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OFBF establishes policy on CAUV, raw milk and farm bill

By Seth Teter and Joe Cornely

After two days of discussion and debate, delegates at Ohio Farm Bureau's 88th annual meeting finalized the policies that will steer the organization in the new year.

With outside groups beginning to question tax treatment of farmland, delegates encouraged a study of the Current Agricultural Use Valuation (CAUV) program. The group of nearly 350 farmers voted to review CAUV to assure it meets current needs and is not being abused to the detriment of local communities.

Keith Stimpert, OFBF senior vice president of public policy, said Farm Bureau will continue to defend the appropriate valuation of farmland but is open to discussing how that is calculated.

"This program is critical to agriculture and there ought to be a consensus solution as we move forward," he said.

Increasing pressure from school boards and courts could open the door for significant changes to CAUV. But Stimpert said Farm Bureau will work to ensure that any modifications maintain an adequate safeguard for agriculture.

"The formula in Ohio works well, but it probably needs to be kept current," he said. "We've got to make sure that we protect this important program with measured adjustments."

Farm Bureau delegates said a study of CAUV should determine whether farm program payments should be included in the formula, if the formula's capitalization rate is accurate and if the formula should more accurately reflect woodland values. They also supported updating crop yields data from the 1984 Farm Service Agency base.

Following a lengthy and emotional debate, delegates voted to oppose the direct sale of raw milk to consumers.

Those in support of raw milk sales argued for consumer choice, adding that it opens a niche market for farmers. One delegate noted that it is legal to purchase tobacco and alcohol but not raw milk.

However, others said the potential for illnesses from consuming raw milk supercedes those issues.

"This is not a large farm vs. small farm issue. This is not a religious issue. This is a food safety issue," said Connie Fenton, a delegate and dairy farmer from Tuscarawas County.

OFBF delegates supported a review of the state's drainage law to protect farmers whose operations can be harmed when development alters drainage patterns.

"With greater urbanization, drainage law is being interpreted differently around the state," Stimpert said. "We want fair and consistent regulation of drainage for all landowners."

The top national issue for OFBF delegates was the writing of the 2007 Farm Bill. They established policy to encourage a revenue assurance approach to farm income supports. Delegates also developed policies to provide equitable treatment for fruit and vegetable growers under the upcoming bill.

OFBF President Bob Peterson reminded delegates that very few of their representatives in Washington D.C. have ever written a farm bill.

"We need to be involved with them starting now to share our policy," he said.

Other policies enacted by delegates include:

• Establishing a target deer population of 250,000 and encouraging the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to reduce the economic hardships incurred by farmers when wildlife does severe damage to crops and livestock.

• Helping state government develop tax credits and other incentives to improve the infrastructure for ethanol and biodiesel. One specific plan is to enhance the ability of retail facilities to sell the biofuels.

• Opposing term limits in the Ohio General Assembly.

Caption: Lorain County delegate Ron Pickworth expresses opposition to privatizing the Ohio Turnpike, a policy later adopted by OFBF.