Ohioans should vote no on Issue 2 in the Nov. 3 General Election.

Issue 2 is the proposed constitutional amendment to create the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to establish standards for the care and well being of livestock, promote local food producers, maintain food safety and protect Ohio farms.

The real reason behind Issue 2 is the fear that the Humane Society of the United States will carry out its threat to seek a constitutional amendment next year that would place unreasonable rules on Ohio farmers. The Ohio Farm Bureau says that such rules, recently passed by voters in California, could wreck the Buckeye State's agricultural business, which fuels Ohio's economy and employs thousands of workers.

On that point, Issue 2 proponents are correct. If the Humane Society successfully amends the constitution to impose such draconian regulations the impact on local farms and the cost of locally produced meat and eggs could be devastating. But here's why we say to vote no anyway:

- This constitutional amendment does nothing to stop the Humane Society from carrying out its threat next year with its own amendment that trumps this one.

- The state legislature would ''set the terms of office of the Board members and conditions for the Board members' service on the Board.'' That means the possibility of salaries and expenses paid for by Ohio taxpayers.

- The governor will appoint 10 Livestock Board members, the speaker of the house and the senate president one each. As with many other Ohio boards and commissions, those positions are often made lucrative, at taxpayer expense, so that the elected officials can use the appointments as rewards for campaigning and making campaign contributions.

- The proposed Livestock Board would be a toothless tiger, ''subject to the authority of the General Assembly.'' Therefore, any changes, additions or subtractions to existing law would and should go through the legislature anyway.

- The Department of Agriculture already oversees most of the rules and regulations concerning livestock and food safety. Other state agencies oversee the remaining rules and regulations that involve farming.

- Enforcing more rules and regulations, recommended by the proposed Livestock Board and approved by the legislature, would be the agriculture department's responsibility. That could translate into expansion of the department at taxpayer expense.

- Changing the constitution should be limited to serious matters of civil rights.

Farms across the state have a right to be concerned about ridiculous ideas that Humane Society members harbor. That should be the focus of Issue 2 proponents - defeating those ideas.