Legislation important to members and advocated for by Ohio Farm Bureau was passed during the “lame duck” session of the Ohio Legislature at the end of 2020.
The Ohio House and Senate came together to agree on House Bill 7, which creates the Statewide Watershed Planning and Management Program. The bill allows for the development of more localized watershed plans and provides resources for local soil and water conservation districts to help develop them with area farmers.
“House Bill 7 creates yet another useful tool to assist the agriculture community in its continued commitment to making improvements in water quality,” said Brandon Kern, OFBF senior director of state and national policy.
Another piece of legislation that Farm Bureau has worked on for years is to overhaul county drainage petition regulations through House Bill 340, which modernizes the ditch petition processes by which landowners can petition the county for drainage improvement projects.
HB 340 embraces the use of technology such as digital maps, video or photographs via drone footage, etc. to modernize the petition viewing process regarding the proposed drainage improvement’s location and issues intended to be addressed.
Another important highlight is increasing the minimum width of the required sod or seeded strip along the drainage improvement from 4 feet to 10 feet. This will provide for better erosion and sediment control and aligns with Ohio Farm Bureau’s support for efforts that improve soil and water conservation efforts.
On a national level, Farm Bureau applauded inclusion of funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, broadband development and Coronavirus Food Assistance Program supplemental payments in the latest COVID relief bill.
The package also provided more help to livestock producers who did not receive as much assistance in earlier bills, including:
The House and Senate have voted to pass a bill that avoids a looming government shutdown. The bill, which includes short-term spending, disaster aid and a farm bill extension.
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The disaster relief funding disbursement will be overseen by the Ohio Department of Agriculture and administered through local soil & water districts.
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The winners of the 2024 Ohio Farm Bureau Advocacy in Action Award are Roger Baker of Wayne County and Neall Weber (posthumously) of Franklin County.
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The requirement for businesses that are registered with their state to file information about beneficial owners with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has been paused.
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Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives recommend safe energy conservation during extreme cold snaps to help alleviate demand.
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Delegates discussed many important topics including carbon sequestration and mental health at the Ohio Farm Bureau’s 106th Annual Meeting.
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Bill Patterson, Cy Prettyman and Adele Flynn will continue to serve as officers for Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.
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10 Ohio Farm Bureau members were elected to the federation’s state board during the 106th annual meeting.
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The grants help inspire, encourage and nurture young agricultural professionals and entrepreneurs to find creative and transformative ways to address challenges facing the agricultural sector today.
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The 2024 Distinguished Service Award recipients are Dr. John Mossbarger of Fayette County, Sen. Rob Portman of Warren County and Jane Scott of Franklin County.
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