Ohio Farm Bureau proponent testimony on SB 281
OFBF member and state trustee, Katherine Harrison testified before the House Agriculture and Natural Resources committee in support of Senate Bill 281 regarding the AgLINK Program.
Policy & Politics
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What's this?Recent News
- Clinton County series to answer fresh, local foods questions
- Farm Bureau members urged to attend training on nutrient management
- Ohio Farm Bureau hosts AFBF Midwest Commodity Conference
- Ohio Sheep Improvement Association offers Ralph Grimshaw Memorial Scholarship
- Ohio farmer testifies before House Ag Committee
Ohio Farm Bureau understands the importance of members and staff working together to accomplish the organization’s legislative and regulatory goals.
Legislation
subscribeOhio Farm Bureau Federation’s team of issue experts, lobbyists, and poiltical education staff work hard to ensure that quality legislation is enacted in the state of Ohio that benefits the agricultural industry and promotes the farmer’s bottom line. As these laws are being debated and enacted, it is equally important for OFBF to educate members about how new legislation will affect their lives and businesses.
Listed below are the major State and Federal Public Policy Initiatives that Ohio Farm Bureau will address in 2012. Click here for PDFs of Ohio Farm Bureau Legislative Priorities for both Federal and State.
The Legislative Directory and district maps for the 112th U.S. Congress and 129th Ohio General Assembly are available in the policy and politics Resources section.
State
Ohio Farm Bureau staff testimony on SB 310
OFBF Director of Legislative Relations, Spencer Waugh testified before the Senate Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee in support of Senate Bill 310 regarding exotic animals.
Ohio Farm Bureau staff testimony on HB 473
OFBF Senior Director of Policy Development and Environmental Policy, Dr. Larry Antosch testified before the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee in support of House Bill 473 regarding the Great Lakes Compact.
Ohio Farm Bureau staff testimony on HB 482
OFBF Director of State Policy, Beth Vanderkooi testified before the Senate Finance Committee in support of House Bill 482 regarding Clean Ohio funding.
Ohio Farm Bureau staff testimony on SB 309
OFBF Director of Legislative Relations, Spencer Waugh testified before the Senate Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee in support of Senate Bill 309.
Federal
Bill redirects biofuel spending
The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging members of the Senate to support a bipartisan bill that would continue America’s transition to home-grown biofuels.
Congressional Committees Advance FTAs
Senate and House committees have approved the Korea, Colombia and Panama free trade agreements (FTAs) in mock mark-up sessions, moving them closer to finalization.
Diverse group of farmers gather to offer Sen. Brown input on farm bill
Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) President Steve Hirsch recently hosted Sen. Sherrod Brown on his farm for a roundtable listening session on the upcoming farm bill.
Ohio farmers left behind as other nations complete trade agreements
Pending free trade agreements (FTA) between the United States and Korea, Panama and Colombia would amount to more than $2.5 billion in additional exports, economic development and jobs.
2011 Federal Legislative Priorities
Maintaining a strong safety net for farmers, establishing a new direction for dairy policy, growing agricultural trade opportunities, regulatory oversight and reducing additional regulatory burdens, tax policy, food quality and safety, and energy and transportation issues are our top priorities.
Stay Up-to-date
Public Policy Updates
- May. 1, 2012 Ohio Farm Bureau proponent testimony on SB 281
- Apr. 24, 2012 Ohio Farm Bureau staff testimony on SB 310
- Apr. 24, 2012 Ohio Farm Bureau staff testimony on HB 473
- Mar. 28, 2012 Ohio Farm Bureau staff testimony on HB 482
- Mar. 27, 2012 Ohio Farm Bureau staff testimony on SB 309
- Feb. 23, 2012 2012 Federal Priority Issues
Key Votes
The Ohio Farm Bureau public policy staff members are continually reviewing legislation being debated at the Statehouse and at the U.S. Capitol. Staff determines, based on priorities set by the Ohio Farm Bureau board of trustees and Farm Bureau policy, if a particular bill should be designated as a KeyVote. While the staff works on many bills, those designated as KeyVotes are a select few that are important to agriculture and rural Ohio and have clear support from Farm Bureau policy.
Once a KeyVote has been designated, it becomes a priority for the public policy staff. Before important votes, legislators are informed that the bill is an OFBF KeyVote and their votes will be counted in OFBF's process for determining which legislators earn the Friend of Agriculture and Friend of Farm Bureau awards.
This program is not meant to penalize legislators that do not vote in favor of Farm Bureau policy, but rather it is meant to recognize in a positive manner the legislators that are truly "Friends of Agriculture.”
Once a KeyVote has been designated, it becomes a priority for the public policy staff. Before important votes, legislators are informed that the bill is an OFBF KeyVote and their votes will be counted in OFBF's process for determining which legislators earn the Friend of Agriculture and Friend of Farm Bureau awards.
This program is not meant to penalize legislators that do not vote in favor of Farm Bureau policy, but rather it is meant to recognize in a positive manner the legislators that are truly "Friends of Agriculture.”