Humane Society of the U.S.starts Ohio agriculture group

4/25/2013

COLUMBUS — The Humane Society of the United States announced Wednesday its Ohio Agriculture Council to unite farmers, processors, and animal welfare advocates.

The announcement was made at Humane Lobby Day, a day during which it urges all to meet their legislators at the capitol to advocate for stronger animal protection laws.

The group aims to link livestock producers who manage their animals using what it sees as higher animal welfare practices with consumers seeking such products, and will help other farmers transition to what it views as more humane animal management.

The founding members are William Miller, an organic farmer from Butler County; Mardy Townsend, a grassfed beef producer from northeast Ohio; Bruce Rickard of Fox Hollow Farms in Knox County; Joe Logan, an Ohio farmer who works with the Ohio Environmental Council, and Warren Taylor, co-owner and “head dairy nerd” for Snowville Creamery in Pomeroy.

John Dinon, HSUS’ Ohio director of outreach and engagement, and formerly the executive director at the Toledo Area Humane Society, said HSUS members want to avoid products from “industrial farms.”