Ohio Farmers Union

Serving Family Farmers and Consumers Since 1934



United to Grow Family Agriculture Since 1934

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A few words on Toledo water crisis

August 6, 2014 By Ron Sylvester 2 Comments

Well, when roughly half a million people in and around Ohio’s fourth largest city can’t shower, wash clothes and dishes or drink their tap water for two days, the politicians start to pay attention to the annual environmental catastrophe known as the Lake Erie algal bloom.

If you’ve followed the Ohio Farmers Union’s take on water quality and agriculture’s role, you’ll know that OFU acknowledges the science that places agriculture at the top of the list of contributors of nutrients into Lake Erie and other surface waters and we are committed to having agriculture be a major part of the solution.

In reviewing the State’s response to our water quality problems, we believe there is one segment of nutrient management that has been ignored by the decision-makers in Columbus. That’s the use of manure from large animal feeding operations. Ohio is home to many thousands of these industrial scale livestock facilities. Only the 200 largest of which are managed under oversight of the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA). Manure from confined animal feeding operations supplies a significant proportion of the nutrients that Ohio farmers use to boost crop production.

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Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Fertilizer, Lake Erie, Manure, Nutrient Management, SB 150, SB 490, Toledo, Water

National Farmers Union: Ag must respond to changing environmental conditions to preserve, protect water supplies

May 21, 2012 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday regarding the agency’s Draft National Water 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change. The agricultural organization emphasized the need for agriculture to adapt to changing environmental conditions, particularly as it relates to water.

“Climate change adaption is critical for the continued productivity of the agriculture sector, specifically as it relates to water quality and quantity,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “Given the proper incentives, family farmers and ranchers will be valuable partners in addressing the challenges that result from a changing climate. Family farmers and ranchers have historically been our best soil and water conservationists when given the economic incentives and flexibility to do so.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Climate Change, EPA, Water

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Latest News from the Ohio & National Farmers Union

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P.O. Box 363
1011 N. Defiance Street
Ottawa, Ohio 45875
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