dairy cows

Between milk pricing and marketing and maintaining a secure safety net, the dairy industry always has its fair share of challenges. As those challenges evolve, so must strong policy to keep dairy farmers in Ohio and across the country viable. To help keep up with industry trends and stay ahead of the needs of milk producers, Ohio Farm Bureau created the Ohio Dairy Action Group, consisting of over 50 dairy farmers of all sizes, types and geographical locations.

“The need for a group like this was led by the very complicated system that dairy farmers deal with,” said Brandon Kern, senior director of state and national policy with Ohio Farm Bureau. “The first phase of creating this group was an educational piece because we wanted to make sure that dairy producers in Ohio were kept up to date with all of the issues that impact their industry.”

Group members have heard from economists and other dairy industry experts to analyze current market conditions, explain the milk price formula and get into the details of how dairy products get priced in the marketplace.

The second aspect of the group is taking the marketing insights and using Farm Bureau policy to advocate for the needs of dairy farmers to representatives in Congress.

Since its creation in 2019, the Ohio Dairy Action Group has made tremendous progress in getting organized and prepared to discuss the needs of milk producers, particularly as talks begin to ramp up inside the beltway and plans for writing the next farm bill begin, according to Kern.

“There was a lot of volatility in the dairy sector during the pandemic,” Kern said. “We have spent a great deal of time doing policy development and finding recommendations for improving the pricing mechanism around dairy, so part of this working group’s goal is to share those ideas with lawmakers to find a workable solution for Ohio dairy farmers moving forward.”

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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