Farmers and ranchers who believe that the United States Department of Agriculture has improperly denied them farm loan benefits between 1981 and 2000 because they are Hispanic or because they are women may be eligible to apply for compensation.
Steve Hirsch with Hirsch Fruit Farm testified before the US House of Representatives. Hirsch's message was that different fruit and vegetable farms in Ohio have different environments and operation size, which require different food safety practices. However, all Ohio produce farms tailor their food safety practices to provide the customer the safest and highest quality of food possible. Hirsch testified that one single national, one-size-fits all structure will not work and a national food safety system that allows for specific on-farm practices to be developed at the state level will achieve the best results.
Thank you for holding this hearing in Columbus on this very important issue of food safety and the handling of leafy green produce. I am Lisa Schacht, together with my family we operate Schacht Family Farm and Schacht Farm Market located here is Franklin County, Ohio...
Mr. Peterson supports the U.S. EPA's approval of Ohio’s application to revise the Ohio NPDES program, to allow ODA to administer the parts of the program pertaining to concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), and storm water associated with construction activity at animal feeding operations here in Ohio. Approval would transfer the authority from Ohio EPA to ODA as authorized by Ohio Senate Bill 141.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently issued a unanimous verdict in a case that could have a major impact on the regulation of greenhouse gases in the agricultural industry.
The Department of Labor has recently proposed a sweeping change in child labor regulations as they apply to agriculture, which could limit the ability of many children under 16 years of age to work on a farm. Over 10,000 public comments have been submitted to the Department of Labor regarding these changes. Public comments were received through December 1, 2011.
OFBF comments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concerning its evaluation of Buckeye Wind LLC's draft Habitat Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement as part of an application for an Incidental Take Permit concerning the myotis Sodalis or Indiana bat.
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Following is a guest editorial from Congressman Steve Austria. Thanks to Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, gone are the days of looking at the hard copy of a map or stopping at the gas station to ask directions. Instead, all you have to do is print off directions from the Internet...
Farm Bureau has long advocated for the expansion of broadband in rural areas but the organization is concerned about a new service that could disrupt global positioning system (GPS) signals.
Ohio Farm Bureau and Ohio Produce Growers and Marketers Association members produce virtually every kind of agricultural commodity including strawberries. As a result, these organizations are interested in the U.S. EPA re-registration eligibility decision regarding methyl bromide and chloropicrin. Many of the proposals would be very cumbersome, expensive and impossible for small scale strawberry producers to meet. Many Ohio strawberry producers have simply stated they would have to stop producing strawberries if required to meet all the new practices outlined in this proposal. To this regard, we request that Agency consider flexible requirements for growers of different scale, economic ability and production location.
Comments sent to U.S. EPA. OFBF believes air emissions from animal waste on farms should be exempt from reporting requirements under the Comprehensive Environmental Response and Recovery Act of 1980 (CERCLA) & the Emergency Planning & Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).
Comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding the draft 2008 Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Action Plan
Ohio requested US EPA approve a revision to the Ohio NPDES program to allow ODA to administer the parts of the program pertaining to concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and storm water associated with construction activity at animal feeding operations in Ohio.
RE: Supplemental notice of proposed rule making - Revised NPDES regulations for Concentrated Feeding Operations.
RE: proposed rule - temporary agricultural employment of H-2A aliens. Letter submitted jointly by Ohio Produce Growers & Marketers Association & Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.
Filed November 25, 2008. Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for regulating greenhouse gases under the Federal Clean Air Act.
While drought has had harsh impact, we don't believe a waiver of the Renewable Fuel Standard would provide meaningful relief to livestock producers. Steps to alleviate feed-related concerns (relaxing restrictions on haying & grazing on Conservation Reserve Program acres) provide a better solution.
OFBF Executive Vice President Jack Fisher sent the following letter to the members of the Ohio delegation of the U.S. House of Representatives to outline the growing labor and immigration concern in agriculture.