Paycheck Protection Program

The new COVID-19 relief package that Congress passed at the end of 2020 included a second allocation of funds for the Paycheck Protection Program totaling $284 billion.

“The thought process behind the PPP is to assist businesses that had to scale back their operations or shut them down completely due to the pandemic,” said Brandon Kern, Ohio Farm Bureau’s senior director of state and national policy. “These funds are designed to allow businesses to keep employees on the payroll, and if 60% of the funding was used for payroll, the loan would be forgiven in its entirety.”

Kern said that many Ohio Farm Bureau members have small businesses on their farms or companies within the agriculture sector that support farmers’ everyday operations.

“There are many farm operations that do have a payroll, and we have many members who have taken part in this program,” Kern said. “Ohio agriculture is very diversified, and there are certainly many examples of businesses that would have experienced heavy job loss numbers had it not been for PPP.”

Funds from this program will be allocated to small businesses on a first-come, first-served basis. To find out more about the program and how to apply, visit the Small Business Administration website.

Farmers can apply for the PPP through any existing SBA 7(a) lenders, federally insured credit union, Farm Credit System institution or through any federally insured depository institution that is participating, including Farm Bureau Bank.

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.
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Mandy Way

Way Farms

Farm Labor Resources
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.
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Ernie Welch

Van Wert County Farm Bureau

Strong 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.
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Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Leadership development
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.
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Jaclyn De Candio

Clark County Farm Bureau

Young Ag Professionals program
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.
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Jenna Gregorich

Coshocton County Farm Bureau

Growing our Generation
Knowing that horticulture is under the agriculture umbrella and having Farm Bureau supporting horticulture like it does the rest of ag is very important.
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Jared Hughes

Groovy Plants Ranch

Groovy Plants Ranch
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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Austin Heil

Hardin County Farm Bureau

Washington, D.C. Leadership Experience
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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Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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