Ohio Farmers Union

Serving Family Farmers and Consumers Since 1934



United to Grow Family Agriculture Since 1934

OFU to Present Farm Bill Implementation Forum

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The Ohio Farmers Union, with partners POET Biorefining, First Federal Bank and Superior Energy Solutions will present a public forum on the choices faced by farmers due to new agricultural commodity programs under the 2014 Farm Bill.

While USDA has not opened up new programs for enrollment, OFU is bringing together a panel of experts who can speak to the changes being made as farmers move away from the direct payment system and into either the Price Loss Coverage program or the Agricultural Risk Coverage program. See our news release below for more information.

The forum will be held July 25, 1 p.m. at Bowling Green State University, Bowen-Thompson Student Union in the Grand Ball Room. Moderated by OFU President Joe Logan, there will be a panel presentation and time for questions and answers from those attending. The event is free and open to the public, however, pre-registration is requested to help in planning. You may pre-register with an email or telephone call to Linda Borton at lborton@ohfarmersunion.org or 800-321-3671.

Map of Event Location

Panelists include:

  •  Joe Shultz, Chief Economist, U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
  • Jonathan McCracken, Legislative Agriculture Assistant, Office of Sen. Sherrod Brown
  • Carl Zulauf, Professor, OSU Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics
  • Terry Cosby, State Conservationist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • Tony Logan, State Director, USDA Rural Development
  • Steve Maurer, State Executive Director, USDA Farm Service Agency

[Read more…]

Upcoming Webinar: How Multi-national corporations are attacking Country of Origin Labeling – And Your Right to Know Where Your Food Originates

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gazette-logo1Longtime National and Ohio Farmers Union ally, the Coalition for a Prosperous America is holding a webinar on July 22 titled, Country of Origin Labeling: How Multinational Agribusinesses are Attacking This Law .

Bill Bullard, CEO of R-CALF USA will discuss the importance of COOL and how the COOL legislation, if defeated, could affect the food on your table. Michael Stumo, CEO of CPA will moderate the event which is free. Follow this link to register for the webinar.

Along with information about COOL and its benefit for family farmers and consumers, webinar viewers will receive ideas about how they can work to preserve COOL.

The Coalition for a Prosperous America is a nonprofit organization representing the interests of 2.7 million households through our agricultural, manufacturing and labor members. Our board and our membership includes Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Conservatives and Liberals.

Joe Logan, president of the Ohio Farmers Union is a member of the CPA board executive committee and serves as co-chairman for agriculture. John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union is a member of the CPA board.

OFU Members Alert: Changes Coming in Workers Comp – Action Requested

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A Message from OFU President Joe Logan:

As the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) prepares to convert prospective premium payments from payments in arrears, it is more important than ever to make sure you are part of a group rating program to reduce your costs and gain needed claim representation.

The Ohio Farmers Union sponsors a group rating program for our members – and if you join our program, you have the potential to earn the maximum discount allowable by the BWC. This year we are also offering a new feature to our group participation: Unemployment Compensation assistance.

Please take a moment to complete the temporary authorization form linked below, so we can let you know if you are a candidate for our group and how much you could save. The evaluation is free and there is absolutely no obligation to join the group. You might just find that our group can save you a substantial amount on your premium!

I’m including the contact name of our dedicated group representative at Frank Gates, our group administrator. She can help you with any questions you may have.

CONTACT: Cathy Pletz, 614-793-5429, or cpletz@frankgates.com.

Thank you for your consideration,
Joe Logan, President

Temporary Authorization Form

Hong Kong Market Reopens for U.S. Beef

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From the USDA:

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the United States and Hong Kong have agreed on new terms and conditions that pave the way for expanded exports of U.S. beef and beef products to Hong Kong.

“This is great news for American ranchers and beef companies,” said Vilsack. “Hong Kong is already the fourth largest market for U.S. beef and beef product exports, with sales there reaching a historic high of $823 million in 2013. We look forward to expanded opportunities there for the U.S. beef industry now that all trade restrictions are lifted,” Vilsack said.

Under the new terms, Hong Kong will permit the import of the full range of U.S. beef and beef products, consistent with access prior to December 2003. The new terms become effective today, June17, 2014. Previously, only deboned beef from all cattle and certain bone-in beef from cattle less than 30 months of age could be shipped from the United States to Hong Kong. Earlier this year, Mexico, Uruguay, Ecuador and Sri Lanka also lifted their longstanding restrictions to provide full access for U.S. beef and beef products.

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SB 150 – Nutrient Management Bill – Signed by Kasich

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As Gov. John Kasich signs Sub. S.B. 150, the bill's sponsors and ODA director look on. L-R standing: Sen. Bob Peterson, Sen. Cliff Hite, ODA Director David Daniels. Photo: Ron Sylvester, OFU.

As Gov. John Kasich signs Sub. S.B. 150, the bill’s sponsors and ODA director look on. L-R standing: Sen. Bob Peterson, Sen. Cliff Hite, ODA Director David Daniels. Photo: Ron Sylvester, OFU.

Substitute S.B. 150 is the legislation which mandates Ohio Dept. of Agriculture certification for most farmers and others who apply chemical fertilizers. ODA officials have said that it will take until 2017 before most farmers in Ohio are affected by the new regulation. The bill was originated through work by Senators Cliff Hite and Bob Peterson as well as ODA, Ohio EPA and the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources in reaction to phosphorous overloads in the Lake Erie watershed and other waters in the state. OFU took a neutral stance on the bill after legislators removed manure from the state’s legal definition of “fertilizer” and as part of the definition of “agricultural pollution.”

PED Pig Virus Persists, Origin Still Unknown

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If you raise hogs, you’re undoubtedly aware of a nasty virus attacking swine on farms across the country called Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus or PEDv.

You might not know that it was first spotted in the U.S. in Ohio in 2013. While Ohio is not currently the state with the most documented cases of PEDv, our state is at the geographic heart of the disease. According to data being collected by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the midwestern U.S. states are the epicenter of PEDv. According to various media reports, U.S. officials are not certain as to how PEDv – more common in other parts of the world – got into the U.S.

On Wednesday, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $26 million is being pushed at various responses to PEDv. In a news release, USDA pointed out that the virus is not harmful to humans and poses no risk to food safety.

PEDv has had serious effects on many U.S. farms, though.

“In the last year, industry has estimated PEDv has killed some 7 million piglets and caused tremendous hardship for many American pork producers,” said Vilsack.

“The number of market-ready hogs this summer could fall by more than 10 percent relative to 2013 because of PEDv. Together with industry and our State partners, the steps we will take through the Federal Order will strengthen the response to PEDv and these other viruses and help us lessen the impact to producers, which ultimately benefit the consumers who have seen store pork prices rise by almost 10 percent in the past year.”

A USDA federal order requires producers, veterinarians, and diagnostic laboratories to report all cases of PEDv and other new swine enteric coronavirus diseases to USDA and state animal health officials. The industry is already seeing herds previously impacted by the virus become re-infected, and routine and standard disease reporting will help identify the magnitude of the disease in the United States and can help determine whether additional actions are needed.

Here are a few links to file away to continue to follow news on PEDv and the efforts to combat the virus:

Ask Gov. Kasich to Veto S.B. 310 and Preserve Ohio’s Renewable Energy Mandate

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The Ohio Farmers Union has passed a “Special Order of Business” in at least the last three conventions calling on Ohio’s elected leaders in Columbus to preserve landmark, bipartisan legislation passed in 2008 which established energy efficiency and renewable energy mandates for Ohio’s public electrical utilities. Known as “25 by 2025” the 2008 law put utilities on a path toward ensuring that at least 25% of the power they sell in Ohio comes from renewable energy resources.

Despite the fact that the the evidence shows job creation, a reduction in air pollution and even an increase in Payments in Lieu of Taxes in areas where renewable energy projects are creating new businesses and jobs, a minority of well-connected Ohio business and political interests have sought to roll back the mandates on primarily ideological and narrow economic ground.

Here are just a few facts that came out over the course of testimony on S.B. 310:

  • Ohio’s four major utilities have spent $456 million on energy efficiency programs – but saved themselves and ratepayers just over $1 billion from 2009 through 2012.
    • AEP Spent: $158 million; Saved: $377 million
    • Dayton Power & Light Spent: $49 million; Saved: $154 million
    • Duke Spent: $90 million; Saved: $197 million
    • FirstEnergy Spent: $159 million; Saved: $317 million
  • The numbers above come from the utilities themselves!
  • Ohio’s air has been cleaner due to the renewable energy and energy efficiency mandates:
    • Annually, over 9,000 tons of the smog-forming pollutant Nitrogen Oxide has been removed from our air
    • Annually, over 40,000 tons of Sulfur Dioxide – a pollutant linked to asthma and other respiratory problems – has been removed from our air
    • Annually, 1,000 tons of mercury is prevented from entering our air due to the mandates

Call Governor Kasich office today at (614) 466-3555. Give the receptionist your name and hometown and tell them you’re calling to urge the governor to VETO S.B. 310. Tell them you’re concerned about going backwards on air pollution and creating a more diversified energy economy. If you are involved in the renewable energy economy either on your own farm or in an off-farm career, let them know.

The governor is expected to sign S.B. 310, but I can tell you from experience working for members of Congress and former Gov. Strickland that these calls matter. Sometimes they even change minds.

Finally, send this email to your non-OFU friends and contacts. This bill really is a step backward for Ohio and serves only the interests of a very (politically connected) few.

USDA to Host Google Hangout for New Farmers Regarding 2014 Farm Bill Opportunities

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If you are a new or beginning farmer you might be interested in an opportunity to participate in a Google+ Hangout with USDA Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden on May 28.

Harden will discuss features of the recently enacted 2014 Farm Bill that specifically target new farmers and ranchers. According to a blog post at USDA, Harden will also address helping new farmers and ranchers determine who may be their best point of contact for using Farm Bill programs.

To participate in the Hangout check out www.usda.gov/live at 3 p.m. on the 28th. Alternatively, you can also access the Hangout from the USDA Google+ page.

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Contact

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