Overtime
Last week’s vote in Ohio on Issue 2 to create a Livestock Care Standards Board sends a strong signal to other states facing threats of a HSUS led ballot initiative. After the passage of Proposition 2 in California other states such as Colorado and Michigan chose to compromise rather than risk a similar defeat. Ohio’s strong show of support (64% approval) for Issue 2 gives other states a blueprint to follow. It also shows it is better to be proactive and try to pass an initiative rather than play defense and try to defeat one. Some have tried to make this a big versus small farmer issue and feel Issue 2 only protects large producers. I disagree. Groups like HSUS have an agenda that would eliminate all livestock production, not just those on a bigger scale. The larger operations are easier targets and are more easily portrayed as the “bad guys” but people should not be fooled into thinking HSUS would stop with them. It’s much better to protect the entire industry than allow these groups to divide and conquer. Congratulations to everyone who worked on passage of Issue 2 in Ohio but this is only one battle in an ongoing war. HSUS has made it clear they will not give up. Agriculture must tell its story and educate consumers about who they are and why they do things the way they do. Consumers are asking questions about their food and this is a great opportunity for agriculture to provide them with the facts.
Meanwhile stories like the one recently in Vermont sure don’t help. A Vermont slaughterhouse has been ordered closed after the release of video showing inexcusable treatment of animals. Especially troubling is the history of violations at this plant. USDA will need to answer some tough questions about their oversight of this and other plants. Release of these videos does help catch and stop those who are breaking the law but I still question the real motives of HSUS. If their concern is truly about the welfare of animals then why do they take so long to release these videos. In this Vermont case, they took a month to record the video and waited almost another month to turn it in to officials. If your concern is for the animals then why not make the abuse known as soon as it is discovered. How many animals suffered in the meantime while HSUS sat on the information? While I give HSUS credit for uncovering wrongs that need righted and for not going overboard in their own self promotion on this particular incident, I still question their motives. Their release of the video so close to the vote on Issue 2 in Ohio also raises some questions. Again, let’s not indict an entire industry because of the wrongful actions of a few.