Farmer’s Guide to Trucking Regulations available to Ohio Farm Bureau members
The guide includes a farm driver checklist, overview of state and federal regulations and exemptions, CDL qualifications and more.
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Ohio Farm Bureau State Board Trustee and first-generation farmer Nathan Brown of Hillsboro knows a thing or two about trying new things.
Expenses associated with manpower and equipment prompted the first-time farmer to try a no-till approach to planting in the early 2000s. No-till is a farming practice that disrupts soil less, which helps the land retain its organic matter and nutrients while increasing water infiltration into the ground and decreasing runoff.
Since finding success in that practice and others he’s tried, including being a strong proponent of cover crops, Brown was awarded the Ohio No-Till Council’s 2018 Outstanding No-Till Farmer award. He is actively asking for more farmers to tell the stories of their own conservation practices.
Q: Why did you create the Ohio Soil Health and Cover Crops Facebook group in March?
A: Several states had a platform where farmers could share what conservation practices they have in place for soil health and water quality and Ohio didn’t. The group is another way to have a farmer-to-farmer conversation.
Q: Water quality is a top priority for Farm Bureau and Ohio’s farmers. Can you explain why clean water starts with soil health and why it is so important?
A: I am a father. I would do anything and everything to protect my kids, and I am a father to the land. It’s what sustains our family and I’ll do everything I can to keep soil healthy and water pure. There are many ways to measure our effects on soil health.
Brown encourages farmers to join the group.
Online Extra
Early planting soybean flop (and other soil health lessons) shared on new forum for farmers
Cutline: Nathan Brown
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Knowing that horticulture is under the agriculture umbrella and having Farm Bureau supporting horticulture like it does the rest of ag is very important.
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.
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