Voters will decide Tuesday whether the state will establish a board to regulate how Ohio’s farmers care for livestock, a decision that might affect Ohio State’s agriculture programs.
Ohio’s agricultural industry lobbied hard to have the amendment added to the Ohio Constitution because some farmers say that is the only way they can stop animal-rights advocates from forcing costly reforms as they have done in six states already. Labeled as Issue 2, the amendment would create a 13-member board that would set standards on how farmers care for livestock.
Issue 2 supporters are afraid the Humane Society of the United States will achieve in Ohio what they accomplished elsewhere if the issue fails. The group opposes certain animal confinement practices and has lobbied in other states for legislation that bans gestation crates for sows and restrictive cages for hens and veal calves. The group has identified Ohio as the next target for such reforms.
OSU President E. Gordon Gee and Bobby Moser, dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, both support the amendment.
“I have read the issue, I have talked to a lot of people about it and I am voting for it,” Gee said during an Oct. 9 taping of Town Hall Ohio, a syndicated program by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. Gee said he views Issue 2 as an important opportunity for the university to take a leadership role in animal welfare research and science.
“My expectation is the proposed board would provide an important mechanism for the state to take a proactive approach to high quality animal care,” Moser said in a statement after The Lantern sought comment from him.
Moser might end up serving on the new board, as the amendment requires that one of its members be a dean of an Ohio agriculture college.
Whether the issue passes or not, the university’s agriculture programs are going to be affected by the growing movement to change livestock practices.
“This definitely could affect the university and how they approach animal agriculture,” said Natalie Kee, spokeswoman for Ohio Against Constitutional Takeover, a statewide coalition opposed to Issue 2. Even though the amendment was drafted by the state’s agriculture industry, Kee said her group is more worried about what the new board might do than what the animal-right advocates might achieve through legislation.
“This is unaccountable bureaucracy and a whole new level of government that could decide all animals need to be treated with antibiotics,” Kerr said.
If the amendment passes, the university and its extension staff would have the responsibility to educate producers about new regulations.
If the board imposes new regulations, “we will be heartily involved in the science and education that will move us forward in achieving what has been sought,” said Steve Moeller, an associate professor of the Animal Sciences department.
Associate professor Steve Boyles of Animal Sciences said he sees the passing of Issue 2 as an opportunity for OSU to provide important data to the board. He also said he believes the board will enable more citizens to voice their concerns about agricultural practices.
Many agriculture students support the amendment because they fear the efforts by the Humane Society of the United States may limit their employment options if they limit how producers raise livestock.
“Agriculture is my past, present and future,” said Ryan Langenkamp, president of Buckeye Dairy Club. “As a senior in animal science this issue means a lot to me.”
Along with Buckeye Dairy Club, Sigma Alpha and Saddle and Sirloin have launched outreach campaigns on campus through rallies and campus awareness projects.
But animal welfare is not a new topic on campus. A course in contemporary issues, instructed by Boyles, focuses on human interaction with livestock and companion animals. This class allows students to voice their concerns and offer alternative solutions to livestock welfare.
Some student groups say Issue 2 is too extreme and does not eliminate the possibility that the humane society would pursue harsher legislation. They say the amendment gives too much power to government and big business in Ohio, which will in turn make it harder for students to find jobs in agriculture.
“We believe out-of-state activists will try to push for further regulation, regardless of the livestock care board,” said Dave Grabaskas, president of the Young Americans for Liberty club on campus. “Trying to appease these activists by passing a regulatory board is the wrong approach. If Issue 2 can be defeated, there’s no reason why people couldn’t also defeat harsher pieces of legislation.”
As supporters and opponents of Issue 2 battle over possible regulations, OSU is left waiting as voters decide what changes could be in the future of the university.
