ofbf.org

ofbf.org http://ofbf.org/ To improve rural standards of living, increase net farm income and protect personal property rights. en-us Funding still available for schools to use soy biodiesel in buseshttp://ofbf.org/page/DTOD-7EENL5http://ofbf.org/page/DTOD-7EENL5<img src="http://ofbf.org/ofbweb/ofbwebengine.nsf/$LookupFilesType/schoolbus.jpg/$File/schoolbus.jpg"/> Deadline for grant applications is May 31 Columbus, Ohio - Funding is still available to school districts wanting to make the switch to soy biodiesel to fuel their school buses through the School Bus Soy Biodiesel Grant Program, administered by the Ohio Department of Development. The deadline for applications is May 31, and the Ohio Soybean Council (OSC) is offering grant application assistance to any interested schools. ''This is an excellent opportunity for school districts throughout Ohio to make a change that will have a positive impact on so many levels,'' said Tom Fontana of the Ohio Soybean Council. ''There are parents, school board members, school administrators and others who have wanted to make the switch to soy biodiesel, and now they have the financial assistance to make it happen.'' Ohio Sheep Day to be held July 12http://ofbf.org/page/DTOD-7EEPD6http://ofbf.org/page/DTOD-7EEPD6<img src="http://ofbf.org/ofbweb/ofbwebengine.nsf/$LookupFilesType/lambs.jpg/$File/lambs.jpg"/> COLUMBUS, Ohio - Sheep owners and anyone interested in forage management is invited to Ohio Sheep Day, to be held July 12 at the Athens County farm of Curt and Wendy Cline, 3933 Factory Road, Albany. The event will provide ideas about sheep nutrition, sheep management systems as well as many other areas of sheep production. Power Briefing connects legislators, candidates with ag issueshttp://ofbf.org/page/DTOD-7EEMJ7http://ofbf.org/page/DTOD-7EEMJ7<img src="http://ofbf.org/ofbweb/ofbwebengine.nsf/$LookupFilesType/Stiver_briefing.jpg/$File/Stiver_briefing.jpg"/>Sen. Steve Stivers, R-Columbus, participated in discussions on agriculture issues during the Ag Power Briefing Tuesday. COLUMBUS, Ohio (OFBF) - Nearly 100 current legislators and candidates for Ohio’s General Assembly left Tuesday’s Ag Power Briefing in Columbus better suited to address their constituents’ agricultural concerns. The briefing, a cooperative effort of the Ohio Livestock Coalition (OLC) and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF), connected the politicians with experts on food and fuel, animal care and the economic impact of agriculture to the state. Food Price Rise Result of Complex Issues, Biofuels only Small Parthttp://ofbf.org/page/DTOD-7E9PSWhttp://ofbf.org/page/DTOD-7E9PSW<center><iframe src='http://www.fbvideo.tv/linking/index.jsp?skin=oneclip&fr_story=70b69be025b6b6dcce3cf9cfdbd6790628d3f075&rf=ev&hl=true' width=404 height=340 scrolling='no' frameborder=0 marginwidth=0 marginheight=0></iframe></center> <center>Click on video to play Stallman's remarks</center> WASHINGTON – Rising food costs in the United States and overseas are receiving a great deal of attention, and a range of complex factors are behind this relatively new phenomenon, according to American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Bob Stallman. He said ethanol is “not the culprit that American consumers are being led to believe,” and he stressed that renewable fuel and affordable food can coexist. Stallman spoke at news conference arranged by the American Farm Bureau Federation in Washington, D.C., last week. OFBF receives two Silver Quill Awardshttp://ofbf.org/page/DTOD-7E9P2Fhttp://ofbf.org/page/DTOD-7E9P2F<img src="http://ofbf.org/ofbweb/ofbwebengine.nsf/$LookupFilesType/Wourohio.jpg/$File/Wourohio.jpg"/> Communications excellence recognized for its consumer brand, Our Ohio COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio Farm Bureau Federation’s consumer brand, Our Ohio, is a two-time winner in the 2007 Silver Quill Awards Competition for excellence in communications within its Heritage Region which includes 18 northeastern states. The competition is sponsored by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). Out of the 49 awards announced in April, Our Ohio received two Awards of Merit for its magazine and Web site. The judges rated the work as among the best of all entries submitted in the Publications and Electronic and Digital Communications Categories. USDA to purchase up to $50 million in pork products http://ofbf.org/page/DTOD-7E9NWZhttp://ofbf.org/page/DTOD-7E9NWZ<img src="http://ofbf.org/ofbweb/ofbwebengine.nsf/$LookupFilesType/pig1.jpg/$File/pig1.jpg"/> WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) last week announced plans to purchase up to $50 million of pork products which will be donated to child nutrition and other domestic food assistance programs. "We provide food assistance to one in every five Americans," said Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer. "We are working to increase benefits due to rising food costs and to ensure we have full funding for our food assistance programs."