Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown with Ohio Farm Bureau

Sen. Sherrod Brown hosted a virtual roundtable with Ambassador Katherine Tai, 19th United States Trade Representative, and Ohio farmers, workers and manufacturers to discuss the impact of trade policy on Ohio communities.

“I’ve noticed that trade policy over the past number of years with presidents of both parties have mostly been written in corporate boardrooms on Wall Street and in the halls of Congress, and a trade representative really hasn’t listened to workers and farmers in small town Ohio,” Brown said. “I think what Ambassador Tai heard was how trade policy, done well or done badly, really affects farmers and exports. I think she heard what she needed to make a more positive difference in our trade policy.”

Brown recapped the roundtable for Ohio Farm Bureau’s radio show, Our Ohio Weekly, and said he believes one of the biggest differences in trade policy from the Biden administration is the enforcement of rules overseas for U.S. companies that have shut down domestic production to move somewhere else due to tax policies, cheap labor and weak environmental standards. He also thinks Ambassador Tai will make changes to how tariffs are used.

“Tariffs can help, but you have to be careful with what the other countries do that can affect agriculture,” Brown said. “I don’t think we have thought that through very well, and I think the new ambassador will.”

Brown also has been visiting with his constituents about some tax policy changes being discussed in Washington. He said farm families will benefit from some of the more substantial tax revisions being looked at.

“Corporate income tax went from 35% to 21%, and Treasury Secretary Yellen is trying to do an international 15% minimum corporate tax for all countries, and that will help farm families everywhere,” Brown said. “I know that some organizations have said that some of these proposals that are aimed at the rich will hurt others, but I have seen in this country over the last 20 years that it’s middle class people, whether they are farm families or factory families or small business, that have too often bore the brunt of the tax code.”

Other proposals inside the Beltway would eliminate stepped-up basis, double capital gains tax rates and charge a new capital gains tax at death on the appreciation of assets like farmland. Ohio Farm Bureau has issued an Action Alert, encouraging members to write to their members of Congress today about these possible tax policy changes.

Labor has always been an issue, mainly because we are a seasonal operation. So that's a challenge finding somebody who only wants to work three months out of a year, sometimes up to six months.
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Mandy Way

Way Farms

Farm Labor Resources
I appreciate the benefit of having a strong voice in my corner. The extras that are included in membership are wonderful, but I'm a member because of the positive impact to my local and state agricultural communities.
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Ernie Welch

Van Wert County Farm Bureau

Strong communities
I see the value and need to be engaged in the community I live in, to be a part of the decision-making process and to volunteer with organizations that help make our community better.
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Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Leadership development
Farm Bureau involvement has taught me how to grow my professional and leadership experience outside of the workforce and how to do that in a community-centric way.
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Jaclyn De Candio

Clark County Farm Bureau

Young Ag Professionals program
With not growing up on a farm, I’d say I was a late bloomer to agriculture. I feel so fortunate that I found the agriculture industry. There are so many opportunities for growth.
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Jenna Gregorich

Coshocton County Farm Bureau

Growing our Generation
Knowing that horticulture is under the agriculture umbrella and having Farm Bureau supporting horticulture like it does the rest of ag is very important.
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Jared Hughes

Groovy Plants Ranch

Groovy Plants Ranch
If it wasn't for Farm Bureau, I personally, along with many others, would not have had the opportunity to meet with our representatives face to face in Washington.
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Austin Heil

Hardin County Farm Bureau

Washington, D.C. Leadership Experience
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
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Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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