Ohio Farm Bureau Action Alert: U.S. 23 and I-71 Connector Study
As ODOT accepts public comments until April 14, it is critical that impacted farmers and rural landowners weigh in while the study is underway.
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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
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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