You are here: Home / Archives for Ohio Farm Bureau

Porteus appointed to OSU bd. of trustees

May 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Governor Kasich has appointed Brent Porteus to the board of trustees for The Ohio State University.

Jack Fisher, executive vice president of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) says the appointment affirms agriculture’s importance to Ohio and the university’s role in advancing the industry’s contributions to Ohio.

“Brent will work to assure that Ohio State University, and its College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, continues to be an accessible and affordable educational resource for Ohioans, that it will excel in teaching, research and community outreach and that it will be a driver of economic well-being for the state,” said Fisher.

Porteus is a past president of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.

 

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, News Tagged With: , ,

Learning about farm animal behavior

May 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Animal Ag 203_Eastern Agricultural Research Station (2)_webEmergency personnel from as far away as Henry County and Cincinnati were at the Eastern Agricultural Research Station (EARS) near Caldwell on Tuesday, May 14, participating in Animal Agriculture 203, a basic hands-on training of farm animal behavior.

One of those participating was Sarah Thomas with the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy. Before the training session Sarah says she had zero experience with farm animals.

“I think the most challenging is just the unfamiliarity with the animals and this program definitely helped that,” said Thomas. “I can see where, with someone with no experience who comes out here now, I feel comfortable doing what I would need to do in an emergency.”

Dr. Steve Boyles, Extension beef cattle specialist at The Ohio State University and one of the trainers says it’s important for emergency personnel to at least understand the basics.

“Giving them those basics of how do you work with some of these large animals that weigh over 1,000 pounds, yes you can work them,” Boyles said. “You can handle them humanely and in a safe way for the animals and the public.”

Audio: Dr. Steve Boyles, Extension beef cattle specialist, OSU (2:50 mp3)

Dr. Leah Dorman with the Ohio Farm Bureau agrees, adding that at the end of the training she hopes participants will have a better comfort level around farm animals.

“I really hope we improved their confidence and their comfort level and that they understand they need to move slow, speak slowly, work slowly,” Dr. Dorman said. “The faster you move, the faster those livestock move, so they just need to get a feel for that and I think watching them today, I watched them improve from earlier this morning, to later.”

Audio: Dr. Leah Dorman, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (4:45 mp3)

So what did Sarah Thomas with the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy learn from Animal Agriculture 203 training?

“Move slow and take your time, don’t be in a hurry.”

Audio: Sarah Thomas, Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (1:55 mp3)

During the Animal Agriculture 203 course at the EARS, the emergency personnel worked with both cattle and sheep. On May 22, the course moves to the University of Findlay where the emphasis will be on the handling of horses in an emergency situation.

Filed Under: Livestock, News Tagged With: , , ,

Dr. Leah Dorman honored

April 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Leah Dorman_webThe National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) has given their President’s Award to Dr. Leah Dorman, Director of Food Programs at the Ohio Farm Bureau.

Scott Stuart, NIAA’s Managing Director said Dorman, who has been active in the NIAA for nine years, did not hesitate to say “yes” when volunteers were being recruited to co-chair NIAA’s newly created Antibiotics Council.

“She is a person of integrity and with foresight who steps forward and leads—and she is dedicated to the mission of the Antibiotics Council,” said Katie Ambrose, NIAA’s Chief Operating Officer.

Antibiotics Council co-chair Dr. Jennifer Koeman also received the President’s Award.

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, News Tagged With: ,

Heidelberg funding back in the budget

April 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Zeroed out in the Governor’s proposed budget, the Ohio House included restoring funding for Heidelberg University’s National Center for Water Quality, a move Brandon Kern, Director of State Policy for the Ohio Farm Bureau says the organization was advocating.

“We advocated for just restoring their funding back to levels they had prior and the House followed through with that as well in an amendment to the budget, so we’re happy,” said Kern. “Water quality issues, nutrient management issues are big challenges facing agriculture in Ohio and this organization is providing the research support to help us fully understand what the problem even is, a very important program and we’re very happy to see their funding was restored.”

The state budget is now in the hands of the State Senate.

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, News, USDA/Government Tagged With: , , , , ,

Names in the news – Ohio

April 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment

*Katelyn Roush has been named County Executive Director (CED) for the Fayette County Farm Service Agency (FSA).

A 2009 graduate of Wilmington College, Roush makes the move to Fayette County from the CED position in the Pickaway/Franklin County FSA office. She’ll begin her new duties on May 6.

*The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) has namd Tony Seegers, director of state policy.

In his new role, Seegers will advocate for OFBF members before the Ohio General Assembly and provide analysis of legislation and regulations that impact Farm Bureau members and the state’s agricultural industry.

Seegers comes to Ohio Farm Bureau from the Ohio Chamber of Commerce where he served as policy director.

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, News Tagged With: , , , ,

House budget seen as positive for agriculture

April 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Brandon Kern, Director of State Policy at the Ohio Farm Bureau says the state budget that the Ohio House approved and sent to the Senate, for the most part is being viewed as positive for agriculture.

“From Farm Bureau’s perspective we were supporting increases in funding or restored funding,” Kern said.

While the House budget does include an increase in funding for the Ohio State University Extension program and OARDC at Wooster, Kern says it only keeps the funding for the Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI) steady for one year.

“The House created what they are calling a “bridge formula” that will for the next year keep them at the same funding level they had this year, so it’s a short term fix,” said Kern. “There are a lot of advocates for this program who will continue to engage and Farm Bureau is going to be one of those, to try and find a long term fix for ATI, but we’re happy that they are at least taken care of for the immediate future.”

Kern suggests when talking to legislators to continue to push for support of ATI.

Audio: Brandon Kern, Ohio Farm Bureau, (8:20 mp3)

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, News, USDA/Government Tagged With: , , , , ,

Grain handler’s law should be reviewed

April 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Even as Senate Bill 66, a bill that would make changes to the state’s grain indemnity program moves through the Ohio legislature, some groups, including the Ohio Farm Bureau, would like to see a comprehensive review of the entire grain handers program.

“We’ve encouraged lawmakers and the Department of Agriculture to work with us in the future,” said Brandon Kern, Director of State Policy at the Ohio Farm Bureau. “I don’t think that conversation will be a part of this bill, but in the future we would like to see a comprehensive review of the program, to make sure fits with how the industry operates today.”

Filed Under: Crops, News, USDA/Government Tagged With: , , , ,

Understanding farm animal behavior

April 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment

AnimalAg2031_webContinuing to build on their Animal Agriculture Series, the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) will hold Animal Agriculture 203 for first responders.

Dr. Leah Dorman, Director of Food Programs at the Ohio Farm Bureau tells Brownfield the purpose is to better prepare those who may face an emergency situation involving livestock by providing hands-on training.

“So we’re actually going to get some time to get in to the pens with these animals and have folks actually touch them, move around them and understand where their flight zone is, if I stand here, then they move here,” Dr. Dorman said. “And if you’re not used to livestock you don’t have a very good understanding or feeling for that.”

Two separate courses will be offered, the May 14th course at the Eastern Ag Research Center at Caldwell will focus on cattle and sheep, the May 22nd course at the University of Findlay will focus on horses.

Audio: Dr. Leah Dorman, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (8:10 mp3)

For more information, or to register for Animal Agriculture 203, go here.

The deadline to register is May 8.

 

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, Livestock, News Tagged With: , , ,

Changes to Ohio’s grain indemnity program

April 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Senate Bill 66 would make several changes to the state’s grain indemnity program including the raising of the fund cap from $10 million to $15 million, which Brandon Kern, Director of State Policy for the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) says makes sense.

“Over the last few years we’ve seen increasing grain prices, so the value of grain being stored at a grain elevator is much higher, so it probably makes sense and is a reasonable approach at this point to increase the fund to account for some of those increasing grain prices,” Kern said.

In addition to the increase in the fund cap, Kern says another change addresses delayed pricing.

“Your claims are now going to be based now on when the grain is priced, not priced on delivery is how the law used to look at it,” said Kern.

SB 66 has passed out of the Senate Agriculture Committee and passed unanimously on the floor of the Ohio Senate. It’s expected the House will take up the bill once they complete work on the state budget.

Audio: Brandon Kern, Ohio Farm Bureau (5:10 mp3)

The grain indemnity fund was created in 1983 to reimburse farmers in the event a licensed grain elevator became insolvent. In 2004 the indemnity cap was increased from $8 million to $10 million.

 

Filed Under: Crops, News, USDA/Government Tagged With: , , ,

AgriPOWER Institute graduates 21

April 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment

The Ohio Farm Bureau’s AgriPOWER Institute, a yearlong leadership training program has graduated its fifth class.

“Ohio Farm Bureau is committed to the success of AgriPOWER and believes that there has never been a more important time for people to stand up for agriculture and tell their stories,” said Sandy Kuhn, AgriPOWER director. “This is really the purpose of AgriPOWER as graduates are trained to become the future leaders and advocates for agriculture.”

During the past year, the 21 selected leaders from across the state participated in the program that covered topics ranging from government structure and spending, regulations, the environment, animal welfare, international trade and public relations.

Class V graduates included: Cindy Cassell, Clermont County; Kevin Flax, Clark County; Jason Fogt, Shelby County; Christie Haines, Washington County; Anna Hall, Clermont County; Brad Heimerl, Licking County; Jordan Hoewischer, Franklin County; Dusty Knapke, Mercer County; Mark Longenecker, Darke County; Elizabeth Mead, Madison County; Kelly Moore, Delaware County; Monica Schemrich, Franklin County; Carrie Schlechter, Erie County; Derek Schmitt, Fairfield County; Joy Sizemore, Huron County; Anthony Stateler, Hancock County; Laura Sutherly, Miami County; Julie Weber, Jackson County; Callie Wells, Franklin County; Steve Wickersham, Marion County; and Sam Wildman, Franklin County.

To learn more about the AgriPOWER Institute go here.

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, News Tagged With: , ,
« Older Posts