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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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:
- Payments to livestock and poultry growers for losses suffered due to depopulation because of insufficient processing access due to COVID-19 market impacts
- Payments to livestock and poultry contract growers who had revenue losses due to contract changes because of COVID-19
- $400 million to pay for milk to be processed into dairy products and donated to nonprofit entities
- Make loans and grants to small and mid-sized food processors or distributors.
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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