mega Farms". It would provide standards for all farms, no matter the size of operation. Just as activists extreme measures would affect all farmers, not just the large ones. The Issue 2 proposal is far more reasonable and better for Ohio farmers than extremist measures that have been proposed and passed in other states by animal rights groups, which have little to no regard for the negative impact of these proposals on family farms. Family farms account for 98% of the farms in Ohio.

I have one of those family farms. I do not raise livestock, but certainly respect those that do and the amount of dedication it takes to care for them. But, I do raise corn and soybeans, which are eaten by those animals. Pork production in Ohio alone uses 10% of the corn and 10% of the soybeans produced here. As a beginning farmer, I cannot afford to lose that much of my market to another state or country. We cannot allow our livestock and poultry to leave either. Do we really want to be buying our pork chops, bacon, and eggs from other countries?

For the sake of Ohio agriculture, affordable food, and animal welfare, vote YES on Issue 2.

Michael Libben

President, Ottawa County Farm Bureau