Ohio Farm Bureau testified at a recent Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review meeting where watershed in distress rules potentially impacting eight watersheds in northwest Ohio were discussed. The review committee ultimately decided to send the rules back to the Ohio Department of Agriculture for further study.

JCARR voted 8-1 to send them back to ODA because the proposed amendments to the Ohio Administrative Code were potentially in conflict with the proposed legislative intent of the rules in the first place.

According to Tony Seegers, director of state policy for Ohio Farm Bureau, the committee decided to tell ODA to “revise and refile” the rules. Doing so gives the agricultural community more time to work with the new administration in 2019 on the rules. Governor-elect Mike DeWine takes office on Jan. 14.

“The rules as proposed grossly exceeded the statutory authority granted the department by the General Assembly,” Seegers said.

In July, Gov. John Kasich issued an executive order to declare eight watersheds in the Maumee River Basin as “distressed.” The order is subject to approval by the Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission, which established a task group to study the issue. Upon advice from legislators, Farm Bureau, SWCDs and others, the commission chose to defer its decision pending the outcome of that task group’s study. That outcome recommended the decision to declare the watersheds in distress be deferred until the rules were reviewed by JCARR.

The “watersheds in distress” designation would require 7,000 farmers to create nutrient management plans and restrict nutrient application, but several questions remain on implementation, costs and other resources.

CAPTION: Tony Seegers, director of state policy for Ohio Farm Bureau, testifies before the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) in December. Photo courtesy Chris Kick/Farm and Dairy, Salem, Ohio

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