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by Lynn Snyder

Delegates were passionate about a variety of issues at this year’s annual meeting. They debated issues familiar to the organization, such as line fence laws and CAUV. But they also debated issues such as video lottery terminals and association health plans, which are new territory for Farm Bureau.

"The theme of the annual meeting was the Power of One – one purpose, one vision, one message," said Deering Dyer, OFBF director of political education. "Through our policy development process and this year’s delegate debate and approval, the OFBF policy book speaks with one voice," he said.

Video Lottery Terminals
Delegates added language to the official policy of Ohio Farm Bureau stating: Residents of Ohio should be allowed to vote on a constitutional amendment to allow video lottery terminals at existing race tracks that maintain live racing.

"This is the first time we’ve supported putting this issue on the ballot," said Rocky Black, OFBF director of legislative affairs. "This does not state OFBF has a position on the issue, just that we feel the people of Ohio should be able to vote on it," Black added.

He said delegates approved the language based on the belief that this issue could help the equine industry.

Line Fence
Delegates revisited OFBF’s line fence policy, which was the most hotly debated issue at last year’s annual meeting. This year, a task force was formed to more thoroughly examine the issue, and delegates approved several of the committee’s recommendations, making them OFBF policy:

• Adjoining landowners may agree on the type of fence to be used as a partition fence between the properties and the amount of responsibility of each landowner to build, maintain, repair and clear the partition fence. It is encouraged that this agreement be in writing and filed for record at the county recorder’s office.
• In the event that adjoining landowners cannot agree on a partition fence, the landowner requesting the fence shall be entitled to file a petition with the township trustees. The township trustees shall be responsible to enforce the partition fence law.
• If the township trustees find that a fence currently exists on the property line, that there is evidence that a fence existed on the property line in the past or that a record of a fence is filed at the recorder’s office, the trustees shall assign the responsibilities to build, maintain, repair and clear the partition fence equitably between the adjoining landowners.
• In determining what is equitable when assigning the responsibilities to build, maintain, repair and clear a partition fence, the trustees shall consider the type, kind and number of livestock involved, the threat of trespassing involved, the topography of the land, the presence of trees, vines and vegetation, and the importance of marking property lines, among other factors.
• If there is no fence currently in existence, no evidence of a fence in the past, nor record of a fence at the recorder’s office, the landowner requesting the fence shall be responsible for all of the responsibility to build, maintain, repair and clear the partition fence. If the adjoining landowner puts livestock against the fence after it is built, the adjoining landowner shall be responsible for 50 percent of the cost of the construction of the fence. The landowner that built the fence should file evidence of the cost of the fence at the county recorder'’ office to evidence the cost of the fence.
• A legal fence in Ohio shall be woven wire fence with one or two strands of barbed wire on top, or six or seven strands of high tensile wire fence with wooden posts, both built according to NRCS Code #382 standards. A landowner requesting a fence more expensive than a legal fence shall be responsible for all of the costs of the fence over and above the cost of a legal fence.
• If a landowner objects to an order of the township trustees assigning the responsibility to build, maintain, repair and clear a partition fence, the parties shall be required to submit the issue to arbitration prior to filing a case in court.

• Adjoining landowners may not prevent, prohibit or impede the other landowner from clearing existing fence lines and shall grant access to laborer for the purpose of cleaning, maintaining or building the partition fence.
• Should an existing fence be cleared a new, approved fence must be constructed unless both landowners agree not to do so.

"This new language sets the groundwork to move early next year on new law," Black said.

Association Health Plans
New language was added to policy stating "We support association health plans."

Association health plans allow small businesses to band together and negotiate on behalf of their employees and families. "These types of plans would help membership organizations like Farm Bureau, small businesses and employees obtain health insurance at an affordable price, much like large employers and organizations," Black said.

CAUV
Delegates amended policy to allow current CAUV participants to be grandfathered into the program should a change be made to the minimum number of acres needed to qualify for participation. Policy in previous years said "we support increasing the minimum acreage requirement to qualify for CAUV to 20 acres."

The new language added states "we support a grandfather clause to cover existing/current CAUV properties that have less than 20 acres."

National policy wrap-up
Delegates voted to differ from current AFBF policy on saved seed; Ohio’s new position is that farmers should not be allowed to save and replant biotech seed by paying a minimal technology fee. Delegates also approved language supporting the development of a new, multi-sector temporary worker program and dairy program changes to limit pooling.

A more in-depth review of these policies will be included in the Jan. 17 Buckeye Farm News.

Caption: County Farm Bureau delegates spoke up for their various policy positions during the OFBF annual meeting, Dec. 1 to 3. New policies on topics such as association health plans and video lottery terminals were approved. Photo by Susie Taylor

Caption: OFBF President Bob Peterson chaired the policy session. He complimented delegates for their depth of knowledge and intense interest in the business of the organization.