There is something really rotten and stinky going on in Ohio. On the Ballot this coming Tuesday is Issue 2, which proposes to set up a permanent livestock board that will tell farmers how they must run their farms. Huge agribusiness groups, even soy producers from around the country are funding the political campaign that will subject farmers to the bureaucratic whims of this board. If the board says, you must confine your animals, you must use antibiotics in the feed, whatever, the farmers will have to comply or else. Agribusiness Wants to Seize Power Under the Guise of "Animal Care Standards"
While consumers are led to believe this board will protect animals and insure their "quality of life." That is actually a ruse. This measure is not about animal husbandry. It is about control, and who has it.
This is a dangerous situation, since industrial farms will be in control of their competitors through this political power play. If there are farmers using inhumane practices or unacceptable conditions, why not correct them through the already existing membership organizations and peer pressure? These mega farms would certainly have the money to rectify the situation. No, instead, they want to keep doing what they are doing, and instead, control all their competition. A "Local" Initiative Fueled by Huge, Vested Outside Interests
A political action committee called Ohioans for Livestock Care is paying for a big marketing push for this ballot initiative. While it sounds like a local campaign, many out of state groups are pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into this. Groups like Eli Lilly, a drug manufacturer, the National Pork Producers, Iowa Pork Producers Council, a Soybean Research and Promotion Council out of Minnesota, and the Iowa Soybean Association, are among the out of state organizations on the PAC contributors list.
Why would soybean producers care about animal welfare? Because they peddle an animal protein substitute. Any thing that hurts their competition, benefits them. If burdensome regulations drive meat prices up, soy protein may gain greater acceptance with the consumer, thus market share. Why any livestock producers would team up with them is beyond me. Unless of course, their ultimate aim is also to edge out competition.
Agribusiness Wants to Seize Power Under the Guise of "Animal Care Standards" in Ohio
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OH, No, OHIO Vote NO on Issue 2
By Kimberly Hartke
Hartkeisonline.com, October 30, 2009
Straight to the Source
