Ohio Farmers Union

Serving Family Farmers and Consumers Since 1934



United to Grow Family Agriculture Since 1934

Farm Solutions and Opportunities Forum, February 26

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ofulogofbfeatJoin Dr. Jeffrey Reutter, director of Ohio Sea Grant and representatives from USDA and OSU Extension as they discuss nutrient management in the Lake Erie basin on February 26 in Ottawa.

Sponsored by the Ohio Farmers Union and the Ohio Environmental Council, the Farm Solutions and Opportunities Forum will present those attending with the current science regarding Lake Erie’s harmful algal blooms, the context of agriculture in the lake region and what farmers are doing to mitigate nutrient runoff from their lands. The forum will provide opportunities for citizens in the western basin of Lake Erie to learn more about this vital watershed and farmers will get the latest information on best practices and state and federal programs that may be put to use on their farms.

Speakers include:

  • Dr. Jeffrey Reutter, Ohio Sea Grant
  • Greg LaBarge, OSU Extension
  • Jocelyn Henderson, ODNR, Division of Soil and Water
  • John Wilson, Natural Resources Conservation Program, USDA
  • Chris Gibbs, Ohio Farm Service Agency, USDA
  • Joe Logan, Ohio Farmers Union
  • Adam Rissien, Ohio Environmental Council

The event will be held Thursday, February 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Putnam County Educational Service Center, 124 Putnam Parkway, Ottawa, Ohio. Registration is free and open to the public. Registration for the forum may be made by contacting Linda Borton, Ohio Farmers Union at lborton@ohfarmersunion.org or at 800-321-3671. Lunch will be provided for registrants.

Reminder: OFU Forum on Water Quality in Toledo September 22

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post400pngThe Ohio Farmers Union will bring together scientists and agricultural experts in late September in a forum on seeking solutions for the annual algal blooms in the western basin of Lake Erie.

The forum will be held Sept. 22, 1 p.m., at Forrester’s on the River, Boers-Boyer Way, 26 Main St., Toledo. The event is free and open to the public. RSVPs are appreciated to Linda Borton, Ohio Farmers Union, at lborton@ohfarmersunion.org.

OFU President Joe Logan said it’s important for farmers to acknowledge their part in Lake Erie’s woes, and that OFU is trying to help spread the word on innovative farm management practices that assure that farmers are doing their part to protect Ohio’s waters.

“Farms dominate the landscape in the western Lake Erie watershed and farmers use many tons of phosphorus and nitrogen to grow crops – so people naturally look toward agriculture as a contributor to Lake Erie’s excess nutrient loads,” Logan said.

“Farmers always try to keep nutrients on their land, but the increasing intensity of rain storms make doing so more challenging. Farmers may need to embrace new management practices and new technology,” he added.

OFU’s forum will include speakers:
•    Jeffrey M. Reutter, director, Ohio Sea Grant & F.T. Stone Laboratory
•    Todd Hesterman, NW Ohio coordinator, Conservation in Action
•    Gregory LaBarge, Ohio State University Extension
•    Adam Rissien, Ohio Environmental Council

Logan said OFU is committed to information on water quality and agriculture being “fact and science-based.” He also said that broad, regulatory programs may not be the silver bullet for solving Ohio’s water quality issues but “innovative agricultural practices, along with targeted state and federal regulations will be more likely to attain our goals.”

Logan hopes the forum will be a reasoned and productive discussion among farmers, scientists, urban interests and agency officials that can support their collective effort toward saving Lake Erie.

“We have a very serious problem threatening a crucially important state, national and international resource – it’s time for everyone to get on board and begin working together toward an effective solution.” Logan said.
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OEC’s Jack Shaner on Agriculture and Lake Erie’s Woes

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Jack Shaner of the Ohio Environmental Council talked to OFU members and organization’s board of directors at the recent summer picnic. Here, he discusses recent events in the western basin of Lake Erie and agriculture’s role in the watershed’s problems:

July 24 &25: Ohio Ag and Lake Erie Water Quality Issues Educational Program for Farmers

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Ohio’s family farmer organization is joining a respected environmental advocacy group to educate and hear from northwest Ohio farmers and others who are interested on the topic of a cleaner Lake Erie Water basin.

“A healthy Lake Erie is an invaluable economic and natural resource,” said Roger Wise, president of the Ohio Farmers Union.

“All of us know Lake Erie has experienced some incredibly large and harmful algal blooms over the past few years. OFU is joining with the Ohio Environmental Council to put together an event where farmers and others who are dependent upon agriculture can learn and share their views and experience. This is a controversial topic for some in agriculture, but it is one that we need to address as an industry and a local economy,” Wise added.

Specifically, Wise is talking about the blooms of cyanobacteria – often called blue-green algae – that have plagued Lake Erie in recent years. Increasing levels of dissolved phosphorous in the lake’s water have been tied to these pollution events which are not only smelly and unsightly, but can emit toxins dangerous to human and animal health. The Ohio Lake Erie Phosphorous Task Force has said that the sources of the dissolved phosphorous are numerous but list agricultural fertilizers and sewage treatment plants as chief sources. OFU has adopted as one of its public policy priorities this year the promotion of voluntary nutrient pollution measures on Ohio’s farms.

OFU and the OEC will hold two northwest Ohio Lake Erie education programs on Wednesday, July 24 at Terra State Community College, 2830 Napoleon Road, Fremont, Ohio and Thursday, July 25 at the Schnipke Inn, 202 W. Main Street, Ottawa. The program will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch will be provided at no cost, but RSVPs are required. To RSVP please contact Linda Borton at 800-321-3671 or lborton@ohfarmersunion.org.

Earlier this month, Research scientists from The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Ohio Sea Grant and Heidelberg University predicted that harmful Algae will Once again bloom in Lake Erie in 2013. They predicted that this year’s bloom will be significantly worse than 2012, when the drought reduced runoff and nutrient to the lake.

Please join with us (OFU, OEC, NRCS and SWCDs) to discuss the importance of nutrient management, soil quality and conservation practices.

 

OFU & OEC Host First Lake Erie Water Basin Ag Stakeholder Meeting

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Ohio’s largest family farmer organization is joining a respected environmental advocacy group to educate and hear from northwest Ohio farmers and other agricultural stakeholders on the topic of a cleaner Lake Erie Water basin.

“A healthy Lake Erie is an invaluable economic and natural resource,” said Roger Wise, president of the Ohio Farmers Union.

“All of us know Lake Erie has experienced some incredibly large and harmful algal blooms over the past few years. OFU is joining with the Ohio Environmental Council to put together an event where farmers and others who are dependent upon agriculture can learn and share their views and experience. This is a controversial topic for some in agriculture, but it is one that we need to address as an industry and a local economy,” Wise added.

Specifically, Wise is talking about the blooms of cyanobacteria – often called blue-green algae – that have plagued Lake Erie in recent years. Increasing levels of dissolved phosphorous in the lake’s water have been tied to these pollution events which are not only smelly and unsightly, but can emit toxins dangerous to human and animal health. The Ohio Lake Erie Phosphorous Task Force has said that the sources of the dissolved phosphorous are numerous but list agricultural fertilizers and sewage treatment plants as chief sources. OFU has adopted as one of its public policy priorities this year the promotion of voluntary nutrient pollution measures on Ohio’s farms.

OFU and the OEC will hold a northwest Ohio stakeholder education program on Friday, February 22 at the Hancock County Agricultural Service Center, 7868 County Rd. 140 in Findlay. The program will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch will be provided at no cost, but RSVPs are required. To RSVP please contact Linda Borton at 800-321-3671 or lborton@ohfarmersunion.org.

Presenters at the event include:

  •  Joe Logan, Director of Agricultural Programs for the Ohio Environmental Council
  • Ed Crawford, WLEB Program Specialist with ODNR, Division of Soil and Water Resources
  • Dr. Yi Shi, Research Specialist from Michigan State University’s Institute of Water Research
  • Representatives from Natural Resources Conservation Services and Ohio Sea Grant

 

Ohio Environmental Council schedules several informational meetings on fracking

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From the Ohio Environmental Council:

Learn about the current state of laws and science of high-volume, horizontal hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and how it affects you and your community.

Representatives from the Ohio Environmental Council also will discuss air, land, and water quality concerns.

FREE to attend but please RSVP to the OEC at (614) 487-7506 or OEC@theOEC.org. Complimentary food and beverages provided.

Dates & Details

Date Time Address
June 21 3 – 7 p.m. Reed Memorial Library
Haymaker Room
167 E. Main St
Ravenna, 44266
June 23 10 a.m. –
2 p.m.		 Stark County District Library
North Branch Basement
189 25th Street NW
Canton, 44709
June 27 3 – 7 p.m. Columbiana Public Library
Salchow Room
332 N. Middle Street
Columbiana, 44408
June 27 4 – 8 p.m. First Congregational United
Church of Christ
Social Hall
200 N Main Street
Mt. Vernon, 43050
June 30 10 a.m. –
2 p.m.		 Newark Public Library
Meeting Room A
101 West Main St
Newark, 43055
July 7 10 a.m. –
2 p.m.		 St.James Episcopal Church
155 North Sixth Street
Zanesville, 43701
July 10 3 – 7 p.m. Coshocton Public Library
655 Main Street
Coshocton, 43812
July 12 4 – 8 p.m. New Philadelphia Public Library
Main Branch
121 Fair Avenue Northwest
New Philadelphia, 44663
July 19 4 – 8 p.m. Youngstown Public Library
Main Branch, Basement
305 Wick Ave
Youngstown, 44503
July 21 10 a.m. –
2 p.m.		 Carroll County District Library
70 Second Street NE
Carrollton, 44615
July 25 4 – 8 p.m. Public Library of Steubenville &
Jefferson County
Schiappa Branch
4141 Mall Drive
Steubenville, 43952

 

OFU & other Ohio-based food & environmental interest groups ask Portman for sound farm, food and environmental policies in Super Committee

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(Columbus, OH)—The Ohio Farmers Union, Association of Second Harvest Food Banks, Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, and Ohio Environmental Council are teaming up to urge bold changes to federal agriculture policy.

Their goal is to reform the Federal Farm Bill with a fiscally sound plan to:

  • Grow America’s agricultural production.
  • Sustain the basic nutritional needs of the millions of Americans who continue to struggle to put food on the table during the Great Recession.
  • Nurture America’s emerging sector of organic and sustainable agriculture producers.
  • Conserve America’s precious soil and water resources.

The U.S. Farm Bill is an outgrowth of the 1930s Dust Bowl and Great Depression. The Farm Bill originally was designed to accomplish three goals:

[Read more…]

VIDEO: Ohio Environmental Council Presentation to Farmers Union Members on Fracking

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This video was taken at a September meeting sponsored by the Ashtabula, Lake, Geauga Counties Farmers Union. Joe Logan of the Ohio Environmental Council – and himself an Ohio Farmers Union member – discussed what hyraulic fracturing is, explained the Utica and Marcellus Shale natural gas play and outlined many of the environmental issues revolving around “fracking” for natural gas.

OEC Sponsors Ohio Photo Contest

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Taken any great nature pics lately?

Call for Entries: Nature Photo Contest

To commemorate Ohio’s natural beauty, the Ohio Environmental Council invites you to submit your best photographs to our 3rd Annual Photo Contest. All amateur and professional photographers who are current Ohio residents are invited to enter.

There are three categories:

  • My Ohio
  • What “Green” Means to Me
  • Fan Favorite

There will be a total of six contest winners: one Grand Prize winner and two Runners-Up in each category.

[Read more…]

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Contact

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