Darby Creek

The Environmental Protection Agency comment period on the revised definition of Waters of the United States is now open, and Farm Bureau plans to have its say on the new rule.

Ohio Farm Bureau, along with American Farm Bureau Federation and other Farm Bureaus across the country, will file comments with the EPA regarding the revised rule, said Jack Irvin, OFBF senior director of state and national policy.

“As we’ve advocated for all along, we will support a revised rule that is efficient, smart and not an overreach of authority,” Irvin said. “We want a rule that strikes a balance between the federal and state governing authorities and one that our members can embrace.”

Don Parrish, senior director of regulatory relations at AFBF, said the new rule is poised to do just that. The revised definition clarifies federal authority under the Clean Water Act, and the comment period allows farmers to tell the EPA how the new Clean Water Rule improves the flawed 2015 rule.

“The old rule included any feature that had a bed, bank and ordinary high-water mark,” Parrish said. “That included things that only had water in it during rainfall events. It is also very clear that wetlands need to be adjacent waters and tributaries that are Waters of the U.S. for them to be regulated, otherwise they’re isolated intrastate waters and they’re regulated at the state level. This rule clarifies all of that.”

The comment period closes April 15, 2019.

Ohio Farm Bureau membership

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.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

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

Geauga County Farm Bureau

Ohio Farm Bureau Health Benefits Plan
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
Gretchan Francis's avatar
Gretchan Francis

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Bringing the farm back to life
We really appreciate what Farm Bureau has done to get people interested in this line of work and workforce development and getting people interested in this industry.
Jody Brown Boyd's avatar
Jody Brown Boyd

Brown's Family Farm Market

Finding farm labor
We work terrifically with the Ashtabula County Farm Bureau, hosting at least one to two outreach town hall events every year to educate new farmers and existing farmers on traditional CAUV and woodlands.
David Thomas's avatar
David Thomas

Ashtabula County Auditor

CAUV: Past, present and future
Because we are younger farmers just starting out, Farm Bureau has a lot of good opportunities and resources to help us grow in the future.
Hannah Kiser's avatar
Hannah Kiser

Sandusky County Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau involvement
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.
Chad Ruhl's avatar
Chad Ruhl

Farm manager, CSI Insurance

Select Partner Program
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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