June Issue

Down the Dusty Lane
hibits certain livestock management prac- “enclosure” is any cage, crate or other
tices on farms. Laws preventing “cruel” structure, including gestation crates, veal
Ohio’s Source for Ag Information
confinement of farm animals have passed crates and battery cages. Note that the law
Vol. 17; Issue 17; June 2009
successfully in five out of six attempts, prohibits the tethering or confinement for
beginning with Florida in 2002. Arizona, “all or the majority” of a day, and thus is
table of Contents
Oregon, Colorado and California initiated not a complete prohibition.
similar laws. Only Nebraska has rejected a A person who violates California ‘s
farm animal cruelty proposal. Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act is
Last fall, California voters decided subject to criminal misdemeanor charges.
FeaTureS
the most recent farm animal welfare A successful conviction can result in pun-
issue when they enacted the ishment of up to $1,000 in fines and 180
Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty days in jail. These penalties are in addition
NewS
Act. The new law arose as a ballot ini- to charges that may arise under
tiative, a procedure that allows a leg- California‘s other animal welfare laws.
nEWAnIMALISSUESCEnTER . . . . . . . .5
islative proposal to be placed on the An interesting provision of the
ballot and decided by all citizens California law is its effective date of Jan. 1,
opiNioN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Kyle Sharp, editor
rather than by the elected legislative 2015 — more than six years from its enact-
I hate to beat a dead horse, but the
body. More than 63% of the voters sup- ment. Proponents say the intent of the
BuCKeYe BrieFS . . . . . . .9
Humane Society of the United States has
ported California ‘s Proposition 2 and delayed effective date is to address con-
struck again. While perhaps, given the
its stated purpose of prohibiting the cerns about the financial impact of adapt-
MarKeTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
topic, that intro isn’t the best choice of
“cruel confinement of farm animals in ing facilities to the new law. Opponents
words, it does reemphasize the animal
a manner that does not allow them to state that advocates designed the delay to
CropS
rights group’s efforts to legislate animal
turn around freely, lie down, stand up, give them time to pass similar laws in
agriculture out of the country and, most
and fully extend their limbs.” other states without legal challenges and a
LATEPLAnTInG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
importantly, off of your dinner plate.
The new California law applies to cer- backlash of anger and implementation
In mid May, Maine Gov. John
tain farm animals: calves raised for veal, issues in California. LiVeSToCK
Baldacci signed legislation that will pro-
egg laying hens and pigs during pregnan- Proposed farm animal cruelty legisla-
hibit gestation crates for sows and veal
cy. Egg-laying hens means chicken, turkey, tion in Ohio would likely amend Ohio ‘s OnE-MAnDAIRyFACILITy . . . . . . . .25
crates for calves in the state beginning in
duck, goose or guinea fowl kept for the animal cruelty law. Ohio Revised Code
2011. The bill, strongly backed by HSUS,
purpose of egg production. For pigs, there 959.13 currently states that a person may FarM equipMeNT . . . . .30
passed both of the state’s legislative
is an exception for the seven days prior to not torture, beat, mutilate or kill any ani-
chambers unanimously, according to an
the expected birth date. Exceptions also mal, deprive an animal of food or water, CouNTrY LiFe
HSUS news release.
exist for research, veterinary care, exhibi- confine an animal without access to shelter
Maine becomes the sixth state to pass a
tions and slaughter. Otherwise, the from wind, rain, snow and excessive sun-
COVERSTORy:
similar measure, after California,
Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act light, carry or convey an animal in an
Colorado, Florida, Arizona and Oregon.
states that a person shall not “tether or inhumane manner, or confine animals in
nATIOnALHOnOR FOROHIOLOGGER1,32
As we’ve covered numerous times in this
confine” calves, hens and pigs on a farm railroad cars for more than 28 hours with-
publication before, Ohio is a likely target
“for all or the majority of any day, in a out food and water. For animals other CLaSSiFieDS . . . . . . . . . . .38
for similar HSUS activity either this year
manner that prevents such animal from than cattle, poultry, fowl, swine, sheep or
or next. The significance of the situation
lying down, standing up, and fully goats, a person may not confine an animal
CaLeNDar . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
cannot be stressed enough because of the
extending his or her limbs and turning in an enclosure without providing it with
impact it could have on Ohio agriculture
around freely.” exercise and a change of air.
and the state’s economy as a whole.
A few definitions are important to the The effort to bring a farm animal cru-
CoLuMNS
With that in mind, here is some addi-
meaning of the California law. A “farm” is elty law to Ohio will occur soon, accord-
tional information and insight on the
land or buildings used for commercial ing to the Humane Society of the United
MAnAGInGTHEMARkET . . . . . . . . .13
topic, offered by Petty Hall, director of
production of animals or animal products, States. The organization — which is not
Ohio State University’s Agricultural and
but this does not include markets. “Fully affiliated with Ohio’s county humane
Resource Law Program.
extending limbs” means fully extending societies and animal shelters — has
COUnTRyCROSSROADS . . . . . . . . . .22
Farm animal cruelty legisla-
all limbs without touching the side of an formed a farm animal campaign aimed
tion: Coming soon to Ohio?
enclosure. In the case of egg-laying hens, at “reducing the suffering of animals
APPLIEDEnGInEERInG . . . . . . . . . . .30
this means fully spreading both wings raised for meat, eggs and milk.” For fur-
Ohio may once again serve as a battle-
without touching either the side of an ther information on the farm animal
ground state for a political issue. The
enclosure or other egg-laying hens. campaign, see www.hsus.org/farm. A
BUCkEyESPORTSMAn . . . . . . . . . . .33
Humane Society of the United States has
“Turning around freely” means turning in preview of the Web site will give agri-
turned to Ohio as its next target for farm
a complete circle without any impedi- cultural advocates and livestock opera-
animal cruelty legislation. The effort is
FOODCHAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
ment, including a tether, and without tors a preview of the next big battle that
part of a trend in state legislation that pro-
touching the side of an enclosure. An may soon be waged in Ohio.
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4News • Ohio’s Country Journal • June 2009
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