Ohio Farmers Union

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United to Grow Family Agriculture Since 1934

2015 OFU Convention is January 30-31, 2015

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*Update* Read the Pre-Convention Press Release

It’s time to save the date and start making plans to join us in Columbus for the Ohio Farmers Union Annual Convention. We will be meeting again this year at the Columbus Airport Marriott, 1375 N. Cassady Ave., Columbus.

A block of rooms has been reserved. If you’re staying with us Friday night, call 614-383-3621, ask for Nicole and request the Ohio Farmers Union room rate. Our block is being held until January 15.

If you want to forgo the phone call, you can use this link to make your reservation online.

Questions? Call Linda Borton at the Ohio Farmers Union, 800-321-3671.

Updated 1/25/2014: Convention Schedule

Scholarship Essay Contests

As always, OFU will conclude our annual college scholarship contests at the Annual Convention. Entries must be postmarked by December 31, 2014.

Kids’ Poster Contest

OFU will once again award winners in the annual Poster Contest for kids, grades 1-6. Entries must be postmarked by December 31, 2014. Contact your county Farmers Union chapter or Linda Borton at 800-321-3671 for poster blanks. The theme this year is Renwable Sources of Energy (such as wind or solar).

 

OFU, Other Ohio Ag Organizations Ask Portman to Support Renewable Fuel Standard

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U.S. Sen. Rob Portman

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman

The Ohio Farmers Union joined eight other Ohio agricultural organizations in a recent letter urging Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, to continue to support the Renewable Fuel Standard.

The groups, including the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and the Ohio Ethanol Producers Association, cited several statistics showing the importance of Ohio’s ethanol industry to thousands of farming and working families across the state.

Read the letter here.

Since 2006, the RFS has mandated a minimum amount of renewable fuel be blended into transportation fuel in the U.S. According to stats from ethanol producers in Ohio, there are seven ethanol plants in the state producing over 500 million gallons of ethanol per year from corn purchased from 3,400 Ohio farmers. The Obama Administration has put off setting annual ethanol quotas through the U.S. EPA for more than a year. This has created uncertainty in the marketplace and may help ethanol opponents in Congress muster the political strength to roll back the RFS.

OFU and others are communicating with federal officials and elected representatives to keep up American progress in the renewable fuels arena.

NFU Calls for New Direction for Beef Checkoff

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National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson today called for a ‘new direction’ for the current beef checkoff program in an Agri-Pulse guest column, while also praising Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for seeking public comment on how to strengthen and modernize the outdated program.

“The checkoff program as we know it today has remained virtually unchanged for three decades while the world around it has morphed dramatically,” said Johnson. “This has raised serious doubts about the structure of the checkoff and whether it is capable of appropriately funding the much-needed research and exploring the new markets and new opportunities that the American beef industry so desperately needs. Clearly, the beef checkoff is in dire need of a major course correction.”

Johnson noted that the current checkoff’s need for change stemmed from the fact that it is both underfunded and unacceptably inflexible. Johnson offered principles to guide adequate reform of the program under the Commodity, Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1996.

“The modernized beef checkoff should be a single program, modeled after the 1996 Act,” said Johnson. “It would have a clear separation of the policy organization from the non-political, promotional checkoff entity… exclude processors and importers from positions of leadership, ensuring that beef producers are always at the helm… and be precluded from allocating a single dime to any organization engaged in lobbying.”

“The idea of bringing new ideas and much-needed change to the checkoff is nothing new, and in fact, organizations like NFU met for three years discussing a new direction,” noted Johnson. “But the meetings were a bridge to nowhere, because they were largely controlled by the organization that has a vested interest in making sure the current structure never changes. That organization, of course, is the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).”

[Read more…]

In Memoriam: Steve Elliott, President, Marion County Farmers Union 1957-2014

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Steve Elliott, right, with Clinton County Farmers Union President Walt Streber in August 2014.

Steve Elliott, right, with Clinton County Farmers Union President Walt Streber in August 2014.

In late November, the Ohio Farmers Union lost a great member, leader and friend in Steve Elliott. Steve was president of the Marion County Farmers Union and an active member of the Ohio Farmers Union board of directors. He could always be counted on to participate in Farmers Union events and meetings. He was an organic farmer and worked his farm along with his brother. Many of us will remember Steve – in his bib overalls – quick to dispense his dry wit and often seeing a side of an issue that everyone else in the room had missed.

His obituary follows below:

Steven A. Elliott, age 57, of LaRue, died Sunday morning November 23, 2014 at his residence. He was born September 2, 1957 in Marion to the late Earl L. and Bernice Marie (Robinson) Elliott.

He is survived by one brother; Earl D. (Janet) Elliott of LaRue and one sister; Delores A. (Roy) Rinehart of Alvada, Ohio. Three nieces and five nephews.

Steve was president of the Marion County Farmers Union. He was on the Board of Directors of the International Organic Crop Improvement Assn. and was treasurer of the local chapter of that organization. Member of the LaRue Community Alliance. He was very willing to help out with anything or anyone about organic farming.

Memorial services were held November 28, 2014 at the Stofcheck-Ballinger Funeral Home in LaRue, Ohio.

Those who wish may make contributions to the LaRue Baptist Church 217 N. High St. LaRue, Ohio 43332.

Remembrances and Condolences may be expressed at www.stofcheck-ballinger.com.

U.S. Will Appeal WTO Ruling on Country of Origin Labeling

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from the National Farmers Union

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson applauded today’s decision by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to appeal the recent World Trade Organization ruling on Country-of-Origin Labeling for family farmers, ranchers, and consumers. Johnson also urged Congress to leave the popular labeling law alone and allow the WTO process to run its course.

“The decision today by the USTR to appeal the WTO ruling on COOL is the right thing to do for American family farmers, ranchers and consumers,” said Johnson. “The October WTO ruling found once again that the COOL law is WTO-compliant and acknowledged that the May 2013 USDA regulations were a significant improvement in terms of providing more accurate information to consumers. Nonetheless, the WTO incorrectly found the rules were noncompliant and an appeal is the obvious course of action.”

Johnson noted that the popular sentiment towards the labeling law shared by family farmers and consumers is not echoed by large international meatpackers, who continually try to pressure Congress to repeal the law.

“The multinational meatpacking industry continues to urge Congress to repeal COOL laws before the WTO process runs its course,” said Johnson. “These are inappropriate attempts to prevent consumers from having access to basic information about their food. Congress should ignore these scare tactics and allow the WTO process to play out before acting prematurely.”

“American consumers have been crystal clear that they want to know where their food comes from and family farmers and ranchers are proud to provide it,” said Johnson. “The decision by the USTR to appeal the WTO’s erroneous finding demonstrates full support for American family farmers, ranchers and consumers.”

Thankful for COOL on Thanksgiving … For Now – It’s Under Threat

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The following is an op-ed submitted to Ohio newspapers for the Thanksgiving holiday.

by Warren Taylor and Joe Logan

As American families prepare their Thanksgiving turkeys, they should thank local livestock farmers producing beef, pork, chicken, eggs, and dairy products. Unfortunately, politicians, lobbyists and trade negotiators in DC are working against those farmers. Shockingly, in our great country, which celebrates independent farmers and ranchers, America’s largest pork processor is Shuanghui International Holdings, a Chinese corporation. Our second largest beef company, JBS USA is a Brazilian corporation. These trans-national corporate giants show the extent of consolidation, and how globalization has played out.

These huge businesses find it profitable to shop global markets for low cost meat cuts that end up for sale in American supermarkets. Their profits soar higher as they avoid labeling the meat’s source.  Customers trust American farmers and regulators to provide safe, healthy food products. Not necessarily so for Chinese or Brazilian meat.

Naturally, these meat packers oppose requirements to label the sources of meats. Country Of Origin Labeling (COOL) is that law. Although passed by Congress and signed by President Bush in 2002, foreign and trans-national food corporations have prevented implementation, and now look to repeal COOL.

It’s disappointing that they have found powerful allies in the Beef and Pork promotion organizations authorized by Congress and mostly funded by American farmers and ranchers. The National Cattlemens Beef Association (NCBA) and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) are adamant opponents of COOL. The very livestock promotion organizations who should speak for American farmers and ranchers are working against their interests and the interests of 90% of American consumers seeking honest information about how and where their food is produced.

Impossible? Most other industrial agriculture nations require Country Of Origin Labeling for food. The American Meat Institute, The National Grocers Association, McDonalds and others shamelessly interested in sourcing the cheapest food possible, have assaulted America’s COOL laws. After passage in the 2002 Farm Bill and surviving four Federal Court suits, COOL is facing repeated World Trade Organization (WTO) challenges.

It’s bad enough when American business interests used money and influence to get their way in Washington DC, now it is multinational corporations’ agenda lobbying against COOL, clearly against America’s farmers’ best interests.

[Read more…]

Tired of Roller Coaster Milk Margins?

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Graphic: USDA FSA

Graphic: USDA FSA

Under the new Farm Bill, the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) provides financial assistance to participating dairy producers when the margin – the difference between the price of milk and the cost of feed – falls below the coverage level selected by the provider.

If you have not done so, visit your local county or regional USDA Farm Service Agency office with your production records by Dec. 5, 2014. When registering, paying only the $100 administrative fee provides basic $4 coverage on 90 percent of your production history. Additional coverage up to $8 margins is available with a premium.

Sign up for 2015 coverage so you will receive an automatic increase in production history for 2016.

Evaluate your options at www.fsa.usda.gov/mpptool to compare coverage levels based on future projections or look at historical data.

NFU Disappointed with Delay in RFS Volume Standards

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from the National Farmers Union

nfulogo-postWASHINGTON – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson called the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement today that the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume targets would not be released before the end of the year a ‘serious disappointment.’ Johnson also noted that NFU remains hopeful the delay will allow the agency to return the RFS target levels back to the statutory targets.

“Ethanol and all biofuels have been the best thing to happen to farm country in generations, and the volume standards that are supposed to be set by EPA are a significant help in establishing the market for biofuels,” said Johnson. “Rural America and the biofuels industries rely heavily on these targets for planning and investment purposes. Any hint that the administration might not be fully behind renewable fuels is a major step back for working farmers and the biofuels industries.”

The RFS is our nation’s main policy driver for renewable fuels, and since its creation by Congress has created $184.5 billion in economic impact while supporting 852,056 jobs nationwide. Johnson noted that the biofuels industries – and the farmers who grow the grains they use – are poised for continued growth here in the U.S., but need a clear signal that the targets will remain firm. Johnson hopes that the delay will give EPA the time it needs to get the numbers right.

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Ohio Farmers Union Proposes Substantial Improvements to CAUV

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ofulogofbfeatCOLUMBUS – Ohio Farmers Union (OFU) has proposed substantial recommendations to the governor, the Ohio Department of Taxation and the General Assembly concerning corrections and improvements to the Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) program.

Under CAUV, farmland is taxed on its agricultural use rather than its Fair Market-Recent Sales Value (FMV).

According to Ted Finnarn, attorney and long-time member of, “The CAUV formula has worked well in the past, but during the recent three years, it has gone out of whack,” said Ted Finnarn.

Finnarn is a long-time leader in OFU, a Darke County attorney and member of the Ag Advisory Committee to the Ohio Department of Taxation.

“The problem was mainly due to the extremely low interest–capitalization rate in the formula, as a result of the Federal Reserve’s unprecedented monetary intervention policy known as ‘quantitative easing’ and the lack of a three-year averaging factor in the computations. “

Farmers around the state have been slammed with rising property tax values as a result over the past three years. In tax year 2014, those farmers whose land is up for revaluation are seeing tax increases from 100 to 200 percent. Another factor affecting rising values is lower grain prices versus a farmer’s expenses.

After a careful review of the CAUV history over the past almost forty years, consultation with farmers, appraisers, attorneys, economists and other parties, OFU has recommended the following corrections and changes in the formula:

  1. Establish a Stabilization Equalization Factor (SEF) with three-year averaging within the formula that would even out the “roller coaster” gyrations in the CAUV as it is applied to the applicable counties during their year of valuation change.
  2. In regards to the capitalization-interest rate, go back to a longer term fixed rate, that was originally used in the formula (30 years) and take out any influence from the QE program.
  3. Return to a more traditional loan-equity percentage split of say 80% loan vs. 20% equity rather than the recent “too restrictive” breakdown of 60%/40%.  (The program originally used a 90%/10% mix).
  4. Eliminate and take out the two (2) sinking fund adjustments of “less equity build up” and less “5% appreciation” which were mistakenly put in a few years ago, since they are  somewhat related to commercial building appraisal methods, and not farm income valuations.

[Read more…]

[Event] 70,000 Miles of Proposed Pipelines in Ohio – Who Is In Charge?

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OEFFA is sponsoring a program in Athens on Thursday called: Who’s in Charge? 70,000 Miles of Proposed Pipelines in Ohio.

Ohio University, Porter Hall, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 20

Speakers include Ted Auch of FracTracker Alliance, Nathan Johnson of the Ohio Environmental Council and Athens-area business woman Christine Hughes.

From OEFFA:

More and more wells are being drilled in Ohio to hydraulically fracture, or frack, natural gas out of the ground. In addition to production and injection wells, the energy industry is now weaving a web of pipelines across Ohio to transport this oil and gas to other states and countries. Pipelines are built in communities with little to no warning or oversight of the accidents that can and do occur.

The discussion will include:

  • New proposed pipelines in Ohio
  • How state and federal agencies regulate pipelines
  • Impacts to farm owners and land owners
  • Eminent domain and your rights
  • When you need to speak to an attorney

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Ohio Farmers Union
P.O. Box 363
1011 N. Defiance Street
Ottawa, Ohio 45875
Phone: (419) 523-5300
Toll Free: (800) 321-3671