WE ARE BACK this week- and yes, the quarantine chronicles move on. State Representative Jon Cross joins Matt, Kolt, and Dusty this week and talks about about the fate of county fairs for summer 2020, and two issues that include rural broadband and coyotes. Interviews this week include Jenna Beadle of Ohio Farm Bureau, and Tony Seegers of Ohio Farm Bureau.… Continue reading
Read More » What was the Great Black Swamp is today’s hub for the H2Ohio discussion. Matt and Dusty host this week’s podcast with Jordan Hoewischer from the Ohio Farm Bureau. Matt sat down with Jeff Duling from the Federation of Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Kris Swartz from Wood County, and Mark Wilson and talked about water quality. Dusty had a round table discussion down at the Commodity Classic in San Antonio with three farmers from Northwest Ohio about H2Ohio. And Matt and Dusty sat down with Matt Liskai from Greenfield Ag.… Continue reading
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Ohio Farm Bureau’s Ty Higgins joins us on the Ohio Farm Bureau News Update to talk about the national awards OFBF is bringing back to Ohio after the 101st American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention.… Continue reading
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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Dorothy Pelanda announced Jan. 15 that $30 million in H2Ohio funding will be available for Ohio farmers in more than a dozen counties beginning next month. The funds will be awarded as part of Governor DeWine’s H2Ohio plan to reduce agricultural phosphorus runoff and prevent algal blooms in Lake Erie.
“Since announcing the details of my H2Ohio plan in November, we’ve had a great deal of interest from farmers in the Maumee River Watershed who want to do their part to improve the health of Lake Erie,” said Governor DeWine. “H2Ohio will provide farm-by-farm support to help farmers minimize phosphorus runoff while increasing profit over the long-run.”
Farmers living in the following 14 northwest Ohio counties will be eligible to apply for funds at their local Soil and Water Conservation Districts starting Feb. 1, 2020: Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Lucas, Mercer, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Williams and Wood.
Monday, Jan.20
It was a busy start for Ohio Farm Bureau on Day 3 of American Farm Bureau’s Annual Convention and Trade Show! OFBF President Frank Burkett made appearance on This Week in Agribusiness with Max Armstrong and RFD-TV with Tammy Arender to talk about trade and his recent visit to The White House.
Ohio Farm Bureau’s VP of Public Policy, Yvonne Lesicko, was part of a panel discussion to inform attendees about the implications of “Rights of Nature” laws on agriculture and Ohio’s fight against the Lake Erie Bill of Rights passed by Toledo voters last year.
Today was the final day that our county Farm Bureaus are able to showcase their AFBF award winning events on the Trade Show floor.
Numerous agricultural organizations, county Farm Bureaus and the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation are offering scholarships for students whose parents are members of that organization, or for students pursuing majors in an agriculturally related field.
The list will be updated throughout the year.
Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation. Various scholarships and application due dates, some as late as June 30.
Ohio Agricultural Council is offering six $1,500 scholarships to assist students pursuing undergraduate and graduate-level, agricultural-related studies. Apply by Feb. 15, 2020.
The Ohio Soybean Council Foundation is pleased to offer $44,000 in scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students for the 2020-2021 academic year. Scholarships are available to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing studies related to the soybean industry and the field of agriculture. Apply by Jan. 10, 2020.
Adams County. Apply by March 26, 2020.
Allen County. Apply by April 6, 2020.
When
January 21, 9am–10am
What
Join Ohio Farm Bureau and Nationwide for an educational webinar to learn strategies and tips to help manage your financial future with confidence.
For many Americans, Social Security makes up a sizable amount of their income in retirement. However, due to the way in which many farm operators use the tax code to adjust their income, many farmers run the risk of not qualifying for Social Security retirement benefits. During the Social Security – the Choice of a Lifetime webinar, learn the basics of Social Security and useful information to help you make the right decision based on your circumstances.
Within the webinar, there will be the opportunity to submit questions in real time that will be answered by a retirement income specialist at the end of the event.
For more detailed questions about personal financial needs, consider calling 855-963-9636 for a complimentary one-on-one consultation with a licensed Nationwide representative.
Ohio Farm Bureau’s Young Agricultural Professionals program has awarded $500 grants to eight local YAP groups and two Collegiate Farm Bureau groups.
The grants are courtesy of Farm Credit Mid-America and fund YAP-focused educational programming or events. Winning groups will be acknowledged at the upcoming Young Agricultural Professionals Winter Leadership Experience Jan. 31-Feb. 1.
Ashland and Wayne counties YAP
The Ashland/Wayne Young Ag Professionals are planning the 4th annual Ag Toy Drive which is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 3, 2020. New goals for 2020 include an online outreach video, increased attendance and improving relationships with Ag Toy Drive sponsors and strategic partners.
Clinton, Greene, Fayette, Warren counties YAP
Plans are underway for the Crop to Cup Bus Tour. This multicounty YAP event is intended to increase Farm Bureau membership while also providing educational tours of a brewery, cider house, winery and a distillery. This educational bus trip will provide attendees information about the process of production, safety requirements, regulations and the current issues of this industry.
With more than 1.5 million products, Ohio Farm Bureau members receive special member pricing, and even deeper discounts on selected categories and brands from Grainger, PLUS free standard parcel shipping on all standard Grainger products. No matter the project, Grainger can help.
How Farm Bureau members save:
To receive the Ohio Farm Bureau membership pricing, always reference the Ohio Farm Bureau’s account number when visiting your local branch, making a telephone order at 800.472.4643, or when setting up your personal account online.
It’s time for rural Ohio to stand up and be counted.
This year is a census year. Taking a count of every person in the country is mandated by the U.S. Constitution every decade, and next year it will be easier than ever to be counted.
Results of the census impact federal community funding as well as representation in Congress.
Starting in mid-March 2020, information on completing the census will be mailed out to every address in America, with detailed instructions on how to complete the form.
April 1, 2020, has been designated “Census Day.” That is the day that the “snapshot” of the country will take place. Everyone is encouraged to count themselves where they are on that day. The census will be able to be completed online for the first time, as well as through the mail and via telephone. Door-to-door census takers will be around in May and June in an attempt to record anyone who has not already been counted.… Continue reading
Read More »Bobby Moser has been around agriculture his entire life.
The former dean of the Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences has seen a lot of change over the years, but it is the advancement of ag technology that has enhanced productivity Moser said has made the biggest impact.
“Biotech, GPS, drones, all of the advancements have been most impressive,” Moser said. Having a sustainable, educated workforce in agriculture to keep up with the technology demand is imperative, he said.
So when Moser was asked to join the board of the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation about three years ago, he welcomed the opportunity to support the industry he loved.
Now several years into his service as a director on the foundation board, the excitement in his voice as he talks about the direction the philanthropic arm of Ohio Farm Bureau is headed is plain to hear.
“Our Youth Pathways and ExploreAg programs are right in line with what we need in agriculture,” he said.… Continue reading
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Brittnee Rourke, Mia Hackney and Jasmine Miranda may not be household names (yet), but they have brought to life the recipes Our Ohio readers are going to make in their own households in 2020.
The student chefs at Lorain County Community College’s Culinary Arts program pored over hundreds of recipes and made 24 of them “their own” to be featured in this year’s publications.
“They spent a lot of time (in the training kitchen) before their menu development class. (Creating recipes for Our Ohio) is something unique that they might not get the chance to do in other venues,” said Bradley Ball, senior instructor with the program. “We chose Brittnee, Mia and Jasmine for this very special project because it was a unique opportunity to reward some very special students that we have.”
Rourke is from Amherst and is a second year culinary student. She said from a very young age, she has always had a keen interest in food.… Continue reading
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When
February 23–24, 10am–4pm
Where
What
For the second consecutive year, Ohio Farm Bureau is teaming up with the Mid-America Restaurant Expo, presented by the Ohio Restaurant Association to promote Farmers Crossing, an area dedicated to local farmers and highlighting the farm-to-table concept.
The expo is the premier regional restaurant trade show in the Midwest that focuses on foodservice innovation, technology and trends. It features multimedia demonstrations on five stages, exciting head-to-head culinary competitions and thought leadership provided by industry innovators.
According to the ORA, the Farmers Crossing at the Expo brings to life the farm-to-table concept. This area embraces local sourcing of products and supports the sustainability of our agricultural community while promoting collaboration between farmers and chefs.
Ohio Farm Bureau is the presenting sponsor of Farmers Crossing and will be attending the event with other key partners.… Continue reading
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When the Stateler Family Farms first started the hog operation in 2006, in order to bring son Anthony back to the farm, they applied the manure by first fracturing the ground, spraying the manure over the top and then lightly incorporating it with a harrow. Those practices still left some manure on top and they were losing some nitrogen to nitrification, so they knew they needed to do something different. Read about new technology being used on the farm and the results the Statelers are seeing.
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When Farm Bureau member Christina McDowell traveled with OFBF to Washington, D.C. in September, she knew informing lawmakers at the highest levels about the needs of farmers was going to be an important part of the experience.
What she didn’t know is how much her influence would be taken to heart by Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, who is a first-term congressman representing Ohio District 16.
“We had just come from a rally to support USMCA to Rep. Gonzalez’s office,” recalled McDowell, a Young Ag Professional in Medina County. USMCA is the new trade agreement between the U.S., Mexico and Canada that has yet to go into effect. “(Our small congressional group) talked about trade and the need to support our farmers (with Gonzalez).”
At the end of the meeting, McDowell handed Gonzalez an “I Am More Than My Farm” business card with information about mental health resources. The business card is part of a broader coalition between Ohio Farm Bureau, Ohio State University and the Ohio Department of Agriculture to draw attention and provide avenues of help to farmers and their families who are struggling with mental health and potential thoughts of suicide.… Continue reading
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Ohio State University Extension, Franklin County and the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation are bringing four ExploreAg camps to high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors to explore various careers in agriculture. Ohio is projected to have 18,000 new jobs in agriculture through 2020.
Students will interact with and learn directly from teachers, scientists and researchers. Subject areas include food science, precision agriculture, animal sciences, natural resources, management skills, technology, and agricultural business. In addition to the classroom experience, scholars will participate in field experiences that highlight cutting-edge research and meet industry partners to provide a glimpse of various careers in related fields. There will also be sessions focused on soft skills such as interviewing, resume building and public speaking to prepare participants for the workforce. Schedule
Session 1: June 14-19 – Ohio State University, Columbus Campus
Session 2: June 21-26 – Ohio State University, Columbus Campus
Session 3: July 5-10 – Central State University
Session 4: July 12-17 – Ohio State University – ATI campus, Wooster
The ExploreAg camps are free to attend.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s (ODA) Division of Soil and Water Conservation is making farmers aware of funding available to farmers through the Lake Erie Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).
CREP is the country’s largest private-land conservation program. Administered by the USDA Farm Service Agency in partnership with the ODA and local soil and water conservation districts, CREP targets high-priority conservation concerns in exchange for removing environmentally sensitive land from production. In return for establishing permanent resource-conserving plant species, farmers are paid an annual rental rate along with other federal and state incentives as applicable per each CREP agreement. Participation is voluntary, and the contract period is typically 15 years. “Farmers are continually looking for innovative ways to practice conservation on their farms,” said Dorothy Pelanda, Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture. “This program provides great opportunities to make positive contributions to our state’s water quality while allowing farms to remain productive.”
USDA recently announced the availability of a second round of $550 million in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Reconnect Pilot Program funding appropriated by Congress. The application window for this round of funding is set to open Jan. 31, 2020.
For more information, click here.
Normally, you’re hearing about Nationwide from the likes of Peyton Manning or Brad Paisley. Today though, you’ll hear things right from the top. Kirt Walker is Nationwide’s brand new Chief Executive Officer. Which means he’s at the helm of one of the largest insurance and financial service companies in the world. Today, Mr. Walker and Farm Bureau’s Adam Sharp talk about the shared history of their two organizations, and how Nationwide intends to remain “on your side.”
Three finalists have been named in Ohio Farm Bureau Federation’s 2020 Discussion Meet. They are David Glass of Chillicothe, Micah Mensing of Millersburg and Kalyn Swihart of Lima. The annual contest tests participants’ subject knowledge, problem-solving abilities and personal and small group communications skills. These young agricultural professionals will compete in the finals as part of the Young Agricultural Professionals Winter Leadership Experience at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus Jan. 31.
For more information about the Young Agricultural Professionals Winter Leadership Experience, visit click here.… Continue reading
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