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Farm  issue subject of Monday meeting

Issue 2 aimed at creating livestock regulatory board

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By Richard Wilson, Staff Writer 10:56 PM Sunday, September 20, 2009

HAMILTON — A statewide ballot initiative is aimed at keeping local control over farming practices.

Few outside the agricultural industry may be aware that Issue 2, if passed Nov. 3, will amend the state constitution to create an Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, which will regulate the treatment of farm animals, like cows, pigs and chickens.

Those campaigning in favor of the issue include the Butler County Farm Bureau, which will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21, at the OSU Princeton Road Campus, 1802 Princeton Road.

Issue 2 will create a local board to ensure that food grown locally is safe and reasonably priced, said Farmersville-based Christy Montoya, the farm bureau’s organizational director for Butler, Warren, Hamilton and Montgomery counties.

However, Issue 2 is opposed by the Humane Society of the United States, which is concerned about creating more humane conditions for farm animals.

Adam Sharp, of the Ohio Farm Bureau, said Issue 2 is a proactive effort to prevent what’s happened in other states, where farming regulations have been imposed by outside groups.

“Normally farmers are against regulations. But in light of what’s going on in other states, we feel this is a good step forward — for Ohioans to be in charge of Ohioans,” Sharp said.

If Issue 2 passes, Sharp said a statewide regulatory board will be formed consisting of 13 members, with the director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture serving as chairman, 10 members appointed by the governor and one each appointed by the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives.

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

Issue 2 is a proactive effort to prevent outside groups from imposing farming regulations on Ohioans.

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