A victory for animal agriculture

Northwest Report November 6, 2009 Instead of waiting for some group to come up with a ballot measure prohibiting certain livestock practices, the Farm Bureau in Ohio got proactive and put its own measure on the election ballot earlier this week. A constitutional amendment that establishes a state Livestock Care Standards board overseen by Ohio's agriculture department was passed by voters by a margin of 64 to 36 percent. Ohio Farm Bureau president Jack Fisher says State Issue 2 was not just an issue for Ohio, but for American agriculture. Fisher: "We now have a model for other states to look at. We are going to reach out and encourage them to be proactive and help us build a critical mass for American agriculture that deals with the new level of livestock care standards." The Livestock Care Standards Board will have members representing family farms, farming organizations, food safety experts, veterinarians, consumers, an academic and a county humane society. Northwest Farm Credit Services has reported 2009 third quarter earnings of 29.9 million dollars, compared to earnings of 39 million for the third quarter of 2008. Earnings for the first nine months of 2009 were 65.6 million, compared to 97.9 million as of September 30th 2008. President and CEO Jay Penick says Northwest Farm Credit Services continues to have solid earnings; however, with the extended downturn for several commodities, it has continued to build its allowance for loan loss. Now here's today's Washington Grange Report. I'm Bob Hoff for Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.