Ohio Farmers Union

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United to Grow Family Agriculture Since 1934

Rural School Districts in Ohio Eligible for Nominations for Math, Science Grants

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America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education, an initiative of the Monsanto Fund, helps farmers positively impact their communities and support local school districts. The program gives farmers in selected counties in 39 states the opportunity to nominate their public school district to compete for grants to promote science and math education.

Once nominated by a local farmer, school district administrators are eligible to submit an application for either a grant of up to $10,000 or a grant of up to $25,000 to support a science and/or math educational program. The more farmers that nominate a school district, the more it demonstrates community support and strengthens the school district’s application.

Eligibility is determined, in part, by whether or not a school district’s home county is considered rural under the program rules. The following counties in Ohio are eligible:

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NFU: President’s budget reflects some sacrifices agriculture already made

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WASHINGTON (Feb. 13, 2012) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement after President Barack Obama unveiled his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2013:

“The president’s budget proposal for FY 2013 would cut agriculture programs by $32 billion over ten years, which is $9 billion than the agreement reached late last year in a bipartisan, bicameral manner by the House and Senate Agriculture Committees.

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Jeff Eschmeyer on the NFU Beginning Farmers Institute

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Whether you are truly new to the business of farming or a farm “kid” coming back to the country, getting your start in family farming can be difficult. The National Farmers Union began a program last year — that continues in 2012 — which aims to make the transition into farming easier.

At our recent Ohio Farmers Union Convention, Jeff Eschmeyer, who runs Harvest Sun Farm with his wife, Debra, gave a presentation on his experiences in the NFU’s Beginning Farmers Institute. The Institute introduced the Eschmeyers to other beginning farmers and held workshops where the group learned about the business side of agriculture and how to navigate situations like taking over for an older member of the family.

This video was taken at the convention. If you are a beginning farmer and want to know more about NFU’s program, check out this post.

NFU Accepting Applications for Beginning Farmers Institute

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National Farmers Union (NFU) encourages individuals who are contemplating starting a career in farming or ranching to apply for the Beginning Farmer Institute. The program is also open to those across the nation who have just begun farming or are in the process of transferring an operation from a parent, relative, or non-relative.

Ohio Farmers Union members, Jeff and Deb Eschmeyer of New Knoxville, were Institute participants in 2011.

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Hite Named OFU ‘Legislator of the Year’

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COLUMBUS – State Sen. Cliff Hite, R-Findlay, was honored as the Ohio Farmers Union Legislator of the Year for 2011 at a luncheon this past weekend.

“Cliff Hite and our members don’t always agree on every issue, but he’s been a great friend to family farmers and is a respectful and willing listener when farmers or consumers come before his committee,” said Roger Wise, president of the Ohio Farmers Union.

“Sen. Hite has been responsive on issues like Ohio’s Grain Indemnity Fund – a farmer-financed way to protect our investments and grain at elevators that go bust – and has been available to OFU every single time we’ve asked for his time.”

“Sen. Hite, we believe, means what he says when he told us “Ohio will get it right” on natural gas fracking in the Marcellus and Utica Shales and we believe that issues related to natural gas development which come before his committee will get a fair hearing in a bipartisan spirit,” Wise added.

“Cliff Hite received this award for exemplifying the sort of legislator Ohioans want to see working on Capitol Square – one who is willing to work across the aisle when common sense dictates and one who understands and respects the broad range of opinion among family farmers and consumers.”

Hite was awarded a plaque by the Ohio Farmers Union on Saturday afternoon at the conclusion of OFU’s annual convention in Columbus. Hite is chairman of the Ohio Senate Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Committee.

Labor Dept. backs off on farm kids as child labor

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WASHINGTON (Feb. 1, 2012) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor announced that they are reevaluating the parental portion of the proposed child labor safety regulations for agriculture and agriculture-related jobs while moving forward with the hazardous occupation portions of the proposed rules:

“NFU is pleased that the administration listened to the concerns of the agriculture community and determined that these rules would hinder the ability of young workers to learn about agriculture while doing little to make them safer.

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NFU not interested in changes to Country of Origin Labeling (COOL)

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WASHINGTON (Jan. 27, 2012) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement today to urging U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk to pursue a robust appeals process on the recent decision of the World Trade Organization (WTO) that ruled against the United States’ implementation of the country-of-origin-labeling (COOL) law:

“NFU has a proud record of supporting COOL. We were instrumental in getting the COOL laws passed in 2002 and again in 2008.

“We will oppose any attempt to change that law. Fortunately, the WTO decision against U.S. country-of-origin-labeling did not find fault with our law. It simply found fault with the rules and regulations which were used to implement the law.

“As the office of the USTR contemplates its approach to the WTO decision, we urge them to mount a robust and vigorous defense of COOL.

“We are aware that behind the scenes attempts at negotiating a settlement to the WTO decision have some stakeholders arguing that we must weaken our law. We strongly disagree and urge a fervent defense.

“Consumers have a right to know where their meat comes from – and they overwhelmingly want to know just that.”

The labeling law was passed as a part of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 and amended in 2008. COOL requires retailers to notify their customers of the source of certain foods. Canada and Mexico filed a complaint against the United States’ law, which led to the recent ruling. The deadline for filing an appeal to the WTO decision is March 23, 2012.

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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