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Bill would update grain deposit fund
House Bill 421, introduced by Rep. John Schlichter, R-Washington Court House, would update Ohio’s Agricultural Commodity Depositors Fund to better reflect current practices in the grain handling business, according to Larry Gearhardt, OFBF director of local affairs. The bill had its first hearing in the House March 17.

This bill would address issues Gearhardt spoke about in an article in the March 15 issue of Buckeye Farm News. It would increase the current $4 million threshold to $8 million and would increase opportunities for recovery for producers not paid for grain delivered to an elevator.

"We expect this bill to move quickly through the legislative process so it will be effective at the start of this year’s wheat harvest," Gearhardt said.

Legislation would protect farmland, owners’ rights
An agricultural security area bill was introduced in the Ohio House by Rep. Tony Core, R-Rushsylvania. House Bill 414 would allow producers with 500 acres, or multiple owners of 500 contiguous acres, to place land in an agricultural security area.

Rocky Black, OFBF’s director of legislative affairs, said once land is approved for placement in an agricultural security area by local officials, whether county or township, the farmland must be maintained with its agricultural use for 10 years. "That means the property can’t be subdivided or developed except for the personal use of the landowner," Black said.

In exchange for guaranteeing agricultural use of land for 10 years, the property owner could negotiate up to a 75 percent reduction in real property taxes for the period.

"So this really gives landowners an incentive to retain the agricultural use of land," Black said.

Obesity bill passes House
The obesity bill, House Bill 350, passed the Ohio House with an 87 to 7 vote and is expected to move through the Senate with a positive outcome, according to OFBF’s Black.

This bill would limit agricultural producers’ liability when being threatened with lawsuits for producing too much food and encouraging consumers to eat too much and become overweight. This issue was explained in the Jan. 9 issue of Buckeye Farm News.

Two tort reform issues were added to the bill before it was approved by the House – provisions protecting u-pick operators from liability and immunity from liability for landowners adjacent to public lands used for recreational purposes.

Black said a similar bill had been introduced into the Ohio Senate so the House version is expected to get quick consideration.