In December, Ohio Farm Bureau President Frank Burkett III joined the presidents of all 50 state Farm Bureaus at the Environmental Protection Agency headquarters in Washington, D.C., to announce a new proposed clean water rule to replace the flawed 2015 Waters of the United States rule.

The new rule is published in the Federal Register, so details will take some time to sort out. At press time, the publication of the new rule and opening of the comment period was delayed by the temporary shutdown of the federal government. However, the creation of the proposed clean water rule was a much fought for step in the right direction, according to Farm Bureau.

“Clean water matters to all of us,” said American Farm Bureau President
Zippy Duvall. “For years, Farm Bureau and others in agriculture have been calling for clean water and clear rules, because we know it’s possible to have both.”

The EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began a two-step process to review and revise the definition of “waters of the U.S.” under the Clean Water Act in June 2017, proposing to first rescind the 2015 WOTUS rule while they worked to develop a new definition. The 2015 WOTUS rule remains in legal limbo as it is challenged in various court cases.

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Ryanna Tietje

Henry County Farm Bureau

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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.
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Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Giving farmers a voice
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Farm Bureau is what really got the word out. It’s been one of their goals to get this done.
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Bill and Charlotte Wachtman

Henry County

10-year campaign for safer roads
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I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
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Gretchan Francis

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Bringing the farm back to life
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Because we are younger farmers just starting out, Farm Bureau has a lot of good opportunities and resources to help us grow in the future.
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Hannah Kiser

Sandusky County Farm Bureau

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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.
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Chad Ruhl

Farm manager, CSI Insurance

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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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Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

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