Reporters, please visit our news room located in the Media and Publications section of this site.
![[160x120]_USDA_320x240.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_USDA_320x240.jpg)
United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announced at the beginning of October that it will be collecting chemical usage data from soybean and wheat growers in 26 states, including Ohio.
![[160x120]_stoptheflood.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_stoptheflood.jpg)
Ohio Farm Bureau is helping hundreds of Ohio farmers express their concerns to the U.S. EPA on a guidance document that would expand the agency’s interpretation of the Clean Water Act.
![[160x120]_Partridge.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_Partridge.jpg)
Dr. Mark Partridge, the C. William Swank Chair of Rural-Urban Policy at Ohio State University, recently visited with Ohio Farm Bureau’s state policy development committee to discuss the oil and gas industry and how to avoid what he described as a natural resources curse.
![[160x120]_SB309_eNews.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_SB309_eNews.jpg)
Gov. John Kasich recently signed Senate Bill 309 into law, establishing a framework for voluntary marketing agreements that set production standards for certain agricultural products.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture is reminding owners of dangerous wild animal that a new state law passed in June requires the registration of their animals before Nov. 5.
![[160x120]_LeadershipConf.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_LeadershipConf.jpg)
Ohio Farm Bureau’s Center for Food and Animal Issues is working with county Farm Bureaus to provide workshops that will help farmers respond to consumer questions about agriculture.
![[160x120]_tractorsafety.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_tractorsafety.jpg)
Farm tractors are a primary tool for most farms. But studies show tractors are also involved in a high proportion of farm injuries and fatalities. Most accidents can be prevented by following basic tractor safety guidelines.
![[160x120]_McPheron.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_McPheron.jpg)
Bruce McPheron is the incoming dean of Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and vice president for agricultural administration. He recently visited Ohio Farm Bureau’s offices for a recording of 'Town Hall Ohio.'
![[160x120]_pipeline.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_pipeline.jpg)
The second phase of Ohio’s extensive natural gas and oil exploration is now underway. Landowners across the state are being asked to sign off on pipeline easements, which means a new round of contract negotiations.
![[160x120]_capitolchallenge_2012_320x240.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_capitolchallenge_2012_320x240.jpg)
Ohio Farm Bureau is teaming up with 4-H and FFA on a program that will teach high school students how to take action in the government process.
![[160x120]_OLLC_2012_320x240.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_OLLC_2012_320x240.jpg)
Ohio FFA Association held its new Ohio Legislative Leadership Conference (OLLC) Sept. 26, at which Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) staff taught 200 FFA members about government, advocating for agriculture in government, and helped them prepare to meet their legislators.
![[160x120]_ConservFarmFamily_2012_320x240.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_ConservFarmFamily_2012_320x240.jpg)
Five of Ohio's top conservation farm families for 2012 were recognized during a ceremony at Farm Science Review in London Sept. 20 for their long-standing dedication to natural resource conservation on their farms. The annual Conservation Farm Family Award is sponsored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Soil and Water Resources, Ohio Farmer magazine and Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF).
![[160x120]_YAP_DC_FarmBillRally_2012_320x240.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_YAP_DC_FarmBillRally_2012_320x240.jpg)
Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) recently sent about 30 young people, staff and state board members to Washington, D.C. on the Young Agricultural Professionals (YAP) annual trip where they participated in the Farm Bill Now rally and to learned about the United States political process.
![[160x120]_drought2_320x240.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_drought2_320x240.jpg)
At a time in Ohio when foodbanks desperately need more food to feed more people who are visiting more frequently, the drought is not only affecting agriculture production but also is causing extreme concern as to how they will feed people who come to them for help.
![[160x120]_PDCommittee_320x240.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_PDCommittee_320x240.jpg)
Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) develops policy each year through a member-driven grassroots process that is well underway and continues this week with the first meeting of the state policy development committee.
![[160x120]_pullingtogether.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_pullingtogether.jpg)
As lawmakers return from summer recess, here we reflect on a few policy victories Farm Bureau members secured during the first part of the year.
![[160x120]_moser.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_moser.jpg)
During a gathering to recognize retiring Ohio State University Dean Bobby Moser and his wife Pat, Ohio’s food and farm community raised more than $900,000 to support students in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
![[160x120]_leadership_conf.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_leadership_conf.jpg)
The conference placed emphasis on county Farm Bureaus reaching out to their communities to have constructive conversations about food and agriculture.
![[160x120]_agchat1.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_agchat1.jpg)
More than 100 farmers and agribusiness professionals converged in Kansas City in August to sharpen their online agvocacy skills during the AgChat Foundation’s third annual Agvocacy 2.0 Training Conference.
![[160x120]_beefsteak.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_beefsteak.jpg)
The proposed beef checkoff changes would increase the current $1 per head to $2 per head.
![[160x120]_NW_horiz_320x24014.gif](/uploads/[160x120]_NW_horiz_320x24014.gif)
Keeping up with the day-to-day operation of your farm can sometimes make it difficult to step back and think about a bigger picture: your farm’s legacy.
![[160x120]_drought1.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_drought1.jpg)
Meat and poultry prices are expected to drop over the next few months before jumping to possible record-high prices. This year’s drought — the worst in half a century -— is the reason for the bouncing around of prices.
![[160x120]_BobEvans2.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_BobEvans2.jpg)
Bob Evans Restaurants, JD Equipment and Ohio Farm Bureau Federation hosted a community celebration Aug. 20 at a Clark County Bob Evans Restaurant honoring Lea Kimley and her family on their achievement: exhibiting the Grand Champion Barrow at the 2012 Ohio State Fair.
![[160x120]_OLC2012_320x2401.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_OLC2012_320x2401.jpg)
Emerging agricultural issues were prevalent themes at the 2012 Ohio Livestock Coalition Annual Meeting and Industry Symposium, and five Ohio farmers were named as recipients of the 2012 Environmental Stewardship Award and one rural resident for the Neighbor of the Year Award.
![[160x120]_HarvestHustle.jpg](/uploads/[160x120]_HarvestHustle.jpg)
As we roll into harvest season, there are still county Farm Bureau farm tours, on-farm dinners, annual meetings and other opportunities available out there across the state.
Here’s a look at what county Farm Bureaus are sharing on their websites for the month of September.