2021 Ohio Agriculture and Rural Communities Action Plan

We often talk about how few of us are involved in agriculture and point out the fact that less than 2% of the U.S. population has a role in food production. That stat is more than likely followed by how many in our society are now two, three or more generations removed from the farm and the importance to reach out to those who may have never stepped foot on a farm and educate them about what goes into delivering the most abundant, safest and affordable food in the world.

Today, the bridge that was built to connect those who farm and those who don’t has become much more complicated and, unfortunately, a lot longer. We now have a stark rural and urban divide in our country, and the 2020 election maps that pitted red versus blue paint a worrisome picture for the future.

President Joe Biden won 477 counties across the U.S. in his successful bid for the White House and President Donald Trump tallied 2,497 counties. Conversely, the total vote count was 76 million for Biden and about 71 million for Trump. Further election analysis showed a major gap from urban and suburban counties that voted for Democratic candidates and the more rural parts of America that supported Republicans.

This is concerning for Ohio Farm Bureau and many of our ag groups and partners. We need to start thinking about how to fill that deep divide, bring people together and create opportunities for agriculture. That is why we created the Ohio Agriculture and Rural Communities Action Plan, putting Farm Bureau’s nine priority issues front and center as we work with legislators in Columbus and in Washington, D.C.

The action plan looks at a path for a strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthening the food supply chain and connecting rural Ohio with access to broadband. It also calls for adequate funding for both important Ohio Department of Agriculture programs and valuable research from our partners at Ohio State.

In addition, we are advocating for investment in responsible land management practices like those for water quality, the protection of landowner rights, developing energy solutions, creating resources for farmer stress and keeping national and international markets open and strong.

All of these issues are vital to success at the farm level, and seeing them through will require purposeful efforts from our members and staff at the local, state and national levels.

As President Biden begins to learn about the unprecedented challenges in rural America, Farm Bureau will be advocating with his administration and those on Capitol Hill for ways to alleviate the troubles that those “off the beaten path” are facing.

Our members and the entire agriculture community know how to work through the toughest of challenges. It is in our DNA. But the tests we are experiencing now will require strong leadership and the ability to see our nation as a whole, not one split by a narrow aisle creating a bridge too far.

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.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Giving farmers a voice
The plan we are on is great. It’s comparable to my previous job's plan, and we are a sole proprietor.
Kevin Holy's avatar
Kevin Holy

Geauga County Farm Bureau

Ohio Farm Bureau Health Benefits Plan
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
Gretchan Francis's avatar
Gretchan Francis

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Bringing the farm back to life
We really appreciate what Farm Bureau has done to get people interested in this line of work and workforce development and getting people interested in this industry.
Jody Brown Boyd's avatar
Jody Brown Boyd

Brown's Family Farm Market

Finding farm labor
We work terrifically with the Ashtabula County Farm Bureau, hosting at least one to two outreach town hall events every year to educate new farmers and existing farmers on traditional CAUV and woodlands.
David Thomas's avatar
David Thomas

Ashtabula County Auditor

CAUV: Past, present and future
Because we are younger farmers just starting out, Farm Bureau has a lot of good opportunities and resources to help us grow in the future.
Hannah Kiser's avatar
Hannah Kiser

Sandusky County Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau involvement
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.
Chad Ruhl's avatar
Chad Ruhl

Farm manager, CSI Insurance

Select Partner Program
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.
Mary Smallsreed's avatar
Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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