Applications for Ohio Farm Bureau Health Plans now available
Members have three ways to apply: contacting a certified agent, calling 833-468-4280 or visiting ohiofarmbureauhealthplans.org.
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Earlier this week, Ohio Farm Bureau’s state and county leaders were given an opportunity to visit exclusively with U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. Topics covered included trade, dairy pricing, labor and water quality.
OFBF president Frank Burkett expressed his appreciation for programs like both Market Facilitation Programs and both Coronavirus Food Assistance Programs that provided to farmers assistance through trade wars and the COVID-19 crisis, but also shared his concern for how sustainable these programs are and how farmers are looking for a more steady income from selling to the markets.
“I don’t know of a good, honest farmer that wouldn’t rather have a good crop at a fair price over a government check, but when you are not having a profitable year, those checks do come in pretty handy,” Perdue said. “The reality is that those programs are not sustainable and even though farm income has gone up, as a farmer you don’t feel like it because you are not earning it across the scales, but through the mailbox.”
Perdue said that the new trade deals with Japan, China, Mexico and Canada appear to be paying off, as commodity prices are higher than they have been in some time.
Mike Videkovich, who represents District 15 on OFBF’s Board of Trustees and farms in Fairfield County, told the secretary that he was alarmed by the price differential between what the meat packers were receiving as compared to what was being seen at the farmer level. He also asked how USDA can create more competition and more domestic and regional processors across the state and the country.
Perdue said the price disparity in the beef industry isn’t just alarming, it is obscene and the investigation into that issue continues. As for adding capacity at a more local level, Perdue said that he is suggesting to those in the cattle industry to form cooperatives much like those seen in the pork and poultry sectors in order to take the benefit from integrating those inordinate retail prices when they go up.
“We are also looking at any other flexibilities from a regulatory standpoint that may facilitate the ability for local processors to participate,” Perdue said. “The consumer really likes that locally grown product so we want to help the consumer to have the availability there.”
On the regulatory front, Perdue talked about the unusual, but necessary relationship between his department and the U.S. EPA. He said both entities have worked together nicely, realizing the decisions they make, individually and collectively, have a major impact on agriculture and how the farmer does their job and applauded the new Clean Water Rule from EPA, that replaced the Waters of The U.S. rule earlier this year.
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.
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.
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through 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.
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.
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.
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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