Ohio Farmers Union

Serving Family Farmers and Consumers Since 1934



United to Grow Family Agriculture Since 1934

USDA wrapping up 2012 Census of Agriculture – Don’t miss your chance to give them the facts straight from the farm

By Leave a Comment

With the window to respond to the 2012 Census of Agriculture officially closing on May 31, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is urging farmers and ranchers not to miss this opportunity to be counted and help determine the future of farming in America. USDA has already received more than 2 million completed Census forms.

“Our nation needs your help to ensure that decisions about U.S. agriculture accurately represent you, your communities, and your industry,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “For every 158 people in America there is one farm. I urge you to take action today and respond to the Census – your country is counting on the information to help ensure a continued supply of food, fiber and fuel for generations to come.”

The Census of Agriculture, conducted only once every five years, is the only source of consistent and comprehensive agricultural data for every state and county in the nation. It looks at farms, value of land, market value of agricultural production, farm practices, expenditures, and other factors that affect the way farmers and ranchers do business. The information is used by agribusinesses, town planners, local governments, and policy makers, as well as farmers, ranchers, growers and others to shape farm programs, boost rural services and grow the future of farming.

“Agriculture in America is an industry built on tradition, honor and pride,” said Vilsack. “We have heard this from the farmers and ranchers who completed their Census of Agriculture form. It’s not too late for those who have not yet responded to join the generations of producers who participated in the Agriculture Census since it was first conducted in 1840. Only you can continue to provide the facts straight from the farm.”

The 2012 Census will provide a complete picture of agriculture that will be used to shape the future of agriculture, rural America, and the lives of those USDA serves for years to come. The deadline to respond to the Census of Agriculture is only a few weeks away on May 31. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) may contact producers by phone or in person to collect Census information since time is running out.

Farmers and ranchers can also return their forms by mail or online by visiting a secure website, www.agcensus.usda.gov. Federal law requires a response from everyone who receives the Census form and requires NASS to keep all individual information confidential.

For more information about the Census, including helpful tips on completing your Census form, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov or call 1-888-4AG-STAT (1-888-424-7828). The Census of Agriculture is your voice, your future, your responsibility.

BWC proposes $1 billion rebate to employers

By Leave a Comment

from Frank Gates

On May 2, the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and Gov. John Kasich proposed a $1 billion premium rebate for all public and private employers.

If approved by BWC’s Board of Directors in late May, the $1 billion in rebates for the approximately 210,000 employers would equal about 56 percent of employers’ most recent annual premium and would be sent to employers by check from the BWC. The proposed rebates will apply to employers who are in a discount program and those who are not.

In addition to the $1 billion rebate, two additional proposals were announced.  The Safety and Wellness Grant Program budget would be increased from $5 million to $15 million.

The second of the new proposals would ask the Ohio General Assembly to modernize the premium collection model by authorizing BWC to move to a prospective payment system from the current model where employers pay their premium in arrears.  To do so, the BWC would issue a $900 million credit to employers to offset the costs associated with the transition.

These proposals would be funded by the BWC’s net assets, which are approximately $8.3 billion.  The net assets level far exceeds the target net assets ratio established by the BWC Board of Directors.

SPCC enforcement delayed until late September

By Leave a Comment

If you’ve been following the news on ohfarmersunion.org, you know that U.S. EPA is nearing a deadline for enforcement of SPCC or “Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures” planning.

SPCC has been on the books for years, but under its last version was not to be enforced on farms until May 10, 2013. Congress has effectively pushed that deadline back with an amendment to a recent spending bill to September 26, 2013.

SPCC is all about getting industries that use and store oil and oil-derived liquids such as lubricants and fuels to plan and implement measures to avoid and control petroleum spills from entering water supplies.

While the law has been on the books, farmers have been given much longer than the oil and gas industry (as one example) to prepare for compliance. The “enforceability” deadline was extended to May 10, 2013 and now the end of September.
Farmers who store less than 1,320 gallons of oil or oil-based products above ground, or less than 42,000 gallons of the same below ground need not worry about documenting an SPCC plan. Farmers who do fit SPCC criteria can find information and a plan template at the EPA’s website.

Enforceability doesn’t mean that EPA inspectors will be descending on the family farm after the new deadline passes, but it does mean that if your farm meets the criteria, you’ll need to be prepared.

USDA has 10 spots to fill on Forestry Research Advisory Council

By Leave a Comment

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the re-establishment of the Forestry Research Advisory Council and is seeking nominations for new members.

“This council will play a critical role as USDA continues to lead the way in forest conservation efforts,” said Vilsack. “We base our forest conservation policies and decisions on the best available science, and this group will bring the expertise and experience to help us continue that practice.”

The council’s many responsibilities include providing advice to Secretary Vilsack on national and regional research planning projects and on coordination of forestry research within federal and state agencies, forestry schools and forest industries. In addition, the council will provide advice to the U.S. Forest Service’s Research and Development program—the world’s largest forestry-research organization.

The Forestry Research Advisory Council has 10 current and upcoming vacancies. Nominations are sought to immediately fill six vacancies on the council and additional vacancies that will occur when current appointments expire in December 2013. Vacancies are open in the following categories:

  • Forestry schools
  • State and Federal agencies
  • Forest industries
  • Voluntary organizations

Nominations must be received by April 29, 2013. The announcement appeared in the Federal Register and is available here, along with the required nomination form and more background information.

Ohio doctor to speak in Geauga County on health effects of fracking

By 1 Comment

From the Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake Counties Farmers Union:

Dr. Deborah Cowden, MD, will speak on the “Human Health Effects from Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing” on April 26, 2013, at 6:30pm at the Huntsburg Town Hall  (16534 State Route 322, Huntsburg, OH).

Cowden is a central Ohio physician and president of the Greene County Medical Society. The presentation will focus on what  Cowden calls the “assault on our air quality” from unconventional oil and gas development. She will present a recent scientific study in which air near gas wells was measured and found to contain more than 50 chemicals, including benzene, xylene, ethylbenzene, and toluene. These volatile organic compounds are known to have negative effects on human health; benzene in particular known to cause cancer in humans.

Under 2012 Ohio law, physicians and first responders cannot quickly obtain the identity of the chemicals used in fracking to which workers, neighbors, or first responders may be exposed. This puts first responders at risk, because fires containing benzene or xylene must be fought from upwind. According to Cowden, last week the Ohio State Medical Association “overwhelmingly passed a resolution asking the legislature to pass laws giving doctors and first responders the exact identity of all the chemicals located on a hydraulic fracturing pad”.

This event is free and open to the public. It is presented by Frack Free Geauga, with the sponsorship of Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake Counties Farmers Union, Lake Effect chapter of the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, Faith Communities Together for Frac Awareness, Concerned Citizens of Portage County, Frack Free Lake County, NEOGAP, and Ashtabula County Water Watch.

For more information, contact Jessica Schaner at FrackFreeGeauga@gmail.com or 440-749-4655.

NFU hails WFO Trade Policy Adoption

By Leave a Comment

The World Farmers Organisation adopted its first policy on international trade last week in Niigata, Japan.

“The WFO is committed to the pursuit of ambitious trade policy objectives and the reinforcement of the global agricultural trading system so that we can operate in a fair, transparent and predictable trading environment,” the policy noted.

Among its key policy objectives, the WFO body highlighted the need for country-of-origin labeling requirements that allow countries to distinguish their products without distorting trade.

Find out more about the WFO.

“America’s farmers, ranchers and livestock producers take great pride in making high-quality products available to consumers, who are demanding more information about from where their food comes,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “We are pleased that the WFO recognizes the importance of country-of-origin labeling and has incorporated the principle into its trade policy.”

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, 57 countries, including Canada and Mexico, require some form of country-of-origin labeling for food. These countries account for 94 percent of U.S. trading activity for food and animals.

Farmers need to be aware of EPA Spill Control Deadline

By Leave a Comment

Ohio farmers are talking about a U.S. EPA deadline coming on May 10. It’s the deadline for having a “Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures Plan” (SPCC) regarding oil – which by EPA definition appears to mean just about any liquid on the farm which is carbon-based or derived in part from oil.

Ohio Farmers Union Executive Director Linda Borton and Clinton County Farmers Union President Walt Streber have both attended recent OFU or Farm Bureau local meetings at which the EPA’s SPCC program was a major topic of conversation.

Streber, who farms several hundred acres in southwest Ohio, and Borton both say family farmers need to be aware of SPCC and how it affects their farming business. The issue is that if provisions of the program are applicable to your operation – and you’re not in compliance – your farm may be subject to a fine from the EPA.

[Read more…]

Ohio Farmers Union offers comments on proposed water quality legislation

By 1 Comment

Proposed bill has no sponsor, may be held in reserve if Lake Erie algae problems worsen

Lake Erie's 2011 algal bloom, satellite view.

Lake Erie’s 2011 algal bloom, satellite view.

With Grand Lake St. Mary’s essentially dead, increasingly frequent and enlarged algal blooms in the western basin of Lake Erie and problems of varying degrees in other Ohio bodies of water, the Kasich Administration has passed proposed nutrient management legislation around to several environmental and agricultural organizations in the state.

Comments were requested to be submitted to the directors of the Ohio Departments of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The Ohio Farmers Union submitted comments from President Roger Wise.

“We understand that historically state government has been reluctant to intervene in the business operations of Ohio’s agricultural producers. We are however dealing on another historic level regarding water quality in Ohio when one considers the devastating algal blooms in the western basin of Lake Erie and the de facto death of Grand Lake St. Mary’s,” wrote Wise.

Wise pointed out that OFU has entered into a strategic partnership with the Ohio Environmental Council and is providing high quality farmer education sessions throughout northwest Ohio regarding nutrient management and agriculture’s place in the problems of the Lake Erie Watershed.

“On the other hand, I am compelled to point out that the water quality issues taken up by the proposed legislation are also the responsibility of the several other stakeholders including the City of Detroit, other Lake Erie area municipal water treatment districts, homeowners and lawn treatment professionals,” Wise wrote.

[Read more…]

Ohio Dept. of Ag will hold ‘listening session’ on proposed fresh produce rule

By Leave a Comment

freshpostThe Ohio Department of Agriculture and Ohio State University Extension will be hosting a listening session on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act Proposed Fresh Produce Safety Rule. The Proposed Fresh Produce Rule will be presented on Tuesday, Apr il 30, 2013 from 1:00p.m. – 4:00p.m. at the Shisler Conference Center, OARDC Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio.

The FDA FSMA was signed into law on January 4, 2011. FSMA aims to ensure the U.S. food supply is safe by shifting the focus of federal regulators from responding to incidents to preventing them. On January 4, 2013, FDA issued two major proposed FSMA rules regarding preventive controls in human food and produce safety. The purpose of the listening session will be to provide industry an overview of the proposed produce safety rule, solicit comments, respond to questions, and inform the public about the rulemaking process.

Invited speakers include: Michael Taylor, Deputy Commissioner for Foods & Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food & Drug Administration; Steven Slack, Associate Vice President and Director of OARDC; and ODA officials. For more information on the proposed rule, FDA fact sheets and to register for the event, please visit ODA’s Web page for the listening session . Please note that due to limited space, registration for the event is requested. There is no cost for registration.

National Farmers Union on record supporting EPA’s 2013 Renewable Fuel Levels

By Leave a Comment

National Farmers Union submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency last week supporting the EPA’s proposed volumes for cellulosic, advanced and other renewable fuels. Under section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act, the EPA is required to set the renewable fuel standards each November for the following year.

“NFU strongly believes that the United States should make the development of renewable sources of energy our number one priority in reducing dependence on fossil fuels,” said NFU President Roger Johnson in the comments. “As part of this we encourage EPA to incentivize the renewable fuels industry and American agriculture by creating ambitious targets for renewable energy production.”

NFU agreed that cellulosic and other advanced biofuels hold tremendous promise for farmers in providing a buffer for large fluctuations in commodity prices by diversifying the rural economy.

“The Department of Energy found that the United State produces 1.2. billion tons of agricultural and forest waste annual. This is enough feedstock to produce about 85 billion gallons of biofuels, or enough to replace 30 percent of America’s annual petroleum consumption,” Johnson wrote.

In 2012, the biofuels industry supported more than 400,000 jobs and generated a $500 billion increase in communities’ farm assets around the country and $42 billion in economic activity.

 

NATIONAL FARMERS UNION

Click to Take Action



Contact

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