Ohio agriculture and business leaders visited the editorial boards of two major Ohio newspapers to make their case for preserving valuable portions of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
NAFTA renegotiations threaten to turn back trade gains for agriculture and key Ohio industries. OFBF Executive Vice President Adam Sharp joined Tadd Nicholson of the Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association, Keith Lake of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and Ian Sheldon of Ohio State’s CFAES to encourage The Columbus Dispatch and Akron Beacon Journal to share with readers what is at risk.
A subsequent Dispatch editorial stated, “The 23-year-old NAFTA pact…has been an engine of growth for agriculture in Ohio and nationwide, with exports of food and ag products quadrupling since it went into effect. With crop prices at historic lows, farmers struggle to remain solvent by increasing exports to grow their market.”
The editorial also noted, “Junking NAFTA wouldn’t hurt only farmers. If farms fail, local equipment suppliers, transportation and other services, and consumers would lose out, too. And other industries, particularly Ohio’s auto manufacturers and suppliers, rely upon the international supply chains that have grown under NAFTA.”
The Beacon Journal made similar endorsements of NAFTA’s importance to agriculture and manufacturing.
American Farm Bureau is heavily involved with the current administration and congressional leaders, working to protect agriculture’s vital export markets.
The House and Senate have voted to pass a bill that avoids a looming government shutdown. The bill, which includes short-term spending, disaster aid and a farm bill extension.
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The disaster relief funding disbursement will be overseen by the Ohio Department of Agriculture and administered through local soil & water districts.
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The requirement for businesses that are registered with their state to file information about beneficial owners with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has been paused.
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Bill Patterson, Cy Prettyman and Adele Flynn will continue to serve as officers for Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.
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10 Ohio Farm Bureau members were elected to the federation’s state board during the 106th annual meeting.
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The grants help inspire, encourage and nurture young agricultural professionals and entrepreneurs to find creative and transformative ways to address challenges facing the agricultural sector today.
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The 2024 Distinguished Service Award recipients are Dr. John Mossbarger of Fayette County, Sen. Rob Portman of Warren County and Jane Scott of Franklin County.
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