Farms.com Home   Ag Industry News

Farm groups call for stricter penalties for Ohio cockfighting rings

Two recent busts in Mahoning County call attention to issue

With two Ohio cockfighting rings uncovered in the last week, farm groups are calling for tougher penalties for participants.

As reported by the Dayton Daily News, State Reps. Heather Bishoff, D-Blacklick, and Barbara Sears, R-Sylvania, are pushing House Bill 215, which would make staging or witnessing cockfighting an unclassified felony, punishable by fines of up to $10,000.

Supporters of the bill include the Ohio Farm Bureau and the Ohio Poultry Association.

Police in Mahoning County busted two different cockfight operations on Jan. 26 and Jan. 28.

According to a report in the Youngstown Vindicator, in the most recent bust, more than 30 birds were found inside the home. They also found steroids used to bulk up the birds, or make them more combative.

Describing the scene, one authority said there were several family members, including young children, in the home, and birds were in upstairs and basement rooms. One room, about 6-by-6 feet, had bloodstained carpeted walls.

In May 2014 police seized over 72 roosters and arrested 52 people in a cockfighting ring in Fulton County.

“Criminals are coming to our state to participate in this cruel blood sport because Ohio has notoriously lax penalties for cockfighting. Indiana and Michigan, as well as all other Great Lakes states, have punished cockfighting as a felony for years,” said Corey Roscoe, Ohio state director for the Humane Society of the United States.

“Yet Ohio has failed to catch up; the maximum fine for cockfighting in our state is $250. Only Alabama and Mississippi treat cockfighting more leniently.”


Trending Video

The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

Comments


Your email address will not be published