Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown with Ohio Farm Bureau

Sen. Sherrod Brown hosted a virtual roundtable with Ambassador Katherine Tai, 19th United States Trade Representative, and Ohio farmers, workers and manufacturers to discuss the impact of trade policy on Ohio communities.

“I’ve noticed that trade policy over the past number of years with presidents of both parties have mostly been written in corporate boardrooms on Wall Street and in the halls of Congress, and a trade representative really hasn’t listened to workers and farmers in small town Ohio,” Brown said. “I think what Ambassador Tai heard was how trade policy, done well or done badly, really affects farmers and exports. I think she heard what she needed to make a more positive difference in our trade policy.”

Brown recapped the roundtable for Ohio Farm Bureau’s radio show, Our Ohio Weekly, and said he believes one of the biggest differences in trade policy from the Biden administration is the enforcement of rules overseas for U.S. companies that have shut down domestic production to move somewhere else due to tax policies, cheap labor and weak environmental standards. He also thinks Ambassador Tai will make changes to how tariffs are used.

“Tariffs can help, but you have to be careful with what the other countries do that can affect agriculture,” Brown said. “I don’t think we have thought that through very well, and I think the new ambassador will.”

Brown also has been visiting with his constituents about some tax policy changes being discussed in Washington. He said farm families will benefit from some of the more substantial tax revisions being looked at.

“Corporate income tax went from 35% to 21%, and Treasury Secretary Yellen is trying to do an international 15% minimum corporate tax for all countries, and that will help farm families everywhere,” Brown said. “I know that some organizations have said that some of these proposals that are aimed at the rich will hurt others, but I have seen in this country over the last 20 years that it’s middle class people, whether they are farm families or factory families or small business, that have too often bore the brunt of the tax code.”

Other proposals inside the Beltway would eliminate stepped-up basis, double capital gains tax rates and charge a new capital gains tax at death on the appreciation of assets like farmland. Ohio Farm Bureau has issued an Action Alert, encouraging members to write to their members of Congress today about these possible tax policy changes.

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
Suggested Tags: