Applications for Ohio Farm Bureau Health Plans now available
Members have three ways to apply: contacting a certified agent, calling 833-468-4280 or visiting ohiofarmbureauhealthplans.org.
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The recent CAUV reforms more accurately value land in conservation, but some landowners need to get with their county auditor to take advantage of the changes, said Leah Curtis, OFBF policy counsel and senior director of member engagement.
“What we worked toward was getting the conservation acreage valued at the lowest value in the CAUV table,” she said. In doing so the value recognizes that the land is not making an income for the landowner, yet it is serving a purpose by helping keep the environment healthy.
Landowners who have conservation land that falls under CAUV in one of the 41 counties reappraised or updated in 2017 will need to talk with their county auditors soon, Curtis said. Proof that their land is in a federal conservation program or simply in a conservation practice will have to be presented. A map of where that acreage is and, if in a federal program, a signed contract to confirm the land is in the program will need to be presented to the auditor so he or she knows exactly what soils need to be lowered to the conservation acreage.
“If you just talk to your auditor, you can work through this so you have the right value for the coming year,” Curtis said.
If landowners don’t talk to the county auditor, the land will not be lowered to its lowest CAUV value, Curtis said. For 2017 reappraisals to be eligible for the new valuation, the land must be in a conservation practice as of Jan. 1, 2017.
As for those living in a county that will be reappraised or updated in 2018 or 2019, Curtis said those landowners will see this change included with all other reform changes when those reappraisals and updates happen in their counties.
“When you fill out your renewal form for CAUV each year, there will now be a place to certify your conservation acreage, both federal program acreage and general conservation practice land,” she said. Again, a map of the land must be included, as well as a signed contract produced if it is in a federal conservation program.
It is important to note that when the conservation land is lowered to its new value, it must remain in conservation practice for three years, Curtis said. If it is taken out of that practice prematurely and used to generate income, the landowner is responsible for paying the difference between the lowered CAUV conservation value and its typical CAUV value. That land will go back to typical CAUV value, Curtis said.
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.
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.
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
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.
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.
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.
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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