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2019 OFU Annual Convention – Lima, Ohio

December 3, 2018 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

For the first time in recent memory, the Ohio Farmers Union Annual Convention will be held outside of Columbus in 2019.

“We’re trying something new this year,” said Ron Sylvester, OFU external relations director.

“We love Columbus, we know it’s the center of the state, but as we did last year with our beginning farmer programming, we continue to look for ways to bring the organization closer to folks – we think taking the convention on the road is a good idea.”

Sylvester said discussions about making changes to the convention have been ongoing for the past two years at the OFU Board and Executive Committee level.

Click Here for Convention Registration Form Download

OFU leaders want to maintain the importance of the annual meeting to the organization’s annual policy goals and business activities, but continue to seek ways to introduce – or re-introduce in some cases – OFU to potential new members.

“We looked at the whole state and discussed the benefits of having the convention in places like Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus and elsewhere,” Sylvester said.

“We chose Lima for several reasons, but it’s proximity to prime farm country, it’s ability to handle a meeting of our size and the fact that it’s near the Maumee Watershed which will continue to be a policy priority in 2019 made the difference.”

Executive Committee members chose the Howard Johnson Hotel, Banquet and Conference Center, 1920 Roschman Ave., Lima as the convention’s headquarters this year.

“Members and delegates are going to find a fantastic venue with all the amenites we’ve had in Columbus – including an indoor pool, lounge, workout facilities and close proximity to attractions like the Lincoln Park Railway exhibit, the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in nearby Wapokaneta and the Allen County Museum.

Sylvester said more details will be forthcoming at local Farmers Union meetings and in a December edition of the Ohio Country Messenger. He reminds members that they may register for and attend the convention, but to be a delegate, they should contact their local organization’s president for details on delegate selection.

“We may be changing locations this year, but members and delegates may rest assured that we’ll have a full slate of speakers, programming and a special Friday night banquet,” Sylvester said.

Filed Under: Blog, Home-Feature

NFU Statement on Farm Bill House – Senate Deal Proposal

November 29, 2018 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

Agriculture committee leadership today announced that they have reached an agreement in principle on the farm bill. While the final details of the bill have yet to be released and negotiators wait on cost estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, National Farmers Union (NFU) today expressed optimism that relief from the lapsed 2014 Farm Bill might soon arrive for family farmers and ranchers. NFU President Roger Johnson issued the following statement in response to the news:

“Getting a farm bill through the finish line before the end of the year is critical for the long-term viability and sustainability of family farmers and ranchers across the country. Farmers are enduring a growing financial crisis in the farm economy, and programs that support farm sustainability and diverse markets for family farmers have expired. Senate and House agriculture leaders and their staff have worked tirelessly to resolve differences in the chambers’ respective farm bills, and we’re optimistic they’ve come to terms on a farm bill that begins to provide the relief and certainty farmers need amidst struggling markets due to oversupply and trade volatility. We urge Congress to approve a farm bill before the end of the year.”

Filed Under: Blog

Your Thanksgiving Farmers Share

November 21, 2018 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Blog, Home-Feature

NFU Statement on U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement

October 1, 2018 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON – In a break to what has been more than a year of feuding and tense negotiations, the U.S. has reached an agreement with Canada and Mexico on a new trade pact, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

While announcement is a bit of welcome news to family farmers and ranchers who are bearing the brunt of retaliatory tariffs and trade disruptions, the agreement should do more to institute a fair trade agreement framework that benefits family farmers and rural communities, according to National Farmers Union (NFU).

NFU President Roger Johnson released the following statement in response to the new trade pact:

“After more than a year of escalating trade tensions, the prospects of progress on trade with our two closest trading partners is encouraging. Farmers have seen their income plummet over the past five years, only to have farm prices further depressed by trade disruptions. While this agreement is certainly no cure-all, it is hopefully a start to repairing our trade relationships around the world, to restoring our reputation as a reliable trading partner, and to resolving longstanding issues with discrimination against U.S. wheat.

“Farmers Union supports the President’s goals to balance trade and restore sovereignty that has been lost as a result of past trade agreements. We have long been at the forefront of the fight for fair trade that puts family farmers and ranchers on an even playing field with corporations and the rest of the world. Yet a couple areas in this agreement appear to fall short of these goals. Progress was made on the dispute settlement mechanisms—provisions that place tremendous power in the hands of multinational corporations—but the ISDS framework remains. And country-of-origin labeling, which is supported by 90 percent of Americans, was unfortunately left out of the agreement.”

Filed Under: Blog, Home-Feature

Farmers Union Urges Administration to Allow E15 Year-Round

October 1, 2018 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

Reconcile Billions of Gallons of Lost Demand for Biofuels

from National Farmers Union
WASHINGTON – Ahead of an expected Trump Administration announcement on changes to the nation’s biofuel policies, National Farmers Union (NFU) is urging the President to follow through on his promises to support American family farmers and the biofuel industry by allowing year-round use of E15 gasoline, ceasing undue hardship waivers to oil refiners, and making up for lost demand as a result of previous waivers.

Building on a recent letter from farm and biofuel groups to President Trump, NFU President Roger Johnson said that while an E15 waiver is a step in the right direction towards expanded use of American grown biofuels, such a measure on its own would not make up for the billions of gallons of lost demand for ethanol that have resulted from Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) exemptions handed out by former EPA chief Scott Pruitt.

“The historic decline in the farm economy over the past five years has been exacerbated by mishandling of the nation’s chief biofuel policy, the Renewable Fuel Standard,” said Johnson. “While a move to allow year-round use of E15 gasoline is expected to increase domestic demand for ethanol by 1.3 billion gallons over the next five years, that number pales in comparison to the projected 4.6 billion gallons worth of demand that would be lost over the next 6 years if EPA continues handing out hardship waivers to oil refiners.”

The administration has been working on changes to biofuel policies that would ease tensions between biofuel and oil industries. Yet, to date, its actions have undercut demand for biofuels by waiving oil refiner requirements to comply with the RFS. USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue last month said the administration will soon allow year-round use of E15 gasoline – a bump for the biofuel sector.

Johnson said such an announcement must be accompanied by a provision that makes up for the billions of gallons of lost demand as a result of hardship waivers, as well as a commitment not to further erode demand through continued use of waivers. “An announcement on E15 in and of itself does not make whole a biofuels industry that has experienced significant damage as a result of the former EPA administrator’s actions,” he said.

Johnson said such a request is commonsense for an administration that has pledged to support family farmers and American grown biofuels.

“The farm economy has placed many family farmers in dire financial straits right now,” said Johnson. “They are looking to the administration to take meaningful actions that, in the aggregate, expand demand for American farm products. Yet, to this point, they’ve only seen demand destruction. That must change immediately with tangible actions that ensure more biofuels make their way into the transportation fuel sector.”

Johnson added that NFU is a strong proponent of expanding use of higher blends of ethanol, like E30, in order to provide farmers with a stronger market for their products and consumers with cheaper, cleaner, and more efficient transportation fuels.

“Farmers Union is going to continue to push for expanded use of higher blends of ethanol, for the benefit of family farmers and consumers alike,” he said. “Until the administration creates an environment in which these fuels can succeed, it will have shortchanged the family farmers the President has pledged to support.”

Filed Under: Blog, Home-Feature

U.S. – Canadian Dairy Farmers to Share Perspectives in Mercer County, Ohio

August 24, 2018 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

Dairy Farmers of Ontario Vice Chairman, Murray Sherk will visit Ohio on August 28 to share his perspective on pros and cons of the Canadian dairy supply management system. This will be part of a series of forums held around the nation that will highlight impacts of dairy policy, including supply management, on dairy farming communities. The program will consider whether elements of the Canadian system could be incorporated into the U.S. dairy industry to balance milk supply and demand.

The events are being organized by the Ohio Farmers Union, the Wisconsin Farmers Union, the National Farmers Organization and the National Farmers Union. Sherk will cover topics like how new farmers get started in a quota-based system, how processors participate and what impact inventory management has had on Canadian consumer dairy prices.

“Clearly, the dairy pricing structure we have here in the United States is not serving family farmers well,” said OFU President Joe Logan.

“These meetings will offer a chance to hear how the Canadian system helps keep dairy prices paid to farmers stable, as opposed to the wild swings and crushingly low prices that have been putting U.S. dairy farmers out of business,” said Logan.

The event will take place at the American Legion Hall in Maria Stein, Ohio on August 28, 2018, beginning At 11 AM.

In a dairy industry producer survey, conducted by the Wisconsin farmers Union in 2016, The majority of respondents were receiving a pay price that was below the cost of production. Many of the farmers who responded were interested in big-picture solutions to improve the economics for their own farm and for future generations. Farmers expressed concern that the continuing push for very large dairy expansion was undermining market and price stability. Many were interested in learning more about how supply management would work, but were skeptical that a government-administered program is the right way to go. There was clear interest in a farmer-controlled mechanism.

“The stress and difficulty of current dairy economics is considerable, and this pressure is growing,” said WFU President Darin Von Ruden. “This will again be a very difficult year for dairy farmers.”

 “We’ve lost far too many dairy farms in the past decade.”  “You need look no further than the local newspaper auction ads to see the severity of what is happening across the countryside.”

“We’ve communicated specifically with bankers about the dangers posed by oversupply and encouraged them to be part of the solution rather than encouraging even greater dairy expansion,” Von Ruden said.

WFU has also developed a model contract that, if adopted, would provide basic stability and protections to both farmers and processors.

Each of the Dairy Together events are free to attend and include a free meal. RSVP to Ohio Farmers Union by calling 419 523-5300 or by clicking here.

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Ohio Farmers Union, Wisconsin Farmers Union and National Farmers Organization are member-driven organizations, committed to enhancing the quality of life for family farmers, rural communities, and all people through educational opportunities, cooperative endeavors, and civic engagement. For more information visit www.ohfarmersunion.org

Filed Under: Blog, Home-Feature

Farmers Union Comment on Trump Admin Trade Aid Proposal

July 24, 2018 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

The Trump administration today announced a $12 billion plan to provide emergency aid to farmers amidst an escalating trade war with China and other trading partners. The plan will include direct assistance, a food purchase and distribution program, and a trade promotion program.

National Farmers Union (NFU), the nation’s second largest general farm organization, urged the administration to do more to provide a long-term fix to the long-term damage of the trade war. The group supports the president’s efforts to improve fair trade relationships with trading partners, yet has grown weary of the administration’s go-it-alone, bull-in-a-china-shop approach.

NFU President Roger Johnson issued the following statement in response to the announcement:

“President Trump’s escalating trade war with China and much of the rest of the world requires that we go to significant lengths to protect the men and women who grow our food, fuel and fiber. Their livelihoods are on the line with every tweet, threat or tariff action that comes from the White House. Market prices for farm products are plunging from already very low levels, and it’s been estimated that farmers lost more than $13 billion last month alone due to trade disruptions.

“While we appreciate the move to provide stopgap assistance, this plan is a short-term fix to a long-term problem. The administration must develop a support mechanism that will mitigate the significant damage that is being inflicted upon our most vital international markets for years to come. They should do this by working with Congress to ensure farm bill programs provide enough assistance to farmers when markets collapse.”

Filed Under: Blog

Free Produce Safety Consults for Ohio Growers

July 17, 2018 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is now offering produce growers FREE, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved consultations to help farmers comply with the upcoming Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety rule. 

ODA’s Division of Food Safety, through a cooperative agreement with the FDA, is responsible for enforcing the Produce Safety rule in Ohio. Farm inspections will begin in the spring of 2019, but prior to inspections, ODA staff is offering these voluntary consultation visits to help growers identify what steps they may need to take to comply with the Produce Safety rule before regulatory inspections begin. 

Farms can request a farm consultation visit to determine specific requirements to their farm. This service is offered as a one-day course that provides one-on-one training in which trained and certified ODA staff will visit farms and walk growers through what will be expected with new federal regulations on their farm. In addition to the consultation, farms will also receive resource materials that will help aid in compliance. 

Growers unsure if their farm is subject to the Produce Safety rule, can review FDA’s FSMA regulation document or contact ODA for additional assistance. Produce farms that are exempt from the rule are welcome to schedule consultation visits, as some of the requirements are similar to those required by third party food safety auditors. 

FSMA, which was signed into law on January 4, 2011, is the most comprehensive reform of the nation’s food safety laws since 1938. Its goal is to better protect public health by shifting U.S. food supply safety efforts from a response approach to one of prevention. FSMA is comprised of seven rules that span the entire food supply chain. Of these rules, the one most likely to impact produce growers is the Produce Safety rule.

Filed Under: Blog, Home-Feature

OFU Statement on Gov. Kasich Lake Erie Executive Order

July 13, 2018 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

Ohio Gov. John Kasich issued a new executive order on nutrient management and Lake Erie water quality – targeted in the western basin of the lake – on July 11. You can read the governor’s executive order here and view an administration fact sheet here.

“We’ve done a lot to ensure the health of Lake Erie, Ohio’s crown jewel, including investments of more $3 billion since 2011 to improve water quality in the lake and its watershed,” Gov. Kasich said.  “But it’s clear that more aggressive action is needed, especially to reduce or eliminate the algae blooms that have marred the western basin for years.  This executive order is intended to kick those efforts into overdrive.”

The executive order signed by Gov. Kasich today targets eight watersheds in the western basin of Lake Erie that will be considered for designation under state law as “Watersheds in Distress,” based on their high nutrient levels, especially phosphorous from agricultural runoff.  Named in the governor’s executive order are all or portions of the following watersheds:

  • Platter Creek
  • Little Flat Rock Creek
  • Little Auglaize River
  • Eagle Creek
  • Auglaize River
  • Blanchard River
  • St. Marys River
  • Ottawa River

Statement from Ohio Farmers Union President Joe Logan:

”Governor Kasich’s Executive Order may be well-intended, but it also seems to be a very tentative action that shifts the initiative to a broad, complex network of state agencies and commissions.  Should those agencies and commissions decide to take aggressive action, the implications for farmers and for Lake Erie’s water quality could be profound.

“Whatever the eventual outcome, the process will be long and involved.

“The proposed menu of possible rules and regulations are good agricultural policy (nutrient management planning), yet farmers, like all citizens resist being told how they must conduct their affairs.

“Eventually, Lake Erie may express her own opinion on the urgency for needed action. When and If that happens, the governor, legislature or agency heads may need to face the need for adopting more straightforward actions such as common sense limitations on application rates for manure and fertilizer.

”Concepts like the “agronomic rate” application rate limits could be useful and effective. We urge the governor and legislature to consider their adoption.”

Filed Under: Blog, Home-Feature

What’s the Farmer’s Share of Retail Food Dollar?

July 13, 2018 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

National Farmers Union Farmer's Share July 2018

Filed Under: Blog, Home-Feature

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