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When Gov. Bob Taft signed H.B. 43 in July, a priority issue for Ohio Farm Bureau was realized – the legislated use of credible data when determining environmental impact to surface waterways in the state.

The bill, introduced by Rep. Tony Core, R-Rushsylvania, established requirements for the use of credible data in administering the Water Pollution Control Law of Ohio. "Credible data" means scientifically valid chemical, physical or biological water quality monitoring data concerning surface waters. The new law also requires the director of environmental protection to establish and maintain a water quality monitoring program. Then law was effective Oct. 21, 2003.

This was one of Farm Bureau's "KeyVote" bills. According to Scott Williams, OFBF's director of state legislative affairs, Farm Bureau supported the legislation because it gives farmers the ability to defend themselves. "If a farmer wants to become certified in water quality sampling, to protect his farm by making a baseline to prove that he is not the source of any pollutants that someone wants to accuse him of, he'll be certified to go out and collect this data to prove it's not him that's causing the problem."