"Farm Bureau is an advocate for rural people. It is our political arm in Columbus and in Washington. Farm Bureau negotiates with many other organizations and this in turn helps to increase the standard of living for everyone." Wayne County, NW19 Council

"Farm Bureau has a lot of political clout. Working together we can accomplish what we cannot do as individuals." Henry County, Cloverleaf Council

"By joining Farm Bureau we can exchange information on problems and take a united action to correct them. One person alone hasn't much chance of being heard." Lucas County, Conversationalists Council

"One of the few organizations left that fights for the farmers' rights." Fulton County, Lucky Seven Council

"We need people to join us to help promote farm facts and counteract animal rights groups and environmentalists." Henry County, Happy Campers Council

According to a recent publication, the Ohio Farm Bureau is "a federation of 87 county Farm Bureaus representing all 88 counties. Likewise, the 50 state organizations make up the over 4 million members of the American Farm Bureau." The Bureau functions on a multitude of levels which include creating and passing agricultural legislation, defining land use policies, addressing farm/home safety issues, providing health care insurance, educational opportunities and school funding. In addition, members have access to a myriad of benefits such as workers' compensation, compliance consulting, agri-planning, discounts on auto rentals and long distance telephone calls. The Farm Bureau also publishes the "Buckeye News," a monthly publication distributed freely to members. The Bureau is an active sponsor of Ag-in-the-Classroom, educating some 20,000 Ohio students in agriculture. They also provide funding for camps and conferences in an effort to provide opportunities for young farmers. Moreover, the Bureau acts to facilitate discussion between farm families by providing opportunities for meeting and relaying suggestions to Bureau representatives regarding relevant issues. Enumerated below are some of the Bureau's achievements, including legislation they "helped pass, they worked on, and past accomplishments." These, too, are listed in the "You Can Make a Difference through the Farm Bureau" pamphlet referred to above.

Helped Pass Legislation:

• Exempting some SWCD ditch drainage and conservation projects from prevailing wage.
  
• Reducing tort liability of farmers for individuals gleaning crops.
• Granting a sales tax exemption on building materials used in single purpose livestock or horticultural buildings.
• Providing Workers' Compensation reform.
• Increasing funding for SWCD ag pollution abatement programs.
• Allowing the composting of dead poultry and some small animals, providing another disposal option for poultry farmers.
• Defining aquaculture as agriculture and clarifying certain permit requirements.
• Establishing a voluntary program for the clean-up of lands contaminated by hazardous substances.
• Permitting directional signage for farm markets and wineries on state highways.

Worked on Legislation:

• To significantly change an environmental crime bill which would have adversely impacted agriculture.
• That would "level the playing field" in annexation proceedings.
• To exempt agriculture from intentional tort in Workers' Compensation protection.
• Establishing minimum milk prices for dairy farmers in Ohio.
• Represented agriculture on numerous committees pertaining to wetlands, water quality, pesticide usage, and groundwater.
• Petitioned to be party to legal suits against livestock farmers being prohibited by townships from expanding their livestock operations or from starting livestock operations.

Past Accomplishments:

• Exempted farm property from personal sales taxes.
• Secured a 25% deduction of health insurance premiums on federal income tax for self-employed.
• Exempted sales tax on production supplies.
• Protected farmers from nuisance law suits and certain assessments by establishing Ag Districts.
• Defeated Issue 5, a labeling law which would have cost Ohio agriculture millions of dollars.
• Farmland can be appraised at Current Agricultural Use Value rather than market value.

  
  

  Click here for the American Farm Bureau home page.
  
  

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