energy development

Legislation addressing orphan oil and gas wells landowners contend with throughout the state was signed into law by Gov. Kasich on June 29.

“Currently 250,000 vertical and horizontal wells have been drilled in the state with potentially thousands of them being orphaned, meaning their owners are untraceable,” said Jenna Beadle, OFBF director of state policy. “Our members are often plagued with one or more orphan wells on their property and this legislation will encourage more landowners to report the existence of orphan wells on their property and create more financial resources to begin plugging these wells.”

The legislation alleviates several of the challenges associated with orphaned wells. Significantly, it creates a prioritization structure that will cause Ohio Department of Natural Resources to evaluate these wells and develop a strategy to begin quickly addressing them in order of urgency.

Wells would be classified as:

• Distressed – high priority
• Moderate – medium priority
• Maintenance – low priority

This scoring matrix causes ODNR to evaluate these wells and begin quickly addressing orphaned wells that are the most hazardous to the surrounding environment.

Also, landowners will no longer be penalized on their federal income taxes for receiving financial assistance from the ODNR’s Orphan Well Program to plug an orphaned well.

Ohio Farm Bureau membership

The plan we are on is great. It’s comparable to my previous job's plan, and we are a sole proprietor.
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Kevin Holy

Geauga County Farm Bureau

Ohio Farm Bureau Health Benefits Plan
To grow a network and gain perspective and knowledge in the industry through personal and professional development has been invaluable. Every day I learn and grow.
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Ryanna Tietje

Henry County Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau connections
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.
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Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Giving farmers a voice
Farm Bureau is what really got the word out. It’s been one of their goals to get this done.
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Bill and Charlotte Wachtman

Henry County

10-year campaign for safer roads
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Gretchan Francis

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

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Hannah Kiser

Sandusky County Farm Bureau

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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

Farm manager, CSI Insurance

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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.
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Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

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