Sportsmen and dog breeders were caught up in the HSUS demands after the fact. Once the Farm Bureau conceded and HSUS smelled victory, their scope of so-called negotiations expanded to include regulatation of dog kennels (puppy mills in HSUS vernacular) and to ban ownership of exotic animals (currently licensed by either the state or USDA). HSUS was not elected as a lawmaker by the citizens of Ohio. Sportsmen need to be clear in their message to newly elected officials that their rights are not negotiable.
Brownfield Ag News
December 7, 2010 by Julie Harker
A spokesman for the Ohio Farm Bureau says results of the November election won’t affect their agreement in regard to the livestock care standards board.
“The new administration and election of new administration really doesn’t affect our commitment to the agreement that was reached this past summer with HSUS.”
Ohio Farm Bureau spokesman Joe Cornely says that includes making recommendations to the livestock care standards board. Cornely says Governor-elect John Kasich spoke to delegates at their annual meeting last week.
“He recognized what a challenge out-of-state activist groups can provide. He also recognized that if farmers bought into this agreement then perhaps he needs to allow farmers have the say there.”
Cornely says the Ohio Farm Bureau will be engaging the governor and his new director of ag Jim Zeringer, along with members of the General Assembly, in conversation – helping them understand ag’s position as they make their own decisions about the agreement.
Showing posts with label Ohio Farm Bureau. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ohio Farm Bureau. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Taking the lead in chicken, turkey welfare
Dr. Jamison indicated that the veterinary profession, by emphasizing the importance of the human-animal bond, enables consumer hypocrisy, which is exploited by animal protection organizations. He argued that the AVMA should abandon advocating for the human-animal bond in favor of fighting for the right of animal owners to use animals as they choose, whether that entails companionship, food, or labor.
JAVMA News. Posted September 2, 2010
Dr. Bob Edson said he and other managers at Aviagen Turkeys would not have tolerated the abuses shown in an activist organization's undercover videos.
The organization contacted his company with allegations before the video's public release, and Dr. Edson said the supervisors he questioned about those allegations denied a problem existed.
Dr. Edson, vice president of operations at Aviagen Turkeys, was one of 10 speakers who talked about animal welfare-related issues and campaigns during the symposium "Animal Welfare Symposium: Reality, Perception, and Thinking Outside the Box," presented Aug. 1 in Atlanta as part of the American Association of Avian Pathologists Annual Meeting. Sessions for the AAAP annual meeting took place near sessions for the AVMA Annual Convention in the Georgia World Congress Center.
During his presentation, Dr. Edson advocated for implementation of animal welfare-related employee training, documentation, auditing, and enforcement of standards, along with an anonymous reporting mechanism for employees who find problems. He also suggested that internal or external audits could involve company-run undercover investigations.
Wes Jamison, PhD, an associate professor of communication at Palm Beach Atlantic University, said animal protection organizations run successful campaigns by showing consumers the differential attitudes those consumers have toward treatment of animals kept as pets versus for food.
Dr. Jamison also indicated that the veterinary profession, by emphasizing the importance of the human-animal bond, enables consumer hypocrisy, which is exploited by animal protection organizations. He argued that the AVMA should abandon advocating for the human-animal bond in favor of fighting for the right of animal owners to use animals as they choose, whether that entails companionship, food, or labor.
Some speakers encouraged symposium attendees to find common ground with the public, provide information on animal industries, and promote transparency of operations. Others presented information on improving processes and examining practices for providing employee training, developing welfare audit programs, and performing euthanasia.
Mike Bumgarner, vice president of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation's Center for Food and Animal Issues, said people working in and with animal agriculture cannot be afraid to discuss and debate animal welfare issues. They also need to listen to consumers and explain the impacts of proposals on food safety, local production, worker safety, availability of food, and consumer choice. He encouraged them to draw attention to the agendas of animal rights groups.
Bumgarner said his organization met with Ohio's governor and representatives of the Humane Society of the United States about two weeks prior to a June 30 agreement that ended the HSUS' push for a ballot initiative that would have implemented new standards for livestock housing, euthanasia, and treatment of downer cattle. The agreement could lead to new standards for livestock housing and treatment, new regulations for dog breeders, new rules on ownership of some animals, and increased punishments for cockfighting, but he noted it is only a good faith agreement and not a legal document. FULL STORY
JAVMA News. Posted September 2, 2010
Dr. Bob Edson said he and other managers at Aviagen Turkeys would not have tolerated the abuses shown in an activist organization's undercover videos.
The organization contacted his company with allegations before the video's public release, and Dr. Edson said the supervisors he questioned about those allegations denied a problem existed.
Dr. Edson, vice president of operations at Aviagen Turkeys, was one of 10 speakers who talked about animal welfare-related issues and campaigns during the symposium "Animal Welfare Symposium: Reality, Perception, and Thinking Outside the Box," presented Aug. 1 in Atlanta as part of the American Association of Avian Pathologists Annual Meeting. Sessions for the AAAP annual meeting took place near sessions for the AVMA Annual Convention in the Georgia World Congress Center.
During his presentation, Dr. Edson advocated for implementation of animal welfare-related employee training, documentation, auditing, and enforcement of standards, along with an anonymous reporting mechanism for employees who find problems. He also suggested that internal or external audits could involve company-run undercover investigations.
Wes Jamison, PhD, an associate professor of communication at Palm Beach Atlantic University, said animal protection organizations run successful campaigns by showing consumers the differential attitudes those consumers have toward treatment of animals kept as pets versus for food.
Dr. Jamison also indicated that the veterinary profession, by emphasizing the importance of the human-animal bond, enables consumer hypocrisy, which is exploited by animal protection organizations. He argued that the AVMA should abandon advocating for the human-animal bond in favor of fighting for the right of animal owners to use animals as they choose, whether that entails companionship, food, or labor.
Some speakers encouraged symposium attendees to find common ground with the public, provide information on animal industries, and promote transparency of operations. Others presented information on improving processes and examining practices for providing employee training, developing welfare audit programs, and performing euthanasia.
Mike Bumgarner, vice president of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation's Center for Food and Animal Issues, said people working in and with animal agriculture cannot be afraid to discuss and debate animal welfare issues. They also need to listen to consumers and explain the impacts of proposals on food safety, local production, worker safety, availability of food, and consumer choice. He encouraged them to draw attention to the agendas of animal rights groups.
Bumgarner said his organization met with Ohio's governor and representatives of the Humane Society of the United States about two weeks prior to a June 30 agreement that ended the HSUS' push for a ballot initiative that would have implemented new standards for livestock housing, euthanasia, and treatment of downer cattle. The agreement could lead to new standards for livestock housing and treatment, new regulations for dog breeders, new rules on ownership of some animals, and increased punishments for cockfighting, but he noted it is only a good faith agreement and not a legal document. FULL STORY
Friday, February 26, 2010
Strickland and Kasich denounce HSUS ballot initiative in Ohio
Ohio Gov. Denounces HSUS Ballot Plan
By Pork news source Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Ohio Democratic Governor Ted Strickland and his GOP rival candidate John Kasich both declared their opposition to a ballot measure being planned by the out-of-state activist organization the Humane Society of the United States. The Washington, D.C.-based animal rights organization has prepared to use paid petition gatherers to place on the November ballot a measure to overturn State Issue 2, which was approved by Ohio voters by a nearly 2-1 margin just under four months ago.
Issue 2 created the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to allow broad public input into farm animal care issues. The HSUS plan would force the Care Board to adopt HSUS policies.
Both gubernatorial candidates endorsed Issue 2 and now agree that it’s wrong for HSUS to attempt to overturn the will of Ohio voters.
"If we want to eat, and if we want access to affordable and inexpensive food, it is important for the agricultural community within our state not to be hamstrung and to have their hands tied behind their back by those who do not fully appreciate the value of what happens on our farms," said Gov. Strickland.
Referencing HSUS’s "extremism," candidate Kasich said, "No outsiders ought to come in here and try to destroy our farms."
Last week a HSUS watchdog Web site, www.HumaneWatch.org was launched which plans coverage on HSUS’ efforts at the national as well as state levels. “Ohio and Missouri are big battlegrounds for HSUS this year and we will be covering them extensively,” says David Martosko, Center for Consumer Freedom, the site's sponsor.
"The Ohio pork industry demonstrates to its consumers that the well-being of hogs in the state is a top priority," says Dick Isler, executive vice president, Ohio Pork Producers Council. “I would add that HSUS should try to work with the Animal Care Standards Board, not try to highjack it."
The Ohio governor candidates join Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern and Ohio Republic Party Chairman Kevin DeWine, who also condemned the HSUS plan during a broadcast of OFBF's radio program Town Hall Ohio.
"We don't need extreme out-of-state groups coming into Ohio. It just shows the political angle of the Humane Society," said DeWine.
"It's pretty remarkable. We haven't even had a chance to write the rules and somebody else is going to tell us what the rules should be," said Redfern. He added that HSUS "is clearly out of touch with Ohioans."
HSUS, which is not the parent of locally operated humane organizations, advocates for reducing and eliminating consumption of animal products.
Source: Ohio Farm Bureau Federation
By Pork news source Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Ohio Democratic Governor Ted Strickland and his GOP rival candidate John Kasich both declared their opposition to a ballot measure being planned by the out-of-state activist organization the Humane Society of the United States. The Washington, D.C.-based animal rights organization has prepared to use paid petition gatherers to place on the November ballot a measure to overturn State Issue 2, which was approved by Ohio voters by a nearly 2-1 margin just under four months ago.
Issue 2 created the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to allow broad public input into farm animal care issues. The HSUS plan would force the Care Board to adopt HSUS policies.
Both gubernatorial candidates endorsed Issue 2 and now agree that it’s wrong for HSUS to attempt to overturn the will of Ohio voters.
"If we want to eat, and if we want access to affordable and inexpensive food, it is important for the agricultural community within our state not to be hamstrung and to have their hands tied behind their back by those who do not fully appreciate the value of what happens on our farms," said Gov. Strickland.
Referencing HSUS’s "extremism," candidate Kasich said, "No outsiders ought to come in here and try to destroy our farms."
Last week a HSUS watchdog Web site, www.HumaneWatch.org was launched which plans coverage on HSUS’ efforts at the national as well as state levels. “Ohio and Missouri are big battlegrounds for HSUS this year and we will be covering them extensively,” says David Martosko, Center for Consumer Freedom, the site's sponsor.
"The Ohio pork industry demonstrates to its consumers that the well-being of hogs in the state is a top priority," says Dick Isler, executive vice president, Ohio Pork Producers Council. “I would add that HSUS should try to work with the Animal Care Standards Board, not try to highjack it."
The Ohio governor candidates join Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern and Ohio Republic Party Chairman Kevin DeWine, who also condemned the HSUS plan during a broadcast of OFBF's radio program Town Hall Ohio.
"We don't need extreme out-of-state groups coming into Ohio. It just shows the political angle of the Humane Society," said DeWine.
"It's pretty remarkable. We haven't even had a chance to write the rules and somebody else is going to tell us what the rules should be," said Redfern. He added that HSUS "is clearly out of touch with Ohioans."
HSUS, which is not the parent of locally operated humane organizations, advocates for reducing and eliminating consumption of animal products.
Source: Ohio Farm Bureau Federation
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Activist Notes: OFB urges other states to set up livestock boards
(1/14/2010) Rod Smith
Representatives of the Ohio Farm Bureau (OFB), addressing the 91st annual meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) this week, related their experience last year in winning Ohio voters' approval for the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board and urged other state farm bureaus to consider setting up similar standards boards in their states.
OFB president Brent Porteus said Ohio's farmers and ranchers moved quickly last year to establish the Ohio board after the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) indicated its plans to compel producers to change animal handling practices the way it has via ballot initiatives or legislation in other states.
"In our opinion, HSUS did not have (the best interests of) Ohio farmers, Ohio consumers and even Ohio animals . . . at heart," he said.
OFB executive vice president Jack Fisher and senior director of legislative and regulatory policy Adam Sharp said OFB worked with all farmers in the state and a number of consumer, business and political interests organized as Ohioans for Livestock Care to pass legislation proposing the board as a constitutional amendment and then win voter approval. The board was approved by 64% of voters (Feedstuffs, July 13 and Nov. 9, 2008).
Voters "took to the message" that Ohio producers follow humane practices and produce high-quality, safe food and that it's important to keep Ohioans in charge of Ohio agriculture, Fisher and Sharp said. "Ohio consumers didn't want someone from Washington, D.C. (like HSUS), telling them what to do," Sharp said.
Fisher and Sharp said the Ohio group is now working to get implementation legislation passed by the Ohio General Assembly, after which the board members will be appointed and put to work codifying humane animal handling practices for Ohio livestock and poultry producers.
At least two other states, Idaho and Missouri, are considering state livestock care standards boards.
More ...
Representatives of the Ohio Farm Bureau (OFB), addressing the 91st annual meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) this week, related their experience last year in winning Ohio voters' approval for the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board and urged other state farm bureaus to consider setting up similar standards boards in their states.
OFB president Brent Porteus said Ohio's farmers and ranchers moved quickly last year to establish the Ohio board after the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) indicated its plans to compel producers to change animal handling practices the way it has via ballot initiatives or legislation in other states.
"In our opinion, HSUS did not have (the best interests of) Ohio farmers, Ohio consumers and even Ohio animals . . . at heart," he said.
OFB executive vice president Jack Fisher and senior director of legislative and regulatory policy Adam Sharp said OFB worked with all farmers in the state and a number of consumer, business and political interests organized as Ohioans for Livestock Care to pass legislation proposing the board as a constitutional amendment and then win voter approval. The board was approved by 64% of voters (Feedstuffs, July 13 and Nov. 9, 2008).
Voters "took to the message" that Ohio producers follow humane practices and produce high-quality, safe food and that it's important to keep Ohioans in charge of Ohio agriculture, Fisher and Sharp said. "Ohio consumers didn't want someone from Washington, D.C. (like HSUS), telling them what to do," Sharp said.
Fisher and Sharp said the Ohio group is now working to get implementation legislation passed by the Ohio General Assembly, after which the board members will be appointed and put to work codifying humane animal handling practices for Ohio livestock and poultry producers.
At least two other states, Idaho and Missouri, are considering state livestock care standards boards.
More ...
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