Applications for Ohio Farm Bureau Health Plans now available
Members have three ways to apply: contacting a certified agent, calling 833-468-4280 or visiting ohiofarmbureauhealthplans.org.
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On the same day Toledoans passed the Lake Erie Bill of Rights that may make it harder for farmers to focus on nutrient runoff over frivolous lawsuits, the Ohio Department of Agriculture announced new assistance programs to help producers achieve water quality goals in the Western Lake Erie Basin, funded by the passage of Ohio Senate Bill 299.
“Farm Bureau has been engaged in identifying water quality solutions for years and the passage of Ohio Senate Bill 299 in 2018 was an important step in the right direction to build upon the progress that has been made,” said Jack Irvin, OFBF senior director of state and national policy. “The Ohio Department of Agriculture and Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Districts are both important boots on the ground partners to help identify and implement practical and effective solutions to our water quality challenges.”
The legislation provided $23.5 million for soil and water conservation districts located in the Western Lake Erie Basin for nutrient management programs. ODA has already distributed $3.5 million to 24 SWCDs in northwest Ohio. The remaining $20 million wll be spread across three new assistance programs:
- The Ohio Working Lands Program will encourage producers to establish year-round vegetative cover on eligible crop land. The program will promote the conversion, establishment and maintenance of forage/hay land on certain cropland acres. Also, there will be a new incentive payment to encourage producers to re-enroll acreage through the Lake Erie Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.
- The Voluntary Nutrient Management Plan Development Program will be a partnership with the Ohio AgriBusiness Association, in which producers are reimbursed for soil testing and nutrient management plans. This would help to ensure the 4R principles are put into place.
- The Cost Share and Equipment Buy Down Program will provide producers with funds to purchase technological improvements to agricultural land, equipment and structures to reduce nutrient loss.
“This $20 million suite of practices will go a long way toward our clean water initiatives and helping us set the tone for water quality efforts statewide,” said ODA Director Dorothy Pelanda.
The announcement has garnered widespread support from throughout the agricultural industry and from farmers eager to have resources to support their ongoing conservation efforts, including longtime Sandusky County Farm Bureau member David Myerholtz.
He lauded Farm Bureau for supporting SB 299, thereby supporting funding for “our transition costs for implementing nutrient management plans, intensive soil sampling, equipment purchases for nutrient placement, cover crops, nutrient consulting costs, variable rate prescription costs, electronic technology purchase costs and lots of other investments that are needed today on the farm to detect, monitor, apply and retain our nutrient resources for everyone’s benefit downstream.”
Producers located in the Western Lake Erie Basin are encouraged to contact their local soil and water conservation district office to learn more and sign up for these new programs.
My first recommendation in your journey is to start out with a local farming friend or mentor along with joining an organization like Ohio Farm Bureau.
We’re just so thankful for the Farm Bureau and the foundation for helping put this together. And of course, the Boyert family for the vision they had with this grant. It’s jumping us forward 10 years. It’s unbelievable.
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
It wasn’t until I joined the Wilmington College Collegiate Farm Bureau that I truly saw how my passion could translate into leadership, advocacy and a career.
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.
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.
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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