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Livestock farms have become part of the campaign trail this year as a northwest Ohio congressional candidate has called for a moratorium on large livestock permits. But Farm Bureau thinks such an action is unwarranted and could have far-reaching effects on Ohio’s economy.

Robin Weirauch, who is opposing incumbent U.S. Rep. Paul Gillmor, R-Old Fort, on the November 2004 ballot, told a group in late July in Toledo that, if elected in November, she would push for a national moratorium on large livestock farms. "We don’t know enough about (public health risks related to large livestock facilities) to be taking the risks," she was quoted in the July 31 Toledo Blade.

Other groups have jumped on the bandwagon for a moratorium. And the Ohio Department of Agriculture has been sued by some groups because permits have been issued for large livestock operations in their areas.

"All of this action is unfortunate because Ohio has a sound, environmental process for permitting and regulating large livestock operations in our state," said David White, executive director of the Ohio Livestock Coalition (OLC), of which OFBF is a member. "I think the impact of a decreasing livestock presence in Ohio would have a much larger economic impact than within just the farm sector."

White explained that the livestock and poultry sector is an important component of Ohio’s economy, accounting for more than $7.89 billion in economic output and employing almost 38,000 Ohioans, either on the farm or in processing.

"A moratorium would not be beneficial or helpful as it would halt progress and drive food production to other states. This in turn would create a negative, rippling effect for family farmers who want to grow and expand to remain competitive in the marketplace," White explained. "(A moratorium) would also be detrimental economically to communities that rely heavily on livestock and/or poultry production operations for economic growth and development. It would also hurt ag-related businesses -- such as feed, equipment and machinery, and animal health -- that are directly dependent upon the livestock and poultry sector. Livestock production is the number one customer of corn and soybeans farmers."

White pointed out the dairy processing industry as an example. Ohio now has 94 dairy processing plants that process bottled milk, ice cream, cheese, yogurt and other dairy products. "If Ohio experiences a decline in dairy production, it could very well start losing processors. Growing and expanding farms are helping to prevent this problem from occurring. Losing processors would have a profound, negative impact on dairy farms of all sizes – small, medium and large -- in the state, as well as consumers, who could very well see an increase in the price of dairy products," he said.

White said OLC members support environmentally friendly farming. "We support making well-thought out improvements for regulations on large livestock farms. We will cooperate with sound programs that will lead to an improved environment. We insist that environmental regulations be practical, realistic and economically feasible."

Ohio’s livestock industry has taken a proactive approach to working with livestock, dairy and poultry producers to protect the environment. More than 5,000 producers have participated in the OLC’s Livestock Environmental Assurance Program (LEAP), which helps farmers economically address environmental challenges on their farms. White also pointed out that Ohio State University (OSU) Extension is conducting air quality research and analysis of large swine, dairy and poultry farms in the state. Technical standards, as well as best management practices and production guidelines, are constantly being reviewed, evaluated and updated by OSU’s College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Soil and Water Conservation and the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

"Livestock producers are working hard to balance economic feasibility with environmental protection," White said. "We believe there are adequate rules in place to monitor oeprations of all sizes, and provide for a safe environment."