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The Humane Society of the United States announced that it will lead an effort to impose restrictions on Ohio farmers similar to California’s Proposition 2, which eliminated gestation crates, cages used in egg production, and veal crates.

“Ohioans for Humane Farms” -- a group headed by HSUS and fellow animal rights group Farm Sanctuary -- submitted a petition to Ohio’s Secretary of State to place a measure on the November ballot. The group will seek to collect 600,000 signatures in upcoming weeks.

This comes just three months after Ohioans overwhelmingly passed Issue 2, establishing an independent Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to address animal well-being in the state. Although nearly two-thirds of voters supported Issue 2, HSUS seeks to dictate the Board’s decisions according to its animal rights agenda.

“The enabling legislation hasn’t passed; the board hasn’t been appointed and the first discussions on what Ohioans find acceptable haven’t been held. And yet, HSUS is saying, in effect, Ohioans got it wrong,” said Jack Fisher, Ohio Farm Bureau Executive Vice President in an official statement.

If passed, the proposed initiative would require the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to establish the following limitations within six years: •

Prohibit the tethering or confinement of any veal calf, pregnant sow, or egg-laying hen in a manner that prevents them from lying down, standing up, fully extending their limbs, or turning around freely •

Require that the killing of pigs and cattle be done in a “humane manner” •

Prohibit strangulation as a form of euthanasia in cattle and pigs •

Prohibit the transport and sale of downer cattle/calves for the human food supply

The initiative’s vague wording is very similar to California’s Proposition 2, which HSUS lobbied extensively for in 2008. When Proposition 2 goes into effect in 2015, it is expected that it will eliminate California’s egg industry, bringing an estimated $615 million loss in economic activity. While HSUS claimed that the initiative would increase animal welfare, the American Veterinary Medical Association cautioned that the enactment of Proposition 2 could increase disease outbreaks.

The Alliance urges all agriculture stakeholders to closely monitor HSUS’ actions in the upcoming months. Many states have looked to Ohio’s standards board as a proactive strategy to prevent meddling from out-of-state special interest groups. However, with this latest move, HSUS is attempting to manipulate the authority of the board to drive its anti-agriculture agenda. The Alliance encourages all states to consider measures to prevent the success of this backdoor move. It is crucial that voters learn the true motives of HSUS as it attempts to impose devastating restrictions on the state’s top industry.

For more information, contact Sarah Hubbart, Communications Coordinator at shubbart@animalagalliance.org.