The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday announced this week, lower proposed obligations for renewable fuel usage under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the nation’s preeminent policy for encouraging the production and development of American grown and produced transportation fuels. The agency’s proposal would reduce obligations in 2018 for total renewable fuel volumes, biomass-based diesel, and advanced biofuel if finalized.

In response to the announcement, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement:

“This proposal undermines the intent of the RFS law, which is to expand markets for American produced renewable fuels. We need to be increasing our use of higher blends of renewable fuels like E30 and advanced biofuels, not reducing the renewable energy footprint on our nation’s transportation sector.

“The success of the homegrown, renewable energy sector is vital to family farmers and rural America, who benefit greatly from the expanded markets, investment, and high-paying jobs brought to their communities for renewable energy development. If this proposal is ultimately implemented, it would be a direct repudiation of President Trump’s promises to support the RFS and continued renewable energy development. This is especially troubling amidst the deeply depressed farm economy we are facing today.

“NFU looks forward to offering further comment on the proposal to ensure the RFS continues to be the economic and environmental success story it has been for family farmers, consumers and rural communities.”

National Farmers Union and Collette Have Teamed Up to Save You $ On Travel

Your Ohio Farmers Union membership grants you membership to National Farmers Union, and NFU continues to add great member benefits!

Collette has been showing the world to people just like you for nearly 100 years. As a third generation, family-owned company, sharing the wonder of travel is our passion. In addition to visiting iconic must-see sites around the globe, Collette’s 160 tours take travelers off the beaten path to really appreciate each destination. A partnership between the National Farmers Union and Collette opens up exclusive offers and member benefits to make your travel dreams come true!

OFU-NFU members: Save up to $500 per person on a Collette tour plus an additional $50-$100 with NFU member benefits.

Learn More About Collette:

OFU wants bi-partisan ACA fix that stabilizes marketplaces, protects rural hospitals

COLUMBUS – As the U.S. Senate begins the final week before the deadline to vote on the Graham-Cassidy healthcare bill, the Ohio Farmers Union has joined its national organization in urging a ‘no’ vote on the measure.

Graham-Cassidy would repeal much of the Affordable Care Act – so-called Obamacare – and replace it with a system of block grants to states and language that many say would weaken current law regarding pre-existing conditions and the basic content of health insurance policies.

“Many family farmers in Ohio buy their own health insurance. Before ACA, that meant high premiums, high deductibles and many times very little coverage,” said OFU President Joe Logan.

“While not perfect by any stretch, Obamacare has in fact led to overall better coverage and more lives insured in Ohio.”

“Congress needs to get about the hard work of fixing the healthcare marketplaces and ensuring we don’t backslide on critical issues like protecting those with pre-existing conditions and securing the Medicaid expansion,” Logan said.

The National Farmers Union has deemed any final vote by the Senate on passage of Graham-Cassidy as one that will be scored on the organization’s legislative scorecard.  NFU is also advocating this latest ACA repeal be rejected.

NFU has sent a letter to all members of the Senate on the bill.

[Read more…]

Ohio Farmers Union Event to Hear from Farmers, Provide Farm Bill Briefing

 COLUMBUS – As Congressional committees begin prepping for the 2018 Farm Bill, the Ohio Farmers Union will hold a listening session and briefing in Wilmington on September 18.

The event will be held at the Moyer Community Room, Wilmington Municipal Building, 69 N South St, Wilmington, OH 45177. It will begin at 6:30 p.m. and is expected to last two hours.  The event is open to the public but will he geared to farmers. Light refreshments will be provided by the Clinton County Farmers Union.

“It’s essential that despite the current dysfunction in Washington, Congress crafts a reasonable, responsible Farm Bill that provides a strong safety net,” said OFU President Joe Logan.

Logan said that the National Farmers Union is working with state organizations around the country to hold regional listening sessions where family farmers may come and share thoughts on what’s working and not working with current Farm Bill programs like Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC).

[Read more…]

Ohio Farmers Union Event to Hear from Farmers, Provide Farm Bill Brief

As Congressional committees begin prepping for the 2018 Farm Bill, the Ohio Farmers Union and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown will hold a listening session and briefing in Fremont on August 29.

The event will be held at Terra State Community College, 2830 Napoleon Rd., Fremont, OH 43420. It will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and attendees will be provided lunch. The event is open to the public but will he geared to farmers. Those who will be attending are asked to RSVP by calling OFU’s state office at 800-321-3671.

“Commodity prices have plummeted over the past four years and forecasts indicate this is a trend that will last into the foreseeable future,” said OFU President Joe Logan.

“It’s essential that despite the current dysfunction in Washington, Congress crafts a reasonable, responsible Farm Bill that provides a strong safety net.”

Logan said that the National Farmers Union is working with state organizations around the country to hold regional listening sessions where family farmers may come and share thoughts on what’s working and not working with current Farm Bill programs like Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC).

[Read more…]

Have you been looking for a fun, engaging way to bring Farmers Union to your community? Why not put on a local OFU coloring contest? Entries will be photographed locally by you and shared. We’ll put together a cool digital display of kids and their creations at the 2018 Ohio Farmers Union Annual Convention in January.

Special thanks goes to Courtney Johnson and the Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake Counties Farmers Union for putting this together.

The Concept

The idea is simple: Participate in a local Farmers Market or other community event by setting up a place where you can meet and greet folks on behalf of Farmers Union. Engage the kids with crayons and pages to color – and introduce their parents to the Farmers Union. For instance, if you have unique local farm and food projects like food councils, CSAs, water quality initiatives or rural concerns, share those stories and ideas and why Ohio Farmers Union is on the side of family farmers and consumers.

How to Do It

You start by downloading the kit below (the zipped file) or by downloading the kit’s files individually. Start with the file “Introduction – Hosting a Farmers Market Coloring Contest.” Courtney did a great job of laying it all out and even providing a checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything. There is a Microsoft Word template for a flyer – or you can make your own – and several coloring blanks geared to different age groups.

The Downloads

• Download Entire Kit as a Zipped Folder
• Introduction – Hosting a Farmers Market Coloring Contest
• Word Template for Contest Flyer
• Coloring Blank – Ages 1 to 4
• Coloring Blank – Ages 2 to 4
• Coloring Blank – Ages 4 to 6
• Coloring Blank – Ages 6 to 9
• Coloring Blank – Ages 10 and Up

Remarks of Roger Wise, Sandusky County Farmers Union President and Treasurer of the Ohio Farmers Union at a field hearing held by U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur on the subject of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) in Brook Park, Ohio:

Good afternoon. Thank you Rep. Kaptur, Elizabeth of the Citizens
Trade Campaign and President Mark Payne, Local 1250 for hosting this
very timely event about this very important topic.

My name is Roger Wise and I am a 4th generation full-time family
farmer and have been so for more than 40 years. I am here today on
behalf of the Ohio and National Farmrs Union. NFU is the oldest
active farm organization in the country, advocating since 1902. Ohio
has been chartered since 1934. Nationally we represent over 200,000
family farmers and ranchers and fishers. Here in Ohio we tout 2500 of
those members. Four of them are here with me today, Marge and Mardy
Townsend from Astabula County, and of course Congresswoman Kaptur.
The Farmers Union organization works through grassroots driven policy
to improve the well-being and quality of life for family farmers,
ranchers, fishers and rural communities. Each year at our national
fly in we bestow on like minded members of Congress our most
prestigious award, the Golden Triangle. Rep Kaptur has received it
more than 25 years running, more than any other legislator; and we are
grateful for her support.

I remember vividly when then Secretary of Agriculture, Earl Butz
declared the United States would plant “fence row to fence row” and we
would export our nation to prosperity and feed the world along the
way. That 70’s expansion lasted only a few years because American
farmers soon produced massive surpluses, interest rates, inflation and
input costs skyrocketed, prices plummeted and competing countries
developed their own farming techniques. The farm crises of the 80’s
began and lasted for the next 25 years. Farm program payments
accounted for 50% of farm income. The mantra was that profit came in
“economies of scale”, and we must “get big or get out”. Many family
farmers and ranchers did exactly that, some by choice, many by the
force of the bank.

[Read more…]

Congress is beginning to hear testimony on various subjects related to the upcoming 2018 Farm Bill. The National Farmers Union established the weak family farm economy as a point of emphasis last year. Please find below NFU’s recent press release regarding President Roger Johnson’s testimony. What’s happening on your farm? If you participate in ARC, PLC, MPP or other safety net programs, how are they working for your family business? It’s not too early to bring up the importance of the Farm Bill and a better safety net for farmers. Stay tuned here and to the Ohio Farmers Union Facebook page for upcoming announcements about Farm Bill Information and Listening Sessions. Also, consider writing a letter about your farm’s economics and how Farm Bill programs, including conservation measures, impact your ability to continue to farm. If you need assistance in identifying your member of Congress or U.S. Senators and their contact information, let Ron Sylvester know at rcs@ronsylvester.com and he’ll assist you.

from National Farmers Union:

Family farmers and ranchers are enduring a severely depressed farm economy, with projections pointing to a prolonged period of depressed commodity prices. To ensure the growth and success of family farm agriculture, Congress must strengthen the overall farm safety net, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson told the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture today.

In his oral testimony to the Committee’s hearing on “Commodities, Credit, and Crop Insurance: Perspectives on Risk Management Tools and Trends for the 2018 Farm Bill,” Johnson urged senators to improve the farm bill safety net, protect crop insurance, and improve access to credit.

“We continue to witness pressure in the countryside as commodity prices remain low and farmers and ranchers struggle to adjust,” Johnson told members of the Committee. “We are three years into this downturn, and forecasts by USDA point to a prolonged period of depressed prices. Given this scenario, NFU believes that the farm bill safety net should provide meaningful assistance in two fundamental circumstances: when disaster strikes and when prices are low and remain below the cost of production for extended periods of time. These two scenarios have separate solutions, the first is crop insurance and the second is commodity programs.”

[Read more…]

In between chores and anticipating the coming harvest, many of you are considering the costs of doing business on the farm. Now, through the end of summer, you’ll be receiving information from OFU and CareWorks Comp regarding your on-farm risk management program.

CareWorks Comp is once again partnering with OFU in offering it’s first-class – and affordable – group rating program for workers’ compensation. For every $1 in fees associated with joining CareWorks Comp’s group rating program, Ohio businesses save $11 in BWC Workers Compensation premiums. As a group member you also enjoy the benefits and administrative services of CareWorks Comp.

As a partner with CareWorks Comp, the Ohio Farmers Union also benefits when one of our members joins the program.

If you would like to learn more about CareWorks Comp’s group rating program, visit our BWC Group Coverage page.

If you know right away that you would at least like a quote from CareWorks Comp, follow this link which automatically identifies you as an Ohio Farmers Union member.

As always, thanks for your support of OFU – and for always considering our partners’ quality insurance products when you make decisions affecting your farm, your business and your family!