Miami University is hiring a farm manager to help develop and to work on our new organic/sustainable farm which will be part of the new Miami University Food Studies Institute in Oxford, Ohio.
Brown, Kaptur Honored by NFU While Logan and Ohio Members Lobby Congress on Trade, COOL
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, center-right, holds 2015 Golden Triangle Award given to him by the National Farmers Union. Roger Johnson, NFU president, and members of the Ohio Farmers Union stand with Brown.
COLUMBUS – Ohio Farmers Union President Joe Logan and a delegation of OFU members have returned to Ohio after a week in Washington, D.C. lobbying members of Congress on Country of Origin Labeling and the pending Trans Pacific Partnership trade pact.
The OFU group was there as part of the National Farmers Union Legislative Fly-In. NFU also honored U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-OH, and U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-9th District with Golden Triangle awards. The Ohio pair were two of 36 senators and members of Congress honored last week.
“Recipients of the Golden Triangle Award have been strong advocates for family farmers and ranchers, and support similar principles and policies as Farmers Union,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “We are pleased to honor those who have proven to be true allies of our organization and family agriculture.”
As for the issues, Logan said that Ohio’s family farmer delegates met with several members of Ohio’s Congressional delegation.
“We focused on Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and U.S. EPA’s flawed ethanol blending targets for 2015 and 2016,” Logan said.
“We urged members to vote “no” on TPP and demand that EPA follow the law on the Renewable Fuel Standard which sets the ethanol blending targets,” he said.
Logan said recent action by the U.S. House to repeal COOL was disappointing. The Senate has not taken up the measure, so OFU members used their time with legislators to explain what Logan calls “the whole story on COOL.”
“Most members of Congress didn’t realize that there is public polling showing that an overwhelming majority of American consumers support knowing where their food comes from. Furthermore, they had no idea that the World Trade Organization’s opposition to U.S. COOL was enacted in an un-democratic and non-transparent process,” Logan said.
U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, flanked by OFU President Joe Logan, left, and NFU President Roger Johnson, right, receives NFU’s Golden Triangle Award for 2015.
Logan and others made the case that national pork and beef promotion organizations have been captured by an increasingly smaller number of huge trans-national corporations that want to be able to bombard the U.S. market with the lower-priced inferior quality meats from countries like China and Brazil.
“If COOL goes by the wayside, it will be much easier for these big foreign companies to replace U.S. grown and processed meat with beef from Brazil and pork from China,” Logan said.
Logan also praised both Brown and Kaptur.
“Sherrod and Marcy are both long-time supporters of family farmers through thick and thin,” Logan said. “Marcy Kaptur has actually been honored by National Farmers Union more than any other legislator. She is a star for family farmers.”
“For decades, independent farmers in Ohio and throughout the country have suffered hardship and injustice at the hands of the powerful and heavily integrated corporate meat industry,” said Kaptur. “I have learned that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is ready to move forward with long-overdue protections for those farmers. I am humbled to receive this distinguished award from the National Farmers Union, whose work advocating on behalf of independent farmers could not be more critical. But even more importantly, I am gratified that this shared effort has brought us closer than ever to expanding critical protections for our nation’s meat and poultry farmers. Thank you to NFU President Roger Johnson, Ohio Farmer’s Union President Joe Logan, and the many farmers, ranchers, experts and advocates whose sacrifice, sweat and labor made all of this possible.”
“Our state’s prosperity – and economic and energy security – depends on the strength of Ohio’s agriculture sector,” Brown said. “I will continue working alongside Ohio’s farmers and producers to expand market opportunities, maintain a strong and fiscally responsible safety-net, and strengthen rural communities.”
OFU: Moratorium in Order for Class II Injection Wells
OFU President Joe Logan said that the Board of Directors of the Ohio Farmers Union has issued a call for a moratorium on new Class II injection wells in Ohio.
Logan said the policy position emanated from members with farms in northeast Ohio and has gained traction as several county commissioners, township trustees and municipalities have entertained public forums and resolutions on issues with these wells.
“Many of us who live and work our farms near Class II wells are truly concerned about spills and accidents that have occurred and the fact that many of these wells are older infrastructure being put back into use due to increased fracking in Eastern Ohio and neighboring states,” Logan said.
“Eastern Ohio has become a dumping ground for fracking waste from surrounding states and we don’t believe the state’s inspection and public health and safety infrastructure and staffing has kept up with events in Eastern Ohio. The public would be better served by not allowing any further development of Class II sites for frack waste until Ohio establishes a program mandating air and water quality monitoring around injection wells along with a reporting requirement for disposed material” Logan said.
Logan said that Class I disposal well regulations, overseen by Ohio EPA, are more robust therefore creating an environment where accidents creating groundwater and soil pollution are less likely.
“We propose any new disposal wells intended for waste from horizontal hydrofracturing should meet Class I standards,” Logan said.
OFU: No on Pot Cartel; Yes on Redistricting in Election 2015
OFU Executive Director Linda Borton speaks on behalf of State Issue 1 at a recent League of Women Voters-Common Cause Ohio news conference in Columbus.
The Ohio Farmers Union has endorsed State Issue 1 and is asking members to reject State Issue 3 on Election Day this November.
“When the Democrats drew the lines, Republicans demanded reform. When the Republicans draw the lines, the Democrats call for change – now there is a new and real call to bipartisanship, Issue 1,” said OFU Executive Director Linda Borton.
Borton said that OFU’s board of directors was impressed by the focus on transparency of State Issue 1.
“It’s no secret that our current state legislative districts and past maps drawn by both parties were formed in back rooms, downtown Columbus hotels and generally away from the light of day and the general public,” Borton said.
Borton said State Issue 1 creates more transparency in the process through a system of public hearings and by opening district maps to public comment before they are voted on by the proposed Redistricting Commission. It also calls for the minority party to be more involved throughout the process – not just there to vote “No” on the majority’s map.
While the language of State Issue 1 is loose enough to allow a majority party to continue the unfair practices of the past, OFU believes that the transparency changes and minority party standing in the process will ensure a heavy public price is paid for unfairness. OFU is also heartened by the fact that State Issue 1 grants the minority party a legal remedy for maps that are unfair and that separate communities.
“We like the fact that the Redistricting Commission would have to reconvene after two years with a disputed map, rather than just allowing a bad map to stand for 10 years,” Borton said.
OFU is also urging a “No” vote by members on State Issue 3 the marijuana legalization bill.
Notice for OFU CareWorksComp Members
The Ohio Farmers Union provider for Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation group coverage is CareWorksComp. They’ve asked us to pass along a couple of notes regarding Ohio BWC’s new invoicing process for businesses. Please read the PDF document below:
Increased Financial Hardship in Rural America: NFU Urges USDA to Expand Ag Mediation Program
National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson today encouraged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prepare for increased economic instability and financial stress for American family farmers and ranchers through the USDA Certified Agricultural Mediation Program.
“USDA’s August 2015 net farm income forecast confirms anecdotal evidence of increasing financial distress for producers,” noted Johnson in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “NFU encourages USDA to prepare for increased activity of direct and guaranteed loan applications, loan servicing and mediation services. We recommend the USDA utilize the USDA Certified Agricultural Mediation Program and expand the agricultural issues that are eligible for mediation services.”
Johnson noted that after several years of strong and record high net farm incomes, production costs also enjoyed an upward income trend. Johnson noted NFU’s strong support for the USDA Certified Agricultural Mediation Program which helps producers and lenders agree on solutions to conflicts with farm loans.
Read Joe Logan’s Op-Ed on Voluntary COOL Compromise
Editor’s Note: OFU President Joe Logan penned this op-ed for the Cincinnati Enquirer. It’s online and ran in print edition.
Today’s consumer goods are sourced from around the world and quality can vary greatly, so naturally, folks want to know the origin of their food. This is not only common sense, but is supported by a decade’s worth of polling.
And this isn’t simply an American phenomenon. European consumers demanded food labeling after they found out that the “beef” they were consuming was actually imported, mislabeled horse meat. Congress recognized the consumer demand for food labeling and passed a popular labeling law known as Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) in 2008.
COOL simply says that muscle cuts of meat, and some fruits and vegetables, must be labeled with the name of the country where the product was produced and processed. Unfortunately, common sense doesn’t always win the day, so our popular labeling law has been challenged in federal court by the multinational meat packers. Failing there, our chief trade competitors – Canada and Mexico – filed an official dispute, claiming severe economic harm, at the World Trade Organization. In response to fears of economic retaliation being considered by the WTO, the U.S. House of Representatives repealed the law and the fate of COOL is now in the hands of the U.S. Senate.
Your favorite shirt, your winter coat, your kitchen appliances and the replacement parts for your car are all labeled with their country of origin, so why shouldn’t your food be? According to a decade’s worth of polling on this issue, roughly 90 percent of the nation’s consumers support food labeling.
It’s just common sense that parents want to know as much as possible about what they are putting into their mouths, and the mouths of their children. Some consumers want to eat locally, purchasing Ohio sweet corn – the best corn in the world – while others don’t care if their corn comes from Ohio, Ottawa, or Oaxaca. But regardless of what they want, they can’t make that targeted distinction if the food isn’t labeled.
The notion of shopping local or buying American is very popular among many consumers, who see the value of spending their hard-earned incomes close to home, supporting their local farmers and rural economies. But it can only happen if the food is labeled.
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio has stood strong against the notion of repealing the COOL law and is working on compromise solution in the Senate. His alternative would retain the framework of the COOL law, while bringing it into WTO compliance by making COOL voluntary for beef and pork. This should not only appease the objections of our trading partners, given Canada has a voluntary labeling program on the books, but also give consumers who want to support their local farmers the option to do so.
Additionally, Canada and Mexico both suggested the adoption of a voluntary system in the 2012 WTO Appellate Body Report, and the U.S. trade representative’s office also noted that repealing the mandatory requirement and replacing it with a voluntary system has the “potential to constitute compliance with U.S. WTO obligations.” That gives voluntary COOL the “thumbs up” from every corner.
And while Ohio Farmers Union has fought for mandatory labeling for years, this bill would avoid the current lobbyist-driven call for a complete repeal and ensure that the framework for accurate food labeling remains on the books. It’s a far better option than complete repeal of COOL.
When you throw some meat on the grill this weekend, think about how and where that food was produced and processed. Let Brown know that you support his efforts, and urge Sen. Rob Portman to support food labeling, as well.
NFU Calls Out Potential TPP Trade Partner for Currency Manipulation
NFU: Currency Manipulation Again Being Used by Potential TPP Partner to Gain Unfair Advantage Over U.S. Farmers and Ranchers
National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson today again urged the administration to ensure that the final Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement include strong language against currency manipulation, which has been used recently by two of our trading partners- and consistently by other potential signatories of the TPP – to gain the edge on America’s farmers and ranchers.
“The devaluation of Vietnam’s currency this week and China’s last week underscores that mercantilism is alive and well around the world,” said Johnson. “Congress and the administration should take note that while many nations claim to be willing to drop blatant barriers in the name of free trade, they’re busy erecting new barriers on the side.”
Vietnam is a planned signatory onto the TPP, and will benefit from the elimination of trade barriers by many countries – like the U.S. – where it hopes to gain market share.
“The U.S. needs to prioritize meaningful measures to address currency manipulation with our trading partners,” said Johnson, who urged the administration to be wide-eyed and cautious moving forward with TPP negotiations. “Any major trade agreement that doesn’t have strong and enforceable language against currency manipulation isn’t worth the paper it’s written on,” said Johnson.
Johnson pointed out that currency manipulation is the most significant contributor to the massive U.S. trade deficit, which exceeded $505 billion in 2014.
“The trade deficit keeps growing because everyone seems to be watching out for their own best interests but the U.S.,” said Johnson. “The overall U.S. trade deficit is a 3 percent drag yearly on our national Gross Domestic Product and is robbing rural America and domestic agriculture of its potentially bright future” said Johnson.
“If the TPP is signed without strong provisions against currency manipulation, that deficit will just continue to grow,” he said.
NFU Denounces Chinese Currency Devaluation
National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson today denounced the Chinese government’s recent decision to devalue its currency, an unfair move that hurts U.S. family farmers’ and ranchers’ ability to export goods to China. Johnson called for the administration to ensure currency manipulation is prohibited in the final Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.
“This deliberate currency manipulation by the United States’ second largest trading partner, and largest supplier of goods imports, is a prime example for why the U.S. needs to prioritize meaningful measures to address currency manipulation with our trading partners,” said Johnson in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman. “NFU strongly urges the administration to include a prohibition on currency manipulation in the TPP to protect the U.S. from unfair trading practices and preserve jobs across America.”
NFU Tells Obama Admin It Left Farmers Out of Clean Power Plan
National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson issued the following statement today regarding the Obama administration’s release of the Clean Power Plan:
“Climate disruption, linked to the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs), poses severe threats to family farmers, ranchers, and rural communities across the country. These threats include extreme weather events, interference with access to water, heat stress on crops and livestock, and changing pest and disease pressures. These threats undermine the stability of the food supply and must be mitigated. NFU appreciates the administration’s work to address the causes of climate change.
“Unfortunately, the administration is missing an important opportunity to constructively engage family farmers in its efforts to build climate resiliency. Farmers can avoid GHG emissions and sequester carbon in the soil. Given the correct policy and financial incentives, farmers can mitigate climate change less expensively and more quickly than the rural power cooperatives that serve them. Instead, these cooperatives will have to raise rates to comply with today’s rule.
“The final rule does not allow states to comply by working with farmers to secure offsets for their emissions. NFU urges the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to consider such offsets in state compliance plans due next summer. This would allow farmers to help cooperatives manage rates and provide value to farmers subject to rate increases. NFU stands ready to assist the administration in its efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.”
