Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board

Issue 2 passed on November 3, 2009. The congressional amendment is to form an Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board in Ohio to establish and implement standards of care for livestock and poultry.

• The amendment requires the state to create the board to prescribe standards for animal care and well-being that endeavor to maintain food safety, encourage locally grown and raised food, and protect Ohio farms and families.
• The amendment authorizes this bipartisan board of thirteen members to consider factors that include, but are not limited to, agricultural best management practices for such care and well-being, biosecurity, disease prevention, animal morbidity and mortality data, food safety practices, and the protection of local, affordable food supplies for consumers when establishing and implementing standards.
• The board will be comprised of thirteen Ohio residents including representatives of Ohio family farms, farming organizations, food safety experts, veterinarians, consumers, the dean of the agriculture department at an Ohio college or university and a county humane society representative.

There has been a lot of controversy over this issue.....regardless as to how you feel about the board, I urge you to apply to become apart of the board. You do not have to be an farmer to apply...notice several slots on the board are for consumers (that is you!). I applied several days ago and it is quite painless. The application includes a short questionnaire and you can attach a resume/cover letter as well. The application can be found at: http://www.governor.ohio.gov/GovernorsOffice/Appointments/BoardsCommissions/tabid/61/Default.aspx
I checked with the Governor's office just a few days ago and they are hoping to act fast on this, so hurry if you want to apply for the board!