trade

If you are a Farm Bureau member, consider taking five minutes, using the information below, to make sure you understand how the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) benefits agriculture in Ohio, and then share the message with five fellow Farm Bureau members.

Ohio Farm Bureau has been working as part of an industry-wide effort to send a message to Washington, DC: NAFTA has created important markets for American agriculture – don’t let negotiations dismantle them.

Farm Bureau’s Executive Vice President Adam Sharp, along with colleagues from the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association as well as OSU economist Ian Sheldon recently shared this message with newspaper editorial boards and our Congressional delegation. This work is paying off. Just this week, Ohio Senator Rob Portman sent a letter to President Trump to affirm the benefits of NAFTA and requested the president modernize the agreement with those benefits in mind.

When it comes time to take action, will you be ready to talk about the importance of NAFTA?  Here are some helpful resources to help build your understanding.

  • Listen on the go! This is a 4-minute audio story with Tadd Nicholson, executive director of the Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association.  He talks about the importance of exports, why NAFTA matters and the local impact of NAFTA.  

  • This joint letter from ag industry leaders to Senator Portman provides a great summary of how NAFTA benefits the Ohio farmer.

  • Here is a detailed look at NAFTA benefits from the Congressional Research Service 

Again, please use these resources to brush up on your NAFTA, and pass it along to five fellow members.

Photo: Trends and Issues: Consolidated Grain and Barge.  (© 2017 Neal C. Lauron)

Ohio Farm Bureau membership

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

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.
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Nathan and Jill Parriman

Clermont County Farm Bureau

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

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

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

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

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

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