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It’s more than a nuisance when people ride their ATVs through farm fields; it can cost farmers money from damaged crops.

What’s more, it’s also difficult to catch the trespassers.

"Police rely on farmers to identify the culprits before they can do anything about it," said Rocky Black, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation's director of legislative affairs.

OFBF is talking to legislators about drafting legislation that would require ATV owners to have large letters or numbers on the vehicle that would make it easier to identify.

Black said it would be helpful to hear individual stories from Farm Bureau members about problems associated with trespassers on ATVs. He said the information would be presented to legislators to help with passage of a bill.

Black said the bill could be called the ATV Sales Tax legislation because included in the measure would be a requirement for the Ohio Department of Taxation (ODT) to broaden its definitions of "farm use" to qualify for a sales tax exemption when buying an ATV.

After you purchase such a vehicle, ODT requires you fill out a questionnaire on how the ATV will be used on your farm. The form has a long list of possible uses, and you are asked to rate the percent you use the ATV in each category.

The vehicles are exempt if they are used more than 51 percent for agriculture.

But, Black said, "ODT has very narrow definitions for farm use." The proposed legislation would make the application of the tax consistent with other definitions of agricultural use in Ohio law.

For instance, using an ATV to check up on your cattle currently does not qualify as an agricultural exemption. However, using an ATV directly in the care of your animals by hauling feed is exempt.

"Members need to be extra cautious in determining and predicting how they use the ATV," said Larry Gearhardt, OFBF’s director of local affairs.

Black said OFBF is working with Sen. Larry Mumper, R-Marion, who is considering sponsoring such legislation.

To tell your story, email Black at rblack@ofbf.org