Agriculture economics

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.

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.
Mandy Way's avatar
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.
Ernie Welch's avatar
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.
Matt Aultman's avatar
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.
Jaclyn De Candio's avatar
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.
Jenna Gregorich's avatar
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.
Jared Hughes's avatar
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.
Austin Heil's avatar
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.
Mary Smallsreed's avatar
Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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