Editor:
Every morning I wake up, this country of ours seems a little more unrecognizable. The government seems to have its hand in just about everything and we stand by and let it happen.
Now it seems that our livestock industry needs some sort of guidelines for the care of our own animals. Guidelines to dictate farm activities that have been carried out for years without any previous interference.
Our “all knowing” farm organizations (Farm Bureau, Ohio Cattleman) seem more than willing to accept a set of regulations set forward by some committee to dictate everyday farm activities.
I do not wish to relinquish any of my farm decision making to anyone other than the one who knows this farm and these animals best: ME!
When will we finally stand up and say enough is enough? If you have raised livestock, you know the proper way to tend to your animals. If you are incapable of this, quality competition will weed you out.
Now, on the premise of preempting the Humane Society, Issue 2 has been written to set standards for animal care. No thank you!
I started farming and raising cattle because it was a passion of mine. I will not turn over any control of that passion or dream to any set of rules or regulations.
It is time to wake up and make a statement that the family farm is sacred and there is not a committee that can set a new standard for one that has been proven for centuries.
Keep your farm decisions in your hands and stand proud for all you have accomplished and will continue to accomplish.
Trevor Stover
Lexington, Ohio
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Yes I agree, this leads to the failing of many farms, you have to go with a gut decision, and think about what is best in the long run. I do believe we are being regulated to pieces. I farm, with my money, my “mistakes” dont lend me big bail outs. I recieve no subsidies or the like. The govt needs to keep their paws out.
VOTE NO on ISSUE 2
I am not a fan of either HSUS or PETA. I believe we as a country would be better with out the animal rights people mucking up the water. That said I would support the premise of Issue 2 if it were introduced as a bill to amend Ohio Revised Code. However, I cannot support the effort to change the constitution. This is not a constitutional issue.
My problem with this constitutional amendment is the excessive power it places in the hands of a 13 member group of non-elected bureaucrats. This constitutional amendment places in the board’s hands the power to mandate whatever they choose, and it is the Department of Ag that will implement and enforce those decisions of the board. (see the text of proposed amendment at the Ohio Secretary of State page http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/IssueProcBallotBd/BallotBoard.aspx#Issues). The text of the amendment includes “consider factors that include, but are not limited to,” which gives the board authority far beyond the scope of its intended purpose. In the text “agricultural best management practices for such care and well-being” is the part that will thwart HSUS and their cronies.
This issue should not have been a constitutional amendment. The same objective to thwart PETA and HSUS could have been accomplished by including the key words “agricultural best management practices for such care and well-being” in section 900 of the Ohio Revised Code.
VOTE NO on ISSUE 2