Ohio Farmers Union

Serving Family Farmers and Consumers Since 1934



United to Grow Family Agriculture Since 1934

  • About
    • The Farmers Union Triangle
    • Vision
    • OFU Leadership
  • Issues
    • 2020 Virtual Lobby Days
    • OFU Policy & NFU Policy
    • 2019 Lobby Day Registration
    • Get Involved!
    • NFU Climate Leaders
  • Education
    • 2019 OFU Essay Contest
    • Ohio Farmers Union Scholarships
    • Farm Safety
    • Renewable Energy Curriculum
  • Insurance
    • Hastings Mutual Insurance Co.
    • Health & Other Offerings
    • Ohio BWC Group Coverage
  • Join Us
    • Online Sign-Up
    • Member Benefits
    • Insurance
  • Blog
  • Events

2012 Should See a Revamped Ohio Grain Indemnity Law

January 4, 2012 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

A successful farmer-funded Ohio Department of Agriculture program will see its first changes in more than a decade during the first half of 2012 according to the ODA official who administers it.

The Ohio Grain Indemnity Fund, which protects producers from losing everything in grain elevator failures, is on track for a legislative overhaul sometime in the first quarter of 2012 according to the fund’s administrator, David Simmons.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: David Simmons, Family Farmers, Linda Borton, Ohio Dept. of Agriculture, Ohio Grain Indemnity Fund, Roger Wise, Ron Sylvester

Congress, Obama Administration put interests of large, national meat packers over family farmers in final GIPSA Rule

December 9, 2011 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON (Dec. 8, 2011) – National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson issued the following statement after U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published the Final Rule implementing protection provisions for farmers and ranchers under the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA):

“While the Final Rule is a good first step, it is certainly not a last step. We are disappointed that Congress passed a Fiscal Year 2012 appropriations bill that prevents additional portions of the rule from advancing. In particular, it is critical that the competitive injury portion of the rule be implemented. Currently, a producer must prove that a packer’s anti-competitive practices damaged the entire marketplace. Clarification of competitive injury is needed so that the producer would only have to prove that his or her operation was hurt by such actions, a much more reasonable standard. In choosing to prevent the competitive injury portion of the rule from moving forward, Congress has clearly chosen to put the interests of large packers ahead of family farmers and ranchers.

“After more than one year of discussion and more than 60,000 comments received, USDA has issued a Final Rule that provides some protection to family farmers and ranchers across the country. This rule will make the livestock market at least somewhat more transparent and fair. The rule clarifies whether the requirement of additional capital investments for poultry growers and swine producers violates the Packers and Stockyards Act, and ensures poultry dealers have a reasonable period of time to remedy a breach of contract.

“We will continue working with this administration and Congress to ensure that family farmers and ranchers are able to compete in a fair and open marketplace.”

 

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Barack Obama, Big Ag, Family Farmers, GIPSA, U.S. Congress

Five Ohio members of Congress receive award from NFU

September 14, 2011 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

Five Ohio Members of Congress Recognized by NFU

(R-L) Sen. Sherrod Brown, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Rep. Marcia Fudge, Rep. Betty Sutton and Rep. Tim Ryan

Five Ohio members of Congress were awarded the Golden Triangle Tuesday by the National Farmers Union for demonstrating leadership and supporting policies that benefit family farmers, rural residents, ranchers and fishermen.

The five Ohioans are:

  • U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio
  • U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo
  • U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Warrensville Heights
  • U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton, D-Copley
  • U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Niles

“Recipients of the Golden Triangle Award have been strong advocates for family farmers and ranchers, and exhibit similar principles and policies to Farmers Union,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “We are pleased to honor those who have proven to be true allies of our organization and our members across the country.”

Roger Wise, president of the Ohio Farmers Union said, “These members of Congress get it. The deck is stacked against family farmers and rural communities when it comes to policy and legislation. All five of these representatives have worked to ensure that our local economies are not left out in the cold when the big money interests show up on Capitol Hill.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Family Farmers, Golden Triangle, National Farmers Union, Ohio Farmers Union, Rep. Betty Sutton, Rep. Marcia Fudge, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Rep. Tim Ryan, Roger Johnson, Roger Wise, Sen. Sherrod Brown

Action Alert: Act Today to Protect Smaller Growers of Leafy Green Vegetables

July 26, 2011 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

Big Ag tries to game the system for large (huge) growers in Washington

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently published a proposed rule to establish a national marketing agreement regulating leafy green vegetables. This rulemaking was the result of a request by the largest players in the industry, who asked for regulations based on the statewide agreements established in California and Arizona in the wake of the 2006 E. coli outbreak in California spinach.

If this agreement moves forward, it will provide the largest produce handlers (processors, shippers and packers of leafy green vegetables) the power to establish on-farm practices for all growers of leafy greens, regardless of size.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Family Farmers, Growers, Leafy Green Vegetables, Ohio Farmers Union, Produce Handlers, Rulemaking, USDA

Kasich Administration Sets New Fees for Weights & Measures Devices

July 11, 2011 By Ron Sylvester 1 Comment

The Ohio Dept. of Agriculture has announced a new $75 fee on the weights and measures devices used by many farmers.

Devices covered by the new fee include:

  • Vehicle scales
  • Railway scales
  • Livestock scales
  • Bulk rack meters
  • Vehicle meters
  • LPG meters

According to ODA, for 2011, device owners have until September 30, 2011 to register their devices. Registrations received after September 30, 2011 will incur a $20 late fee.

An ODA fact sheet on the fee may be downloaded here.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Agriculture, Family Farmers, John Kasich, Ohio Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • YouTube

Latest News from the Ohio & National Farmers Union

2022 OFU Special Orders

Annual Policy Priorities For the eighty-eighth year, the Ohio Farmers Union has established the organization's public policy priorities at the … Read More

Ohio County Fair Schedule 2022

It's looking great for the first full, uninterrupted Ohio fair season since the beginning of the pandemic. Of special note, the Ohio State Fair will … Read More

Rural Broadband Gets Win in Ohio Budget

State Senators Matt Huffman, R-Lima, and Matt Dolan, R-Chagrin Falls, tried to kill $90 million for rural broadband expansion, yet the Ohio … Read More

State Legislators Listen – Rural Broadband Back in Ohio Two-Year Budget

In a pleasant surprise for rural Ohio, the biennial budget was agreed to Monday with Gov. Mike DeWine's full $250 million funding request for rural … Read More

Check Out the Entire Blog

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

Copyright Ohio Farmers Union© 2023 | Site by: RCS Communications

 

Loading Comments...