Carroll County Farm Bureau members wanted answers and asked for them during a meeting with their state representatives in March.

Rep. Andy Thompson and Sen. Frank Hoagland met with Farm Buraeu members during a legislative district committee meeting at Bluebird Farms. Increasingly, several members have expressed concerns about their oil and gas royalty payments. They’ve been frustrated about how difficult it is to read their royalty statement and question whether they have been properly paid.

Ohio Farm Bureau policy calls for a uniform royalty payment statement, which would make the process more transparent.

“Our members consistently tell us they feel there’s no real accountability to ensure the accuracy of what oil companies report they extract from the ground,” said Brandon Kern, OFBF’s senior director for policy outreach. “Landowners also become suspicious when oil companies constantly make credits and deductions to landowner royalty payments for corrections to well activity that took place months or even years in the past.”

Empowering Farm Bureau members to take focused, grassroots policy initiatives directly to lawmakers with the support of experienced staff helps achieve one of Farm Bureau’s priorities for 2017. OFBF wants to ensure energy lease and easement holders are provided information on project developments and advocacy in regulatory proceedings.

“This meeting is a great example of how Farm Bureau members are able to take action on member-adopted policy created through our policy development process,” said Kern. “Members now have an avenue for working with policymakers to initiate action on one of our organization’s priority issues.”

A working group will now be created to formulate specific legislative proposals to address Farm Bureau policy concerns.

Ohio Farm Bureau membership

 

Farm Bureau connections
To grow a network and gain perspective and knowledge in the industry through personal and professional development has been invaluable. Every day I learn and grow.
Ryanna Tietje's avatar
Ryanna Tietje

Henry County Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau connections
Giving farmers a voice
The issue of property taxation remains as one of the biggest challenges our members face today. Ensuring agricultural property is valued for its agricultural potential and not development is critical to the continued success of Ohio agriculture.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Giving farmers a voice
10-year campaign for safer roads
Farm Bureau is what really got the word out. It’s been one of their goals to get this done.
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Bill and Charlotte Wachtman

Henry County

10-year campaign for safer roads
Bringing the farm back to life
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
Gretchan Francis's avatar
Gretchan Francis

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Bringing the farm back to life
Farm Bureau involvement
Because we are younger farmers just starting out, Farm Bureau has a lot of good opportunities and resources to help us grow in the future.
Hannah Kiser's avatar
Hannah Kiser

Sandusky County Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau involvement
Select Partner Program
Through the Select Partner program, we became educated in farm insurance and weren't just selling policies. It became more and more clear why farmers need an advocate like Ohio Farm Bureau.
Chad Ruhl's avatar
Chad Ruhl

Farm manager, CSI Insurance

Select Partner Program
Advocacy
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
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Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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