Tom Cooke was always looking over his shoulder.

The Richland County Farm Bureau member lives by a highway and was unclear on whether or not he could drive his utility vehicle on the roadway in the course of his usual farm work.

“Many of our members have farms that are separated by roads like these, making it illegal for them to use their utility vehicles for farm work,” said Tony Seegers, OFBF director of state policy.

That all changed when OFBF was successful in having two amendments included in the state’s overall transportation budget. Gov. John Kasich signed the transportation budget into law at the end of March.

The first amendment allows farm utility vehicles that display a slow moving vehicle emblem to travel on a road with a speed limit above 35 mph if going from farm to field in the course of agricultural production. Freeways are excluded.

That is exactly the clarification Cooke was seeking when he contacted Leah Curtis, OFBF policy counsel.

“After doing much research on the Ohio Revised Code, I saw many grey areas that were not in black and white and subject to different interpretations (about the issue),” Cooke said. “I then contacted Leah Curtis, and she agreed.”

While it takes time to get changes implemented at the state level, Cooke said the end result is worth the wait. It didn’t come a moment too soon, either.

“I contacted the large dealer whom I purchased my Ranger from and talked to him about this (change),” Cooke said. “He said that my timing was great, as he spent a lot of time that same day on the phone contacting sheriff departments concerning the issue. He said that he had customers, or potential customers, that were asking about this and would like clarification.”

Ohio Farm Bureau was also successful in getting another amendment added to the state’s transportation budget aimed at helping farmers and rural residents.
That amendment requires notification of proposals to create “limited access” highways so farmers are aware of changes and have time to plan alternate routes. The Ohio Department of Transportation is now required to publish a notice in the local newspaper once a week for two weeks, notify the state’s farm organizations electronically four weeks before the change and take comments from the public on any proposed changes.

“Our members have found that one day they are using a road to get to their fields and the next day they see a limited access sign prohibiting farm machinery. These notifications will be helpful for rural residents who are driving farm vehicles that can’t go down limited access highways,” Seegers said.

Cooke believes the changes couldn’t have been made without the help of Ohio Farm Bureau.

“Now we can drive down the road and not be greatly concerned about different law enforcement interpretations,” he said. “This is huge for farmers across the state who had the same concerns as me. This could not have been accomplished had it not been for Farm Bureau’s involvement.”

cookeapv_transportation
Since 2009 all-purpose vehicles have been required to display a license plate and registration sticker. “All purpose vehicles that are used on the farm, primarily for agricultural purposes are exempt from this license requirement when the owner qualifies for CAUV.” However, the license plate is required if the vehicle is used on public land, trails or right-of-ways. Even following those requirements, Tom Cooke wasn’t sure he was allowed to drive on the highway outside his home until this year. The transportation amendments recently included in the state’s transportation budget do require an SMV sign be displayed on the vehicle.

 

 

 

 

 

New and beginning farmers
My first recommendation in your journey is to start out with a local farming friend or mentor along with joining an organization like Ohio Farm Bureau.
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Greg McGlinch

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We’re just so thankful for the Farm Bureau and the foundation for helping put this together. And of course, the Boyert family for the vision they had with this grant. It’s jumping us forward 10 years. It’s unbelievable.
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Nathan and Jill Parriman

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I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
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Gretchan Francis

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It wasn’t until I joined the Wilmington College Collegiate Farm Bureau that I truly saw how my passion could translate into leadership, advocacy and a career.
Wyatt Morrow's avatar
Wyatt Morrow

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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

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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.
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Chad Ruhl

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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.
Mary Smallsreed's avatar
Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

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