Ohio Farmers Union

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Through USDA, Obama Administration fights fraud in SNAP

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USDA continues to crack down those who defraud the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and announced several new strategies to improve the nation’s primary program that offers food assistance to the needy.

SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps, is delivered in Ohio through the “Direction Card,” managed by the Ohio Dept. of Job and Family Services.

The new tools in fraud fighters toolbox are primarily aimed at retailers and online fraud.

“USDA has a zero tolerance policy for SNAP fraud,” said Kevin Concannon, USDA Under Secretary. “These additional measures reaffirm our ongoing commitment to ensuring these dollars are spent as intended–helping millions of people in need get back on solid economic footing.”

The retailer sanctions proposal allows USDA to not only permanently disqualify a retailer who traffics, but also assess a monetary penalty in addition to the disqualification. Financial penalties would be proportional to the amount of SNAP business the store is conducting, which will help ensure that the financial punishment more closely fits the crime. Currently, when a retailer is found guilty of fraud or abuse, USDA can either disqualify the retailer from participating in SNAP, or issue a financial penalty, but not both.

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In Ohio, USDA’s Merrigan announces new opportunity for small meat and poultry producers

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USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan in Columbus, Ohio. August 2012

Ohio’s small, state inspected meat and poultry processors got some good news from USDA last Thursday — their market is expanding.

While speaking at a conference on farm and food issues sponsored by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan made some news by announcing the agency’s new Interstate Shipment Program. Under the program, smaller, state inspected processors who were formerly not able to ship their products outside the state will be able to ship across state lines.

Where the market for a sausage maker, specialty poultry product producer or other meat or poultry processor was just the state of Ohio prior to the program, it’s now the entire United States.

“This agreement allows a small processor in Ohio to sell products to neighbors in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana, and beyond,” said Deputy Secretary Merrigan. “Expanding market opportunities for meat from local processors makes these small businesses more viable, while also ensuring that participating establishments have robust food safety systems in place to produce safe food for consumers.”

“With one out of every seven jobs in Ohio tied to agriculture, today’s announcement means bolstering Ohio’s agricultural economy and connecting Ohio’s rural businesses with new opportunities across state lines,” Brown said.

Under the cooperative agreement, small, state-inspected businesses with 25 or fewer employees will be allowed to sell meat products across state lines. Meat products produced in selected establishments will be subject to the same regulatory sampling programs as those established in the Federal inspection program.

The Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program was established by the 2008 Farm Bill. In 2011, USDA finalized regulations to allow state employees to administer federal regulations and use federal marks of inspection at selected establishments. Prior to the establishment of this program, state-inspected businesses could only sell products within their state.

State-inspected establishments interested in shipping interstate should contact their state’s meat inspection program. In addition, USDA will shortly publish a directive detailing how states and small businesses can join the Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program. The USDA’s Small Plant Help Desk is also available to help small meat businesses understand regulatory requirements. The Help Desk can be reached between 8am and 4pm EST, Monday through Friday, at 1-877-FSISHelp.

Ohio farmers urged to report crop losses, low yields to FSA

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With the continued hot dry weather conditions throughout Ohio, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages farmers to document and report crop losses or low crop yields to their local FSA office.

Producers with crops covered by crop insurance and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) must report crop losses resulting from a weather-related disaster event within 15 days of the disaster or when the loss first becomes apparent. Prevented planting must be reported no later than 15 days after the final planting date.

Crop losses are acres that were timely planted with the intent to harvest, but the crop failed because of a natural disaster. It is important that producers file accurate and timely loss reports to prevent the potential loss of FSA program benefits.

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Ohio Farmers Union, Dairy Farmers Lose a Friend in Bryan Wolfe

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Former vice president of the Ohio Farmers Union and dairy activist Bryan K. Wolfe of Ashtabula has died in a farming accident at the age of 55.

Roger Wise, OFU president, said earlier this week, “As a grassroots activist, you could not be more committed to your cause than Bryan. He educated the community, OFU, legislators and other farmers for years about the problems in the dairy industry. He focused on the family farmer and small producers and fought for a fair deal for family farmers in a world which too often ignores them. He will be missed.”

Wolfe’s obituary from the Ashtabula Star-Beacon follows:

ROME — Bryan K. Wolfe, age 55, of Rome, Ohio, died Tuesday, August 7, 2012.

He was born March 12, 1957, in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Fred and Shirley (Heffner) Wolfe. He was married to H. Diana (Young) Wolfe on Sept. 12, 1981.

Bryan was a Dairy Farmer all his life and owned and operated Maple Lane Farms in Rome, Ohio since 1980 with his wife. His passion for farming went well beyond the boundaries of his home farm and was an avid farming activist, who served with many organizations to be a voice for the family farms over his lifetime.

Among his involvement in such organizations include: Vice President of the Ohio Farmers Union for four years. President of the Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula County Farmers Union for 12 years. He was a member of the National Family Farm Coalition for 10 years and served on the Executive Committee, Dairy Sub Committee, and Chaired the Credit Committee.

He also spent 10 years with the Family Farm Defenders. Bryan’s love for dairy farming started with his first 4-H project, which he always said got out of hand. He was a 1975 graduate of Grand Valley High School.

He is survived by his wife, H. Diana Wolfe; his parents, Fred and Shirley Wolfe, of Hartsgrove, Ohio; brother, Kevin D. Wolfe, of Hartsgrove, Ohio; sisters, Laurie A. Wolfe of Hartsgrove, Ohio and Heidi E. Sundberg of Cherry Valley, Ohio; as well as numerous nieces and nephews who loved him and worked with him on the farm over the years.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Clarence and Rozella (Day) Wolfe and Thomas and Edna (Bosold) Heffner.

A Funeral Service will be held 11 a.m., Monday, August 13th, at PAINE-GUERRIERO FUNERAL HOME, 140 E. Main St., Orwell, Ohio, with the Rev. Robert Leonard officiating.

Visitation will take place from 3 to 7 p.m., Sunday, August 12th, at the Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to the family in care of Diana Wolfe at the funeral home.

Ohio Grown Conference Tomorrow

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There will be a conference on local food economic opportunities hosted by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, (D-OH), at the Fawcett Center on the campus of Ohio State University August 9.

Ohio Grown: Local Food Creating Local Opportunities will focus on changing public policy that supports local food economies, local food financing, scaling up and more. The keynote speaker will be Kathleen Merrigan, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. The event is free and open to the public and a locally-sourced lunch will be available for $15.

Please pre-register for the event by contacting OSU Extension at 614-292-7875 or grevents@cfaes.osu.edu. The Fawcett Center is located at 2400 Olentangy River Rd., Columbus, 43210.

 

Ohio getting federal funding to fight Asian Longhorned Beetle

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Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the availability of $14.8 million in funding to prevent the spread of the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) in Ohio.

“The USDA, together with our partners in Ohio, is working hard to contain and eradicate the Asian longhorned beetle from Clermont County,” Vilsack said. “With this funding, USDA reinforces our shared goal of stopping this destructive pest and protecting as many trees as possible. The additional funds will allow for an increased effort in fighting the beetle and help prevent the beetle from spreading to surrounding areas.”

The additional funding will be used to increase tree inspection surveys in order to determine the extent of the infestation and ensure the timely removal of infested trees.

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NFU, coalition urge biofuels funding for military

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National Farmers Union joined a coalition of agriculture, renewable energy, and national security organizations urging the U.S. Senate’s Subcommittee for Defense Appropriations to support Department of Defense (DoD) funding for accelerated production of domestically produced, advanced, drop-in biofuels for military use.

In a letter addressed to Chairman Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, and Ranking Member Thad Cochran, R-Miss., the coalition noted the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) entered by the DOD with the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy last year that pledged a federal investment of $510 million in partnership with the private sector. Under the MUO’s terms, $170 million would be provided by each participating agency.

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USDA, Crop Insurance Companies Providing Short Grace Period on Premiums

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USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said today that crop insurance companies have agreed to provide a short grace period for farmers on insurance premiums in 2012.

To help producers who may have cash flow problems due to natural disasters, Secretary Vilsack sent a letter to crop insurance companies asking them to voluntarily defer the accrual of any interest on unpaid spring crop premiums by producers until November 1, 2012. In turn, to assist the crop insurance companies, USDA will not require crop insurance companies to pay uncollected producer premiums until one month later.

Ohio FSA: Continuous sign-up for CRP Highly Erodible Land Initiative

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Steve Maurer, State Executive Director for Ohio’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), announced that continuous sign-up for the Highly Erodible Land (HEL) Initiative under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) started on July 23, 2012. Ohio received a total allocation of 24,300 acres to enroll in the HEL CRP program. Offers will be accepted until either the state acreage allocation limit is reached or September 30, 2012, whichever occurs first.

“CRP is a voluntary program that has protected environmentally sensitive land for more than 25 years,” said SED Maurer. “This initiative will accept offers with an erosion rate of at least 20 tons per acre per year for new cropland or CRP acres that expire on September 30, 2012; however, existing grass stands that are not expiring CRP will not be considered eligible,” he said.

Producers can stop by their local FSA office to determine if their land qualifies for the Highly Erodible Land Initiative and to receive additional location-specific details.

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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