Policy & Politics

H1N1 Update

Published May. 8, 2009

The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to hold daily press conferences on the hybrid influenza outbreak. The alert level has been raised from Phase 4 to Phase 5, and may be increased to Phase 6 in some regions.

H1N1 Most Accurate Name for Virus

Published Apr. 29, 2009

President Barack Obama, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano are calling the inappropriately named “swine flu” virus by its scientific name, H1N1 virus, which will likely be the official name for the new strain of flu.

Grassley Wants EPA Officials To See A Farm

Published Jun. 5, 2009

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) says he wants to instill some “common sense thinking” at the Environmental Protection Agency and is inviting Administrator Lisa Jackson and other agency officials to visit a farm in Iowa. “I don’t think the people at the EPA get the big picture.

Governor Proposes Additional Budget Cuts and VLT's at Ohio Racetracks

Published Jun. 23, 2009

Governor Ted Strickland shared with the House and Senate a proposal to balance the state’s fiscal years 2010-2011 operating budget without a tax increase and lay the groundwork for jobs and economic growth.

Fox News Story Explores Clean Water Restoration Act

Published Dec. 23, 2009

How passage of the Clean Water Restoration Act would affect farmers and ranchers was the subject of a Fox News broadcast story on Sunday. Don Parrish, water expert with the American Farm Bureau Federation, appeared live on a segment about the issue.

Four Ohio Counties Eligible for Disaster Assistance

Published May. 8, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The U.S. Department of Agriculture designated four Ohio counties as agricultural natural disaster areas, making certain farmers and other agricultural producers in the counties eligible for low-interest emergency loans from USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA).

Few Emissions Credits Likely for Ag in Climate Change Bill

Published Jun. 9, 2009

Citing changes in farm practices and energy policy, analysts at the Environmental Protection Agency have sharply lowered estimates of the potential carbon credits for which farmers and landowners would likely qualify, according to the Des Moines Register. This could make it difficult to sell...

Federal Priority Issues

Published Feb. 13, 2013

Ohio Farm Bureau Federation's 2013 Federal Priority Issues

Farmers Urge Passage of HCR27

Published Dec. 13, 2011

Two central Ohio Farm Bureau members recently testified on legislation introduced by State Representative Bob Peterson (R- Sabina) that calls on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reconsider the FCC order granting the broadband network provider, LightSquared, conditional...

Farmers and Ranchers Welcome Ratification of Trade Pacts

Published Oct. 13, 2011

Congressional ratification of three bilateral free-trade agreements between the United States and Korea, Colombia and Panama, as well as approval of Trade Adjustment Assistance, is welcome news for farmers and ranchers, according to the American Farm Bureau...