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Ohio Farm Bureau is strongly urging members, landowners and rural residents to speak up as the Ohio Department of Transportation studies a potential connector between U.S. 23 and Interstate 71. 

The state-required feasibility study recently narrowed proposed routes to three options in Marion and Morrow counties. And while still hypothetical, the proposal raises significant concerns about farmland loss, impacts to rural communities and overall costs to taxpayers. 

In addition to working with the respective county Farm Bureaus, Ohio Farm Bureau recently submitted comments to ODOT highlighting these concerns and emphasized that “feasibility” must go beyond whether a project can be built to determine if it should. The organization also pointed to the agency’s 2025 study that identified 33 needed improvements along U.S. 23 and stressed that those should take priority before pursuing any new construction.

As ODOT accepts public comments until April 14, it is critical that impacted farmers and rural landowners weigh in while the study is underway. 

To make it easier to submit comments and with the goal of being heard loud and clear, Ohio Farm Bureau also established a template email you can send directly to ODOT. It can be used as a starting point to send a personalized message and share how the potential project would impact your farm, business or community.

After you click on the email template link, please enter your information in the form to the right for the letter to populate.

Make your voice count

Advocacy efforts like this are exactly why Ohio Farm Bureau exists. Our work ensures that agriculture has a strong, unified voice when decisions like this are on the table.

If you are not yet a member, now is the time to get involved. Make your voice heard, and together we can protect Ohio agriculture, support our rural communities and preserve the future of farming for the next generation.

Photo by Josh Sorenson