"Ohio hog farmers recognize that they have both a moral and ethical obligation to provide for the humane treatment of their animals. That's why we fully support the proposal to create the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board -- because it ensures that animal well-being is top-of-mind in all livestock production practices.

"We commend the leadership of Governor Strickland, Senate President Harris and Speaker Budish, and Joint Resolution sponsors Rep. Sayre and Sen. Gibbs, for recognizing the need to ensure the viability and continued success for Ohio's hog and livestock industries by protecting Ohio family farms and the availability of safe, locally-grown food.

"Our hog farmers work every day to ensure the well-being of their animals, as we always have, and to provide safe, nutritious, affordable, Ohio-raised pork for consumers.

"Many hog farmers participate in quality assurance programs such as the Pork Quality Assurance Plus Program, which is a multi-level, voluntary producer education program created to assure consumers they are purchasing the highest quality, safest pork products possible and that those products are produced in a humane manner on Ohio's 4,100 hog farms.

"Our consumers can be confident in the care that Ohio hog farmers are giving their animals and in the safety and quality of the food we produce. It is our livelihood and our responsibility. Our support for the board further illustrates our commitment to do just that.

"Ohio ranks ninth in the nation for pork production and produces 805 million pounds of pork each year, with a gross on-farm income value of $405 million."

Ohio Agriculture Partners

with Foodbanks to Kick Off

"Pork Power"

The Ohio Pork Producers Council (OPPC) is leading an effort to generate 100,000 pounds of pork, or 500,000 servings, for the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks (OASHF) by April 30, 2010.

The effort, Pork Power: Partnering to Fight Hunger in Ohio, is a partnership between OPPC, OASHF, the Ohio Association of Meat Processors (OAMP) and the Ohio Corn Marketing Program (OCMP).

"While hunger is a year-round problem, we recognize that right now our local communities are facing greater hunger needs than ever before, with more families seeking assistance from their local foodbanks," said Jennifer Keller, OPPC marketing and education director. "Our partnership with Ohio's foodbanks reflects our commitment to doing more to help the organizations that help Ohioans in need. While I realize this has been an extremely difficult year for the pork industry, I am optimistic that Ohio's hog farmers will help us reach our goal of donating 100,000 pounds of pork."

On Sept. 1, meat processors throughout the state began accepting donated hogs and sows to process into one or two-pound packages of ground pork for distribution at the foodbanks. The participating OAMP members agreed to reduce their processing fees through April 30, 2010 for those pork producers donating eligible hogs.

"Donating to the Pork Power initiative is the right thing to do," said Jim Albaugh, OPPC president and a hog farmer from West Milton. "It is important that we each do what we can to help our community and our neighbors whenever possible."

"We are grateful to the Pork Power partners for their help in providing the important protein so many Ohio residents need," said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, OASHF executive director. "OASHF is pleased to partner with Ohio hog farmers and we look forward to the many other pork donations in the coming months that will help us meet the nutritional needs of those we serve." The OASHF is coordinating distribution and delivery of donated pork to foodbanks across the state.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends meat protein as part of a well-balanced and nutritious diet, yet, it is often difficult for foodbanks to maintain an adequate supply. Through the Pork Power program, up to 500,000 servings of meat protein (pork) will be made available to those in need of food assistance.

For more information about the program or to learn how you can contribute, please contact Jennifer Keller at 800-320-7991.

FREE PORK HELPS BUILD

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE

Pork producers want consumers to know that pork is safe to eat. With this key message in mind the Ohio Pork Producers Council teamed up with area pork producers and radio stations around the state to host "Swine Thrus." During these promotions more than 750 free pork sandwiches were offered to consumers in the radio station parking lots.

Ohio Pork Producers Council worked with 610 WTVN radio in Columbus, WRQK radio in Akron, and WIMT T102 in Lima to spread the message to consumers that pork is safe. The first event was held in Columbus and radio host John Corby provided ample free publicity for the event. Cars were lined up to get into the parking lot and the free pork sandwiches were gone in one hour. All of the participating radio stations helped Ohio's pork industry by spreading the word about the correct name of H1N1 and reiterated the message that pork was safe to eat.

The 'Swine Thru' name came about after the H1N1 virus was inappropriately named 'swine flu' which has misled many consumers. The pork industry is currently facing challenging financial times due to this undeserved consumer scare. In an effort to provide consumers with correct information Ohio Pork Producers Council set out to promote pork and deliver the message that pork is safe to eat.

"Consumers need to understand that H1N1 is a virus that is passed from one person to another," says Jim Albaugh, president of the Ohio Pork Producers Council. "Pork is safe for consumption and poses no threat to consumers."

The Ohio Pork Producers Council is continuing its efforts to increase consumer demand, and Ohio's pork producers are continuing to produce a safe and wholesome product.

For more information contact the Ohio Pork Producers Council at 5930 Sharon Woods Boulevard, Suite 101, Columbus OH 43229-2666, 614-882-5887.

Swine Ventilation Systems

Workshop Scheduled for Dec. 1

With rising energy costs and swine health issues it is more important now than ever to have swine buildings ventilated properly. OSU Extension is offering a ventilation systems workshop to be held at The Ohio State University Animal Sciences Building on Tuesday, Dec. 1. The workshop is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and will conclude by 4:30 p.m. Participants in the workshop will listen to presentations on "Environmental Factors and Their Effects on Pigs," "Ventilation System Design Principles and Indoor Environmental Management" and "Understanding Ventilation Controllers." All participants will have an opportunity to ask questions and take part in hands on ventilation demonstrations using the ventilation systems trailer. Glen Arnold and Dale Ricker (OSU Extension) will be conducting the workshop.

Hands on activities could include:

* Measuring how many cfm's of air a fan is moving

* Demonstrating the importance of inlet opening size and air speed

* Using smoke to watch air flow under different scenarios

* How to determine static pressure

* Demonstrating motor curves using the controller

For more information or to register contact Dale Ricker at 419-523-6294, office phone; or e-mail ricker.37@osu .edu.

VOTE YES ON ISSUE TWO

On Aug. 12, Ohio's Secretary of State announced that the ballot measure to create the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board (the Board) would be designated as State Issue Two on the November 2009 ballot.

The proposal to establish the board was placed on the ballot after passage of a bipartisan resolution, approved by an overwhelming majority in the Ohio House and Senate. Issue Two is strongly supported by legislative leaders from both political parties, Governor Ted Strickland and Ohio's agriculture community.

All Ohio farmers -- including livestock, poultry and grain farmers -- are giving their full support for the creation of the board because it will:

* Assure Ohio families have a safe, locally grown food supply;

* Bring together the best Ohio expertise in animal care to ensure excellent care of the state's flocks and herds;

* Reinforce consumer confidence in Ohio-raised food;

* Maintain the viability of Ohio agriculture -- the state's number one economic contributor; and

* Keep regulatory control of Ohio's farms where it belongs -- in the state.

A committee, Ohioans for Livestock Care Political Action Committee (PAC), has been formed to educate voters about Issue Two and the need for such a measure in Ohio. Consultants have been hired to manage the campaign, raise funds, coordinate outreach and assist with earned media and PR support. The consultants and steering committee are hard at work with coalition building, grassroots organization, fundraising, earned and paid media, and online and social media.

The Ohio Pork Producers Council has played an integral role in the campaign process and is encouraging our farm community to get behind this measure 110 percent. As a farmer you can support the Issue Two campaign by:

* Inviting legislators, elected officials and community leaders to take tours of your farm;

* Contacting your mayor to sign a resolution of support;

* Talking with farm workers, customers and neighbors about the measure;

* Being prepared to tell your story;

* Promoting a positive farm image (make sure your farm/facilities are clean at all times); and

* Getting on the campaign mailing list.

Today and tomorrow, we must unite as a community to share all the great work Ohio's hog farmers do. We hope that you will join us in supporting this measure and vote Yes for Issue Two to create the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board.

To learn more about the board, to volunteer on the Issue Two campaign, or to donate, please visit www.ohiolivestockcare.com. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call us at 614-882-5887 or check www.ohiopork.org for regular campaign updates.

Seven Reasons to Vote YES

for Issue Two

1. Issue Two is Ohio's plan to assure excellent care for Ohio livestock and poultry while guaranteeing a safe food supply that is locally grown and reasonably priced. With Issue Two, Ohio will have the most progressive and comprehensive law in the nation to guarantee the well-being of livestock and poultry.

2. The board created by Issue Two will bring a wide range of the best Ohio expertise available to establish rules for care of live stock and poultry. These will include experts in animal care, food safety, farm management, veterinary care, academia, humane society operations and consumer interest. The board will be required to consider food safety, animal health and mortality, biosecurity, consumer concerns and good farm practices in setting animal care rules.

3. Rules created under Issue Two are needed to provide for excellent livestock care as well as to protect Ohio's number one economic contributor, agriculture, which provides $93 billion and 924,000 jobs to Ohio's economy, and to protect Ohio's family farms .

4. The Issue Two Livestock Care Standards Board will be fully accountable to voters through our elected governor and legislative leaders who make appointments to the board, and through our senators who must approve board nominees. Furthermore, Issue Two preserves the full right of legislative action and initiative law and constitutional amendments.

5. Issue Two is a far better plan than extreme measures offered by Washington-based advocates for veganism and "animal rights" who seek extreme, costly, anti-farming regulations that will burden the production of meat, milk and eggs until these products are no longer affordable to Ohioans.

6. Unwise and extreme regulation would drive agriculture from Ohio, putting thousands of Ohio farmers out of work, reducing our local supply of food, and forcing us to rely on food production from other states, and other countries like Mexico and China. Issue Two will assure a balanced approach to livestock care rules reflecting broad input, rather than input from a single interest group.

7. Meat, milk and eggs account for nearly 70 percent of the protein in Ohio diets, protein essential for growth of our children and health of adults. Large increases in the prices of protein that would result from unwise, extreme regulation would hurt Ohio families, and be devastating to poor families and their children. The Issue Two board would produce standards and regulations based on science and research, and with the input of all interested parties, including consumers.