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.

Labor has always been an issue, mainly because we are a seasonal operation. So that's a challenge finding somebody who only wants to work three months out of a year, sometimes up to six months.
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Mandy Way

Way Farms

Farm Labor Resources
I appreciate the benefit of having a strong voice in my corner. The extras that are included in membership are wonderful, but I'm a member because of the positive impact to my local and state agricultural communities.
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Ernie Welch

Van Wert County Farm Bureau

Strong communities
I see the value and need to be engaged in the community I live in, to be a part of the decision-making process and to volunteer with organizations that help make our community better.
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Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Leadership development
Farm Bureau involvement has taught me how to grow my professional and leadership experience outside of the workforce and how to do that in a community-centric way.
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Jaclyn De Candio

Clark County Farm Bureau

Young Ag Professionals program
With not growing up on a farm, I’d say I was a late bloomer to agriculture. I feel so fortunate that I found the agriculture industry. There are so many opportunities for growth.
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Jenna Gregorich

Coshocton County Farm Bureau

Growing our Generation
Knowing that horticulture is under the agriculture umbrella and having Farm Bureau supporting horticulture like it does the rest of ag is very important.
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Jared Hughes

Groovy Plants Ranch

Groovy Plants Ranch
If it wasn't for Farm Bureau, I personally, along with many others, would not have had the opportunity to meet with our representatives face to face in Washington.
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Austin Heil

Hardin County Farm Bureau

Washington, D.C. Leadership Experience
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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