EPA Building

Farmers have been hit from all sides lately, from skyrocketing input and fuel costs to supply chain challenges. Throw in several U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations and rules and the hits keep on coming.

The Enlist herbicides ban, another rewrite of the Waters of the U.S rule and a plea to keep bolstering the Renewable Fuels Standard are on the minds of farmers across the country. Farm Bureau has joined in the conversation with policymakers and the Biden administration to make sure the agency has all of the information needed when new ideas that may have an impact on farmers across the country are introduced.

Enlist herbicides

In response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recent decision to prohibit the use of Enlist Duo and Enlist One herbicides in certain Ohio counties, Farm Bureau lead an effort, along with the Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers and the Ohio Soybean Association, to write a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan to voice their concerns about the new policy.

“You have a tool for farmers that was essentially taken away with no time to react to it,” said Brandon Kern, senior director of state and national policy at Ohio Farm Bureau. “Literally overnight the rules changed for that group of farmers in those Ohio counties.”

Twelve counties in Ohio are on the banned use list: Athens, Butler, Fairfield, Guernsey, Hamilton, Hocking, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Vinton and Washington, impacting nearly 270,000 acres across the state. Update: The ban has since been lifted.

The ag groups went on record with U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan by outlining in a letter agriculture’s concerns with the process and the result regarding the Enlist bans.
The Ohio congressional delegation and American Farm Bureau have been working together on the issue as well, as it affects counties across the country. That collaboration netted an audience with Rod Snyder, U.S. EPA’s senior ag advisor for Administrator Regan.

Discussions centered around the shortcomings of the process and the need to work with producer organizations to look at processes in the future.

The American burying beetle has triggered the ban in Ohio. Corteva, the parent company of Enlist, has turned over new data to the U.S. EPA which may end up being beneficial to farmers.

“We’re hopeful this additional scientific data about the impact on that species provides that mitigating standard for EPA to be able to remove these county bans,” Kern said. “It’s encouraging that they received and acknowledged that information.”

WOTUS rules

In February, Ohio Farm Bureau submitted comments to the U.S. EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding the agencies’ proposed rewrite of the WOTUS rule. The changes would significantly expand the land mass regulated by the federal government and would lead to costly and complex permitting requirements that small businesses and farmers aren’t equipped to navigate.

The letter emphasized Ohio Farm Bureau and its members’ disappointment about the agencies’ proposed rule, and reminded how the current Navigable Waters Protection Rule, along with state-led efforts, was clearly protecting Ohio’s lakes, rivers and streams.

Renewable Fuel Standard

Ohio Farm Bureau recently provided comments concerning the U.S. EPA’s proposed rule regarding proposed Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO) for 2021 and 2022, as well as EPA’s proposal to retroactively adjust the already-finalized RVO for 2020.

The letter pointed out how renewable fuels have been a tremendous success story for the country and the rural economy and how the Renewable Fuel Standard has reduced the country’s dependence on foreign crude oil, reduced air pollution, increased farm incomes and provided good-paying jobs in rural America.

Kern noted that more than 30% of the corn grown in Ohio is used to produce ethanol. Kern and Ryan Yates, managing director of public policy American Farm Bureau, spoke about all these U.S. EPA challenges impacting farmers in depth on a recent Our Ohio Weekly.

New and beginning farmers
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.
Greg McGlinch's avatar
Greg McGlinch

Darke County Farm Bureau

Growing Tomorrow Grant
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.
Nathan and Jill Parriman's avatar
Nathan and Jill Parriman

Clermont County Farm Bureau

Bringing the farm back to life
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

Youth pathways in 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.
Wyatt Morrow's avatar
Wyatt Morrow

Clinton County Farm Bureau

Giving farmers a voice
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

Select Partner Program
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

Advocacy
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

Suggested Tags: