AFBF adopts Ohio Farm Bureau policies at 106th Convention
All 13 policies that came from Ohio were passed on the AFBF delegate floor.
Read MoreAs 2020 presidential candidates jockey for position, interesting issues can arise and become a national topic of conversation seemingly overnight.
So was the case when potential 2020 Democratic nominee Elizabeth Warren spoke in Iowa about foreign companies buying American farmland. Suddenly Ty Higgins, Ohio Farm Bureau’s director of media relations, started receiving phone calls on a topic not related to water, trade or a wet spring for Ohio farmers.
Higgins told National Public Radio in a May interview that “once a foreign entity buys up however many acres they want, Americans might never be able to secure that land again. So, once we lose it, we may lose it for good.”
In Ohio, about half a million acres of farmland are owned by foreign investors — with Germany and the Netherlands leading in most land bought. China is another significant investor.
Higgins noted there is no federal restriction on foreign farmland purchases, so it is up to each individual state to come up with its own regulations. For example, it is restricted in Iowa, where no farmland is owned by foreign investors, whereas Higgins said in Texas it is a “free for all.”
In Ohio, there is voluntary registration by the foreign entity with the state, but nothing prohibiting those overseas from purchasing farmland.
The loss of farmland itself is of particular concern, Higgins said. “Every acre of productive farmland that is converted over to something other than agriculture is an acre of land that no longer produces food,” causing a ripple effect in the state’s economy and a potential hardship on rural communities. Higgins comments with NPR also were later included in a story done by Newsweek.
All 13 policies that came from Ohio were passed on the AFBF delegate floor.
Read MoreBuckeye Local is pioneering a new standard in rural education innovation, merging physical infrastructure with curricular advancements to deepen students’ interest in agriculture and its extensive career options.
Read MoreOhio Farm Bureau Young Agricultural Professional Abby Campbell of Washington County is the winner of the 2025 American Farm Bureau Discussion Meet.
Read MoreOn Jan. 24, the Supreme Court issued an order granting a request by the government to allow enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) while litigation continues over the law.
Read MoreFollow the action as it’s happening in San Antonio on Ohio Farm Bureau social media channels: Facebook, YouTube, X and TikTok, using #AFBF25.
Read MoreJoin Ohio Farm Bureau for a free webinar Feb. 11 to discuss the recent increases in CAUV values, Registration is required.
Read MoreDr. Ron Hanson helps counsel farm families to resolve conflicts while helping the next generation assure their financial future. He is a featured speaker at the 2025 Winter Leadership Experience.
Read MoreOhio Farm Bureau Foundation recently added four new board members and elected officers of its 14-member board, which oversees the charitable, nonprofit organization.
Read MoreGrants support ag-related programming that enhances agricultural literacy efforts while creating pathways for young people to learn about ag careers.
Read MoreNow through Feb. 28, you can receive free insulation when finishing an existing pole barn interior.
Read More