On June 30, the Ohio Farmers Union held a town hall-style meeting at Northwest State Community College. The first speaker that night was Dr. Thomas Stuckey, president of NWSCC. In this video, Stuckey discusses the potential of renewable energy to family farms and rural communities.
Beginning Farmers in New Knoxville Helping to Build Healthy, Sustainable Food System in Ohio
Deb Eschmeyer at the Bexley Farmers Market in late June
Jeff & Deb Eschmeyer come from a conventional agriculture background in a part of Ohio known for its expansive farms on good flat ground worked by generations of families of German descent.
Both Jeff and Deb grew up in farm families and for a time these high school sweethearts who now operate their own small farm acted on another convention of rural life – they left the farms and their small town of New Knoxville and sought their fortunes in various places — Chicago and Washington, D.C. among others. They pursued careers that intersected with agriculture, but “the farm” was far away as they held jobs like Legislative aide to former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton (Jeff) and program director for the D.C.-based non-profit the National Family Farm Coaliiton (Deb).
Today however, the Eschmeyers have come full-circle in a sense and their place in the world and Ohio’s economy is anything but conventional.
Jeff Eschmeyer & OFU President Roger Wise at the Bexley Farmers Market
Ohio & U.S. Depts. of Agriculture Warning About Asian Longhorned Beetle
The U.S. and Ohio Departments of Agriculture want you to know about an invasive species which threatens our trees.
The USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is currently conducting surveys in Bethel, Ohio for the Asian longhorned beetle. Bethel is located 30 miles southeast of Cincinnati.
Farmers Union Informational Meeting with State Officials June 30
The Ohio Farmers Union with Northwest State Community College is hosting an Ohio agricultural policy information meeting on June 30. Ohio State Sen. Cliff Hite and Agriculture Inspections Administrator David Simmons of the Ohio Dept. of Agriculture will speak and answer questions. OFU President Roger Wise will conduct the meeting and discuss OFU activities and policy concerns.
The meeting will be held at Northwest State’s George V. Voinovich Auditorium located at 22600 SR 34, Archbold and is open to the general public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the presentation begins at 7 p.m.
OFU Members Alert: Save Ohio Consumers Counsel Funding
The Ohio Farmers Union is urging members to take action this week and contact members of the Ohio General Assembly regarding funding cuts for the Office of the Ohio Consumers Counsel (OCC).
Established in 1976, the OCC was formed to represent residential customer interests in matters regarding their public utility services including, water, natural gas, electric and telephone services.
The OCC serves as the residential consumers’ lawyer in rate cases and other actions which come before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. When the large utility corporations propose rate changes for instance, the OCC is the statutorily authorized representative of homeowners and family farmers before the PUCO. OCC also provides educational and policy services and operates a residential utility customer call center serving as a problem solver and go-between for citizen consumers and the utility companies.
According to a recent op-ed in the Columbus Dispatch by OCC leader Janine Migden-Ostrander, the OCC has established a solid track record of representing the public’s interest:
During the current budget period, the Consumers’ Counsel, through its direct efforts, has saved customers $54.8 million in potential rate increases. Through its collaboration with other stakeholders, including advocacy organizations for business, senior citizens, low-income residents and others, the Consumers’ Counsel has produced shared savings of $1.9 billion. Often, we have participated in negotiated agreements that have provided benefits that helped keep people connected to their electric or natural-gas service or produced energy-efficiency programs aimed at lowering their utility costs.
Further, when we succeed in reducing rate increases, the benefits flow not only to residential customers but to business and industrial customers, as well. For example, if we negotiate a revenue savings of $10 million in an electric-rate case, 60 percent of those savings go to businesses, small and large. Our work helps to keep energy costs down for all utility customers and, therefore, contributes to job retention and economic development.
So, what’s the problem?
Ohio Farmers Union Ad in latest Edible Columbus
OFU President Roger Wise wants to let the foodies, slow food devotees and farmers market supporters in Columbus know that the Ohio Farmers Union is an organization that they should know about.
OFU is running an advertisement in the summer edition of Edible Columbus – a beautiful magazine circulated around the capital city and read by gourmands and others who enjoy eating out and dining at home when local food with a conscience is on the menu.
“From time to time we need to think about the final link in the food chain – the consumer,” said Wise
“We chose to advertise with Edible Columbus because they highlight locally grown and produced food and the restaurants that use local ingredients. There are also two articles in the latest edition of the magazine that feature family farms in Ohio,” he added.
Edible Columbus is part of Edible Communities Publishing a publications and information company that produces editorially rich, community-based, local-foods publications in distinct culinary regions throughout the United States and Canada.
Ohio’s Eschmeyers Chosen for NFU Beginning Farmers Institute
Jeff & Deb Eschmeyer at garlic harvest time at Harvest Sun Farm.
WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union (NFU) is pleased to announce that Jeff and Deb Eschmeyer of New Knoxville, Ohio are among the 10 participants selected for NFU’s new Beginning Farmer Institute.
“Today’s farmers face a wide array of challenges,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “The Beginning Farmer Institute will provide these participants with a better working knowledge of the tools available to help them succeed.”
Institute participants will learn about financial planning, farm management, and farmer-owned cooperatives. In addition, they will help determine the agenda based on what they have identified as important on their farm. Topics include marketing, understanding U.S. Department of Agriculture programs, renewable energy, recording keeping or understanding the local food system.
OFU Supports Dailyfeats.com and those who ‘Go Do Good’
The Ohio Farmers Union got some attention at the Columbus Arts Festival on Saturday by endorsing the work of Dailyfeats.com.
NFU to Make Summer Renewable Energy Tour
WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union (NFU) has partnered with The Climate Network to conduct a series of meetings this summer across the Midwest on the theme of renewable energy solutions.
Home Grown Cow Helps Family Farmers Market Directly to Consumers
The National Farmers Union has created an online partnership with Home Grown Cow to give Ohio Farmers Union members an opportunity to market certain farm products directly to consumers.
NFU announced this new partnership June 1. Home Grown Cow gives consumers an opportunity to browse products by location and farming style.
“This is a great opportunity for family farmers and ranchers to create additional revenue and market their meat, poultry, and cheeses to a larger market,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “This also gives consumers an opportunity to know the farmer they are purchasing from and what practices he or she uses. It is a very transparent marketplace that benefits both producers and consumers.”
The website helps connect producers directly to consumers. Many consumers are unsure of how to purchase directly from farms, and farmers and ranchers sometimes struggle to find new customers.
“NFU has been a very strong advocate of connecting producers and consumers, and that is exactly what Home Grown Cow does,” said Home Grown Cow CEO John Aikman. “This opens up many new markets for family farmers and ranchers, providing them with additional sources of revenue. At the same time, it offers consumers an opportunity to know exactly where their food is coming from, so they can be more connected to their food and become more knowledgeable consumers. Everybody wins.”
Visit Home Grown Cow’s website at www.homegrowncow.com.
