During the COVID-19 crisis, more and more people are turning to local farmers and smaller “mom and pop” producers for their basic needs. Trying to take care of the new influx of customers can be daunting, especially with limited staff…
Issues
Farm Bureau works to identify and address issues that impact Ohio’s food and farm community. Priority issues include work on property taxes, water quality, energy development, promoting good government and securing a proper business climate for agriculture to prosper. The policy book for 2020 was determined by delegates to the annual meeting.
Mental health care vital as farmers’ concerns grow
As the COVID-19 crisis continues to greatly impact daily life, there is an even greater need to take care of not only physical but mental health. Agriculture is an essential business, but the extra stress of the pandemic and the…
SBA Paycheck Protection Program
The Small Business Administration has released its rules for the small business Paycheck Protection Program. Agricultural enterprises that meet the size requirements are eligible to apply for this program. The Paycheck Protection Program is a new guaranteed loan program which…
COVID-19 implications for EPA enforcement
March 26, the United States Environmental Protection Agency released a temporary policy regarding the agency’s enforcement of environmental legal obligations during the COVID-19 pandemic. EPA is cognizant of potential worker shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the…
H-2A visa disruptions
There have been many developments over the last several weeks regarding the H-2A program which threaten to cause disruption to agriculture, including the closure of consulates in Mexico, border closures throughout South America and a national lockdown in South Africa…
Field Day with Jordan Hoewischer: H2Ohio and OACI
In the latest episode of Field Day with Jordan Hoewischer, Ohio Farm Bureau’s Director of Media Relations Ty Higgins interviews Hoewischer about the H2Ohio program and the Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative Farmer Certification program. Higgins and Hoewischer discuss how the…
H2Ohio deadline for accepting applications moved to March 31
The deadline for farmers to submit applications for the H2Ohio program is moving back to the original date of March 31, 2020. Gov. Mike DeWine strongly believes in the H2Ohio water quality initiative and farmers have shown overwhelming interest to…
CARES Act provides COVID-19 crisis relief
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act legislation, that passed the Senate earlier this week was also passed by the House of Representatives and signed by President Trump on Friday. The $2.2 trillion aid package includes…
State legislature passes emergency COVID-19 measures
Yesterday, the Ohio Senate amended COVID-19 measures into HB 197 and both chambers passed the bill unanimously. While there aren’t any ag specific provisions, there are many changes that impact daily life, such as a freeze on all state-issued licenses…
Essential does not mean business as usual
With the recent “stay-at-home” order from Gov. Mike DeWine to slow the spread of the coronavirus came a list of essential services that will allow people within certain industries to continue to work to supply necessary items society needs. Agriculture…