83rd Annual OFU Convention Kicks Off Friday

Ohio Farmers Union to Debate CAUV, Water Quality

The Ohio Farmers Union will hold its 83rd Annual Convention beginning Friday, January 27, 2017.

Among public policy topics to be decided by the delegates are Ohio farmland tax issues and whether or not to establish carrying capacities for livestock in Ohio’s sensitive western Lake Erie watershed.

“We are delighted to announce the convening of the 83rd annual convention of the Ohio Farmers Union this coming weekend. Our convention will feature inspirational and educational presentations from key leaders in Ohio agriculture, thoughtful discussion on policy issues and great fellowship among members, delegates and guests. Please join us,” said OFU President Joe Logan.

Delegates will hear from a variety of speakers and decide whether to discuss and adopt number of policy priorities for 2017 including, setting livestock carrying capacities for the western basin of the Lake Erie watershed and making adjustments to the Current Agricultural Use Valuation (CAUV) of Ohio’s farmland.

CAUV will be an especially hot topic as many farmers around the state have experienced farmland property tax increases of 300 percent or more since 2008.

On Friday, delegates will hear from Ohio Dept. of Agriculture Director David T. Daniels as well as Mike Weaver, president of the Organization for Competitive Markets. Friday will conclude with awarding Ohio State Sen. Joe Schiavoni OFU’s “Legislator of the Year.”

“We’ll also hear from renowned Ohio farmer and an agriultural advisor to President Donald J. Trump’s recent campaign, Fred Yoder, among many others,” Logan said.

Logan announced this week that Ohio State Sen. Cliff Hite will deliver the convention’s closing keynote at a luncheon on Saturday.

To view the entire program, follow this link.

The Ohio Farmers Union represents around 4,000 family-sized farm members and consumers throughout Ohio. Each year, the organization gathers in January to set policy priorities for the year and honor state legislators for their work in the prior year.