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BUCKEYE FARM NEWS
Insights you need from the people you trust.
WHAT YOU NEED TO
KNOW ABOUT OHIO’S
NEW NUTRIENT LAW
BY TONY SEEGERS
On July 1, a new law goes into effect
that will restrict the application of manure and fertilizer on
frozen, snow-covered or
saturated ground in the
Western Lake Erie Basin
(WLEB). The purpose
of Senate Bill 1 is to help
control algae growth
in Lake Erie and its
western basin and was a top priority for
the current General Assembly and Gov.
John Kasich.
Ohio Farm Bureau supported this
bill because it balances clean water and
food production. OFBF is working with
lawmakers and the governor’s office on
the state budget in an effort to increase
funding for resources in the WLEB that
can assist farmer compliance with the law.
Farm Bureau members have had
several questions about Senate Bill 1 since
it was signed into law April 2. Here is a
Q&A that explains what farmers need to
do to comply and how the new law will
affect their operation.
When does the law go into effect?
On July 1.
MAY-JUNE 2015
Inside:
Volume 14 | Issue 7
Deer damage permit changes 3
OSU Extension Connection
7
Resolving line fence disputes 14
AN EARTH DAY MESSAGE FROM OHIO FARMERS
CLEAN WATER.
Ohio’s families, communities and industries rely on it.
Ohio farmers care deeply about protecting it.
That’s why we’re leading the effort to
preserve this important natural resource.
Where is it in effect?
The 24 Ohio counties or parts of those
counties that make up the Western Lake
Erie Basin (see map on Page 2).
How does the law define fertilizer?
AMONG OUR MOST RECENT ACTIONS TO PROTECT WATER
•
Helping thousands of farmers obtain advanced education and
state certification on best farming practices
•
Supporting new state laws to make farming even more
environmentally friendly
•
Adopting new techniques and technologies
•
Funding research to better understand water quality
problems and solutions
•
Implementing Healthy Water Ohio, a coalition of conservation
groups, universities, businesses and others who are working
to find comprehensive solutions to complex water issues.
Phosphorus and nitrogen.
When can’t fertilizer or manure be
applied?
• On frozen or snow-covered soil,
• When the two top inches of soil are
saturated with precipitation or
• If the local weather forecast calls for a
greater than 50 percent chance of precipitation exceeding one inch in a 12-hour
period for fertilizer and one-half inch in
a 24-hour period for manure.
Are there any exceptions on the restriction of fertilizer or manure application?
If you can inject fertilizer or manure into
the ground, incorporate it within 24 hours
or apply it to a growing crop, then you can
apply it.
What if my manure storage is almost
full? Are there further exceptions?
You can get written approval from
the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) chief of soil and water
resources to temporarily apply the manure
according to procedure outlined in the
See Nutrient Law, pg 2
We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished so far, but there is more
to be done. That’s why Ohio Farm Bureau committed $1 million to
our Water Quality Action Plan. Other Ohio farm groups and Ohio
State University are engaging as well. We are serious about identifying
and implementing short-term and long-term actions on our farms to
ensure both healthy water and sustainable food production.
— Steve Hirsch, farmer and Ohio Farm Bureau president
Visit farmersforwater.org to read Ohio Farm Bureau’s Water Quality Status Report.
Above is the full-page ad that appeared in
the Columbus Dispatch and Toledo Blade.
Media campaign
highlights farmers’
efforts to improve
water quality
Working together to protect water quality and food production in Ohio is just part of what Farm Bureau
members do every day. That work is supported by membership dollars and member engagement. We invite you
to support our effort by joining, renewing or inviting others to join. Visit GrowWithFB.org to learn more.
In partnership with
Lucas County Farm Bureau
“We are serious about identifying
and implementing short-term and longterm actions on our farms to ensure
both healthy water and sustainable food
production.”
This quote from Ohio Farm Bureau
President Steve Hirsch was part of a
media campaign that highlighted OFBF
members’ extensive efforts to improve
and protect the state’s waterways. The
media campaign, rolled out in time for
Earth Day (April 22), was one piece of
Ohio Farm Bureau’s comprehensive
$1 million Water Quality Action Plan.
Full page color ads appeared in The
Columbus Dispatch and Toledo Blade
and radio ads were heard in the Toledo
See Water, pg 2
2
BUCKEYE FARM NEWS
| MAY-JUNE 2015
COVER STORY Nutrient Law, from pg 1
Water, from pg 1
How do I get this temporary exemption and how much time do I have to
comply?
The Ohio counties or parts of those counties
that make up the Western Lake Erie Basin.
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
Natural Resources Conservation
Service standard 590.
What’s the enforcement process?
It’s a complaint-driven process, which
means someone will have to contact
the Ohio Department of Agriculture
(ODA) to report a violation of fertilizer
application and ODNR for a violation
of manure application. If state officials
think the complaint is valid, they can
inspect the property and then hold a
hearing. Farmers found in violation
can be issued a fine and be ordered to
comply with the law.
What is the fine?
Up to $10,000 for each violation.
I don’t think I can comply immediately
with the manure restrictions in this bill.
What should I do?
Depending on the size of your facility
(small or medium), you can request a
temporary exemption that will give you
more time to come into compliance. The
amount of time depends on whether you
have a small or medium-sized farm as
defined in the law.
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You can request it by filling out a form
with ODNR. ODNR has 30 days to
approve or deny the request. While the
application request is being reviewed, you
can’t be fined for a violation. Requests
approved for small farms have until July
1, 2017 and medium farms until July 1,
2016 to come into compliance. Farmers
can’t be fined during the exemption
time period.
Does this apply to large-scale permitted livestock operations?
No because they are already regulated
under current law.
Is agriculture the only area covered in
the bill?
No. Publically owned treatment works
will be required to begin monthly monitoring of total and dissolved reactive
phosphorus. Open lake dumping of
dredging in Lake Erie will be prohibited
by 2020. However, dredge material may
be dumped into Lake Erie if the director
of the Ohio Environmental Protection
Agency determines it is suitable and
meets the location and purpose.
How do I find out more about Senate
Bill 1?
More information is available, including the law’s definition of a small or
medium-sized farm, at ofb.ag/WLEBnutrientlaw or from Tony Seegers at
614-246-8265 or [email protected].
Tony Seegers is Ohio Farm Bureau’s
director of state policy.
LITIGATION
and central Ohio areas and also ran
on Town Hall Ohio affiliate stations
throughout the state. A media teleconference featuring OFBF and Ohio State
University leaders was held, and Farm
Bureau’s water quality message was
promoted through social media outlets
such as Facebook and the Buckeye Farm
eNews and by county Farm Bureaus.
In an Our Ohio column, OFBF Executive Vice President Jack Fisher called
on other groups to follow farmers’
lead and take action to clean up Ohio’s
water resources. A four-page Water
Quality Status Report insert also was
included in the mailing of this edition
of Buckeye Farm News and Our Ohio
magazine and also can be found at
farmersforwater.org.
Throughout the year, Buckeye Farm
News will continue to highlight how
farmers are working to protect Ohio’s
water resources.
OFBF’s most recent
actions to protect water
• Helped thousands of farmers
obtain advanced education
and state certification on best
farming practices.
• Supported new state laws
to make farming even more
environmentally friendly.
• Funded research to better
understand water quality
problems and solutions.
• Led the creation of Healthy Water
Ohio, a broad coalition of groups
working on comprehensive
solutions to complex water
issues.
TRANSACTIONAL
ESTATE/PROBATE
Bet the Farm? You Bet.
• Oil & Gas Leases
• Pooling & Unitization Agreements
• Held By Production Issues
• Title & Deed Review
• Agricultural Contracts,
Leases & Service Agreements
GREG BRUNTON
DAVID HUDSON
phone: 614.232.2632
email: [email protected]
phone: 419.245.3753
email: [email protected]
Oil, Natural Gas & Energy Chair
• Royalty Litigation
• Water Quality Issues
• Power Line Easements
Ohio Farm Bureau Member
Results. Period.
AKRON CINCINNATI CLEVELAND COLUMBUS SANDUSKY TOLEDO YOUNGSTOWN INDIANAPOLIS FT. WAYNE FT. MITCHELL LEXINGTON LOUISVILLE
CONNECTING MEMBERS TO THE INSIGHTS THEY NEED FROM THE PEOPLE THEY TRUST
BUCKEYE FARM NEWS STAFF
Executive Editor Patricia Petzel
Senior Director Corporate Communications
Joe Cornely
Editor Amy Beth Graves
Graphic Designer
Joyce Spangler
Production Coordinator Gayle Lewis
Contributors: Seth Teter, Callie Wells,
Lynn Snyder
ADVERTISING
Coordinator Gayle Lewis
P.O. Box 182383
Columbus, OH 43218-2383
Phone 614-246-8229
FAX 614-246-8629
e-mail: [email protected]
The fact a product is advertised in
Buckeye Farm News should not be
taken as an endorsement.
BUCKEYE FARM NEWS
Circulation: From Rea and
Associates, Inc. footnotes to the
2014 Ohio Farm Bureau Federation
Audit. The Ohio Farm Bureau
Federation had 201,145 members
as of Nov. 30, 2014. Members may
receive Buckeye Farm News as a
part of their paid membership.
Buckeye Farm News (ISSN 15403742), an official publication of
the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation,
Inc. is published 8 times per year:
monthly in January, March, April,
May, July, September, October
and November by the Ohio Farm
Bureau Federation, Inc., 280 North
High Street, P. O. Box 182383,
Columbus, Ohio 43218-2383.
Buckeye Farm News Periodical
Postage Paid at Columbus, Ohio
(USPS 0020-531).
POSTMASTER: Send address
changes to Buckeye Farm News,
P. O. Box 182383, Columbus, Ohio
43218-2383.
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TO CONTACT US:
E-mail: [email protected]
Call: 614.246.8229 or
Write: P.O. Box 182383,
Columbus, OH 43218-2383
How deer damage permit
changes will affect farmers
Saying it needs a healthier
deer herd, the Ohio Department
of Natural Resources (ODNR)
is reducing the number of deer
that can be killed for 2015-2016
and limiting the availability of
deer damage permits to certain
times of the year.
Ohio Farm Bureau has been
working with the ODNR’s
Division of Wildlife to ensure
farmers still have appropriate
access to deer damage permits.
OFBF policy supports year-long
deer damage permits.
“For farmers, the damage done
by deer to their crops continues
to be a significant problem,” said
OFBF Executive Vice President
Jack Fisher in a letter to ODNR
Chief Scott Zody. “Considering
the division has continued to reduce bag limits in recent years, it
is even more critical that farmers
have a workable deer damage
permit to utilize.”
ODNR will no longer issue
year-long deer damage permits
but shorter ones that are based
on crop type (see graphic), said
Brandon Kern, OFBF’s director
of state policy. OFBF is concerned how the policy change
will affect farmers, particularly those with nursery stock,
orchards, Christmas trees and
landscape plants. Those plants
and trees are grown in months
not covered by the new deer
damage permit periods.
New deer damage permit dates*
Corn: April 15 until start of archery season.**
Soybeans: May 1 until start of archery season.
Wheat: End of archery season until July 15.
Hay field with significant legumes: End of archery season until start of
archery season.
Standing or shocked crops from previous planting season: End of
archery season until April 15. Consider special condition permit that
expires April 15 or when crops are removed from fields.
Nursery stock: End of archery season until start of archery season.
Christmas trees (browse damage): End of archery season until April 1.
Christmas trees (rub damage): End of archery season until March 1
and/or Aug. 15 until start of archery season.
Garden: June 1 until start of archery season.
Landscape plants: April 1 until start of archery season. Consider starting permit when plants being damaged emerge and end permit when
those damaged plants go dormant.
Ornamental trees (browse damage): End of archery season through
April 1.
Ornamental trees (rub damage): End of archery season until March 1
and/or Aug. 15 until start of archery season.
* Source: ODNR
** Archery season for 2015-2016 is Sept. 26, 2015-Feb. 7, 2016.
“Those operations’ permits
expire during the busiest time of
the year for them, and it can be
challenging to get an extension.
It’s not really workable for them,”
Kern said.
ODNR has instructed its
wildlife officers to be flexible
in issuing the permits and told
them the damage permit dates
are guidelines, not a rigid set of
rules. Ohio Farm Bureau notes,
however, that this approach has
P
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opportunities to get involved.
VISIT http://ofb.ag/BFNeNews
led to inconsistency in how the
program is administered, resulting in confusion and unequal
treatment of farmers.
ODNR has said it will continue to work with Farm Bureau on
this issue and plans to conduct
a survey of landowners soon
to gain a better understanding
of how the program is viewed.
In turn, OFBF will continue to
educate members on the use of
the permits.
3
4
BUCKEYE FARM NEWS
OFBF supports
pay increases
for judges
| MAY-JUNE 2015
STATUS OF FARM
BUREAU PRIORITY
ISSUES IN CONGRESS
Waters of the U.S.
Ohio Farm Bureau’s board voted
recently to support pay increases
for Ohio judges. In a briefing to the
board, Ohio Supreme Court Justice
Maureen O’Connor talked about her
work to increase judicial pay.
Legislative authorization for
annual adjustments expired in 2008,
which was the last year Ohio judges
received a pay adjustment. Legislation has been introduced that would
increase the annual salaries of Ohio
Supreme Court justices and judges
of appeals courts, common pleas
courts, municipal courts and county
courts by 5 percent each year for
four years.
The bill specifies the state would
pay the full cost of the increases.
Generally, the cost of judges’ salaries
in the common pleas courts, municipal courts and county courts is
split between state and local governments. Ohio courts see some of the
largest numbers of caseloads in the
country but rank very low in judicial
compensation by comparison. OFBF
policy is supportive of this type of
adjustment.
When It’s Time to Build . . .
Build With A Quality Builder.
The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently
announced changes to the Waters of
the U.S. rule, including
renaming it the Clean
Water Rule. But American Farm Bureau says the
rule is still detrimental
to farmers and written
so broadly that it would expand federal
authority beyond the limits approved
by Congress. The rule, which would
increase federal authority over intrastate
waters, is “flawed in both substance and
process,” according to AFBF President
Bob Stallman. Members of Congress
have called for the rule to be withdrawn.
The proposal has generated more than
1 million public comments and is a top
Farm Bureau priority. The final rule is
scheduled to be released soon. For the
latest updates, visit ditchtherule.fb.org.
Death tax
Farm Bureau believes the federal
estate tax, commonly known as the
death tax, should be eliminated permanently. Ohio’s death tax ended Jan. 1,
2013. Although farmers have benefitted
in many ways from
the federal estate
tax exemption being
raised to $5 million,
it continues to be
challenging to pass
the family business
from one generation to the next. In mid
April, the U.S. House of Representatives
voted 240-179 to repeal the federal estate
tax. All Republican members of the
Ohio delegation voted for the repeal and
all Democrat members voted against it.
GMO labeling
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Farm Bureau and the Coalition for
Safe and Affordable Food are seeking a
federal solution to the labeling of foods
derived from modern biotechnology.
They are supporting the bipartisan Safe
and Accurate Food Labeling Act of
2015, which would reinforce both the
standards and authority of the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration in regulating
GMO labeling. The bill would pre-empt
state or local labeling requirements. The
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service
would be in charge of creating protocol
and labeling standards, similar to those
used for organics, to voluntarily identify
and market products as GMO-free.
Immigration reform
Farm Bureau opposes the Legal
Workforce Act, which requires employers to check the work eligibility of all
future hires through
the Web-based
E-Verify system.
The bill requires
agricultural employers to use mandatory
E-Verify pursuant to
the requirements of
the bill at least three years after the date
of enactment. Farm Bureau opposes this
legislation that would mandate E-Verify
because it does not first make meaningful reforms to the agricultural guest
worker program. Having an enforcement-only immigration approach could
cause food prices to rise 5 percent to 6
percent, according to AFBF.
Pesticide regulation in or near water
A bill introduced by Ohio Rep.
Bob Gibbs would eliminate U.S. EPA’s
duplicative regulation of pesticides that
are used in or near waters of the United
States. A 2009 decision in a federal
appeals court erroneously applied the
provisions of the National Pollution
Discharge Elimination System permitting process under the Clean Water Act
(CWA) to pesticide applications already
fully regulated under the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide
Act (FIFRA). The Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act would eliminate the
duplicative permitting by eliminating
the requirements of a CWA permit
for FIFRA-registered pesticides. The
bill has passed the House Agriculture
Committee.
5
CONNECTING MEMBERS TO THE INSIGHTS THEY NEED FROM THE PEOPLE THEY TRUST
Opening global markets for Ohio farmers
Many farmers may not think
much about where their corn and
soybeans go beyond the local elevator. But Ohio is the ninth largest
exporting state, sending $52.1
billion in goods to 216 countries
and territories, including more
than $4 billion in agricultural
exports. American Farm Bureau
is advancing trade talks that could
bring new market share for Ohio
farm products.
1
Normalize trade with Cuba
Cuba is home to 11 million people
and just 90 miles from the Florida coast.
Financing restrictions have put U.S. producers at a competitive disadvantage with
other international suppliers who deliver
goods into the Cuban market. Cuba
imports about 80 percent of its food,
although U.S. market share has declined
in recent years. American Farm Bureau
has joined a coalition of agriculture organizations calling for normalized trade
between the United States and Cuba in
order to benefit both American farmers
and Cuban consumers.
2
Pass Trade Promotion Authority
The Trade Promotion Authority
allows Congress to consult on trade
agreements but also requires up or down
votes without amendments that could
jeopardize years of negotiations with
foreign governments.
“Farmers and ranchers need access to
new markets around the world. The U.S.
is on the verge of completing ambitious
trade negotiations from Europe to Asia,
but we cannot move forward unless barriers such as high tariffs and nonscientific
standards are addressed,” said American
Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman in
testimony to the House Agriculture Committee. “We must forge deals that knock
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Promotion Authority necessary to reach
those market-opening agreements.”
3
Advance Trans-Pacific Partnership
negotiations
4
Improve the Transatlantic Trade and
Investment Partnership
The Trans-Pacific Partnership aims
to open trade in the Asia-Pacific region.
Ohio exports $28 billion annually in
goods to all TPP markets. Compared
to other countries participating in the
partnership, Japan has placed more
restrictions on U.S. agricultural imports.
Japan is the fourth largest export destination for U.S. agricultural products. The
U.S. and Japan are currently negotiating
a bilateral trade agreement, which is
necessary for an overall TPP agreement.
Among Farm Bureau’s objectives for the
negotiations are the inclusion of all agricultural products and policies, elimination
of nontariff trade barriers and ensuring
market access for biotechnology products.
This comprehensive trade agreement
between the United States and the European Union aims to expand the world’s
largest commercial relationship with
$1 trillion of trade in goods and services annually. Barriers to the export of
U.S. beef, pork and poultry, along with
the slow approval process for biotech
products are major areas of interest in
the negotiation. The EU has made the
‘precautionary principle’ the focus of its
approach to food safety, which the United States believes creates scientifically
unjustified barriers to trade, leading to
substantial declines in the export of corn
and soybeans to the EU. The United
States also is opposed to the EU’s protection of geographical names for foods
that would inhibit the competitiveness
of U.S. products. The negotiation proposal also calls for working toward the
elimination of tariffs.
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2550 Addison-Carlisle Rd
New Carlisle, OH 45344
call: 330-893-3131 email: [email protected]
website: www.yoderlumber.com
[email protected]
6
BUCKEYE FARM NEWS
| MAY-JUNE 2015
YOU AND YOUR TAXES
What you need to know about the commercial activity tax
BY AMY MILAM
This is the third in a series of articles
discussing the various parts of Ohio’s
overall tax structure. In
each issue of Buckeye
Farm News, we are
providing background
information on the
different types of taxes
or about a tax-related
issue. These articles will
assist in members’ ongoing discussion of
Ohio’s tax structure.
If you do business in Ohio, you may
be familiar with the commercial activity
tax, or CAT, as it is commonly known.
The CAT is an annual privilege tax levied
“for the privilege of doing business in this
state.” The CAT is a tax on gross receipts.
Whether or not a business or individual
taxpayer is subject to the CAT depends
on whether the threshold for taxable
gross receipts has been met for the given
year. Currently, the threshold is $150,000
or more in taxable gross receipts from
business activities conducted in Ohio. Tax-
payers with Ohio gross receipts under the
$150,000 threshold are currently exempt
from the CAT. The Ohio General Assembly continues to discuss the structure of
Ohio taxes through the biennial budget
process, and lawmakers will consider
changing various aspects of all taxes, including the CAT in the coming months.
An important consideration is whether
or not the gross receipts can be sufficiently tied to business activities conducted in
Ohio to count toward the CAT threshold.
The Ohio Revised Code sets forth the
guidelines for determining which activities are considered conducted in Ohio
for CAT purposes. For example, with the
sale of personal property, the proceeds
from that sale will count toward the gross
receipt threshold for CAT purposes if that
property is ultimately received in Ohio
by the buyer. Therefore, the location of
the buyer of goods and services will be an
important consideration for determining
CAT qualification.
Those who meet the gross receipts
threshold must register and file a return
for the CAT. Currently, those with Ohio
OFBF’s policy on CAT supports:
• Raising the current CAT
exemption threshold of
$150,000 to $500,000.
• Exempting all farms from the
CAT that are required to pay
the Ohio income tax.
• Having revenue to the state
received through the following
continuum of taxation from
the most palatable to least
palatable:
– The income tax;
– The state sales tax;
– The CAT;
– Property taxes.
taxable gross receipts between $150,000
and $1 million will pay an annual minimum tax. Those with Ohio taxable gross
receipts in excess of $1 million will file
and pay on a quarterly basis.
Amy Milam is Ohio Farm Bureau’s
director of legal education.
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Extension Connection, May 2015
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
New Research Finds Some U.S. Soybean
Yield Losses Caused by Weather Variations
Researchers have determined that
precipitation and temperature variations
over the past 20 years have suppressed
the U.S. average soybean yield gain—
how much it improves every year—by
around 30 percent, contributing to an
industry loss of $11 billion nationwide.
In Ohio alone, that soybean yield suppression is estimated to have cost some
$2.9 billion during the past 20 years,
according to a new study co-authored
by a field crops expert in the College of
Food, Agricultural, and Environmental
Sciences at The Ohio State University.
Global annual temperatures have
increased by 0.4C (0.72F) since 1980,
with several regions exhibiting even
greater increases, said Laura Lindsey, a
soybean and small grains specialist with
Ohio State University Extension and a
co-author of the study. OSU Extension is
the college’s outreach arm.
And for every 1C (1.8F) rise in
temperature during the growing
season, soybean yields fell by
about 2.4 percent. In Ohio that
translates into about a third of a
bushel per acre per year yield loss,
Lindsey said.
“During the past 20 years, temperature and precipitation have been changing, and that change is associated with
yield reductions and economic loss that
is region-specific,” she said.
The study appeared in the February
2015 journal Nature Plants, and was
co-authored by several researchers
including James E. Specht, University
of Nebraska; and Spyridon Mourtzinis,
Francisco J. Arriaga and Shawn P. Conley, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The study is based on data from
12 states, including from Ohio State
researchers’ Ohio Soybean Performance
Trials, which document temperatures,
changes in cultural practices, soybean
varieties and technology in soybean
production from 1970 to the present.
The U.S. is one of the world’s
largest soybean exporters,
with some 80 percent of
its soybeans being grown in the upper
Midwest. Since most of that production
is not irrigated, soybean production in
the region is highly affected by weather
conditions during the growing season,
according to the study.
While more state-specific research
is needed to help mitigate some of the
weather variability, the study said, some
crop management strategies could help
limit its potential negative impacts on
crop yields.
“Strategies include developing
new cultivars and hybrids, using
altered maturity groups, changes
in planting dates, using cover
crops, and greater management
of crop residues from the previous year,” Laura Lindsey said.
“If we don’t develop strategies
to mitigate weather variability,
it could have a long-term impact
on soybean farmers, the soybean
industry, trade policy, consumer
food prices, food security and
the economy.”
extension.osu.edu
Extension Connection, May 2015
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CLEANER
WATER
OSU Extension Training Reaches
Nearly One Million Acres toward
Improving Water Quality
There’s a growing army working to
improve Ohio’s water quality.
Since last fall, the College of
Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State
University has provided fertilizer
applicator certification training to
6,439 Ohio growers responsible
for farming some 927,000 acres of
Buckeye state farmland, and the
numbers continue to grow.
Taught by Ohio State University
Extension’s Agriculture and Natural
Resources program staff, the training
is designed to help farmers increase
crop yields using less fertilizer more
efficiently, thus reducing the potential for phosphorus runoff into the
state’s watersheds.
Classes will continue to be offered
to more farmers throughout the year,
said Greg LaBarge, an OSU Extension field specialist and co-leader of
Ohio State’s Agronomic Crops Team.
The certification training program is part of the college’s effort
to improve the state’s water quality
by informing growers about how to
use less phosphorus and keep more
of it on the fields, while increasing
crop yields and boosting farm profits,
LaBarge said.
Experts say soluble phosphorus runoff from farms is an important source
of harmful algal blooms plaguing Lake
Erie and other lakes in recent years. In
August, a toxic bloom in western Lake
Erie led to a two-day drinking water
ban in Toledo.
The certification training program
was introduced last September to meet
the educational needs of Ohio’s new
agricultural fertilization
law, which requires
farmers who
apply fertilizer
to more than
50 acres
to become
certified. It is
offered in partnership with the Ohio
Department of Agriculture (ODA).
Extension Connection is produced by Ohio State University Extension.
Communications Offices
Managing Editor: Tracy Turner
2021 Coffey Road
Columbus, OH 43210
614-292-2011
Editor: Kim Wintringham
203 Research Services Building
Wooster, OH 44691
330-263-3780
Contributing Writers: Mauricio Espinoza,
Martha Filipic, Kurt Knebusch, Matt Marx,
John Rice, Suzanne Steel, Tracy Turner
Graphic Designer: John K. Victor
Photographer: Ken Chamberlain
The certification training
program focuses on teaching
farmers the methods and
management techniques
to have the appropriate
rate, timing, placement
and source for fertilizer
applications.
Upcoming certification
training program classes
for farmers are listed at
nutrienteducation.
osu.edu.
Extension Connection is produced four times a year by
Ohio State University Extension. If you have questions
or comments, write to Tracy Turner at 253 Kottman Hall,
2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210 or turner.490@
osu.edu. You’re the audience — people interested in
agriculture and its issues. This publication is distributed
through the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation’s Buckeye
Farm News and Our Ohio.
The Ohio State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal
Opportunity Institution. For more information: go.osu.edu/
cfaesdiversity.
Extension Connection, May 2015
The Search for a Vaccine
for PED Swine Virus
Since the emergence of porcine
epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) in the
United States in April 2013, this disease
has led to economic losses ranging
from $900 million to $1.8 billion across
the country due to its high mortality
rate among nursing piglets.
Scientists with the Food Animal
Health Research Program (FAHRP) at
The Ohio State University have been
conducting research from the beginning of the outbreak to answer crucial
questions about this new disease and
develop effective ways to combat it.
With funding from the National Pork
Board, Qiuhong Wang and colleagues
at FAHRP were able to grow the virus
in cell culture and began using this
material to develop a “booster” vaccine that can protect pigs previously
exposed to PEDv.
Now, thanks to a new $500,000
grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and
Agriculture (NIFA), Wang will explore
different strategies to generate PEDv
vaccines. Currently, there’s no effective
“Our studies show that the
PEDv strains circulating in the
U.S. are more aggressive than
the strains from Europe,” virologist Qiuhong Wang said. “In the
U.S., it doesn’t look likely that
PEDv will stop mutating and
that herds will become endemic
and experience little mortality.”
Soybean Intentions Up,
Corn Down
U.S. farmers plan to grow a record 84.6 million
acres of soybeans this year, while planning to
cut corn plantings down to 89.2 million acres,
a five-year low, according to the March 31 U.S.
Department of Agriculture prospective plantings
report. Winter wheat growers, meanwhile, are
expecting to plant 40.7 million acres, the report
said. That’s down 4 percent from last year.
Farmers cite lower prices and returns in 2015
for the downturn in corn planting, the report
said. Farmers in Ohio, Kentucky, Minnesota,
New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Wisconsin intend to plant 200,000 or more acres of
soybeans this year, which, if realized, would be
the largest acreage planted on record.
vaccine against this disease in the U.S.
“By studying strains of the virus that
cause milder or no disease and identifying regions of the RNA related to viral
attenuation, Dr. Wang’s team will have
new knowledge and tools to develop
effective vaccines against PEDv,” said
Jeff LeJeune, head of FAHRP.
The end goal is to
develop a stronger vaccine
that can also protect swine
that have zero immunity to
the virus. Unlike other viral
diseases, PEDv does not
infect humans and there is
no risk for people following
contact with swine or from
eating pork products.
CORN Newsletter
Farmers can find the latest
information on changing crop
conditions by viewing the Crop
Observation and Recommendation Network newsletter, also
known as the CORN newsletter.
The online publication is created by members of Ohio State
University Extension’s Agronomic Crops Team and offers
information on in-season pest
observations and predictions;
weed control options; insect
and disease control information;
production technology; crop
development issues; and timely
integrated pest management
guidelines. At corn.osu.edu.
Upcoming
Field Days:
Stay Current
Corn, hops, swine and
strawberries are a few
of the many topics of
this year’s 30-plus public
field days. All feature
updates by experts from
Ohio State University
Extension and the Ohio
Agricultural Research
and Development
Center. See the schedule at go.osu.edu/
2015FieldDays.
Extension Connection, May 2015
Come for a Diploma,
Leave with a Job
The Ohio State University Agricultural
Technical Institute (ATI) is No. 1 in the
nation in awarding associate degrees
in agriculture and related sciences.
It gets better: 70 percent of ATI
students planning to obtain full-time
employment after graduation have a
job in hand before they even get their
diploma.
Learn more at go.osu.edu/ycN.
Ending Rural
Food Deserts
Despite the agricultural fields that dot the
landscape across rural
Ohio, food deserts are
an issue. Some 475,095
people live outside a
10-minute drive to any
grocery store—criteria for
a rural food desert, says
USDA. OSU Extension is
working to help alleviate
the problem with “Voices
for Food,” a five-year,
$4 million grant to help
increase the availability of
nutritious foods.
More: go.osu.edu/
ruralfood
Donate
Commitment
to Quality
Every animal deserves
a responsible owner
and humane treatment.
Assuring Quality Care
for Animals, required
for Ohio 4-H members
taking food animal
projects, teaches youth
skills in animal handling, care and welfare,
as well as food safety
for consumers. More:
Please consider donating to Ohio State University Extension Work
in Ohio at go.osu.
edu/giveext. The fund
supports programming that strengthens
families and communities, prepares youth
for success, enhances
agriculture and the
environment, and
advances employment
and income opportunities. Your gift can
help OSU Extension
continue to build better
lives, businesses and
communities.
go.osu.edu/qualcare
Digital Weed ID
The 2015 Ohio State
University Guide to Weed
Identification is now available for free as an iBook
and can be downloaded
through Ohio State’s Digital Bookstore at go.osu.
edu/idweed. The
guide, which is offered
in a digital format that
offers pictures of various
weed species at different
stages of maturity and
360-degree movies for
most species, was written
by Bruce Ackley, an OSU
Extension program specialist in weed science.
The guide helps growers
identify weeds in order
to manage them before
they take over.
CFAES Development
Pond Care
Take steps this summer to prevent
farm pond fish kills come winter,
says Eugene Braig, OSU
Extension’s aquatic ecosystems program director.
Manage aquatic
plants when it’s
warm out, he
says, and fish
will breathe
easier when it’s
cold. Details: go.osu.
edu/HealthyFish
Thank You
The college thanks the
Dorothy and Elizabeth
King Memorial Charitable Fund of the Community Foundation of
Lorain County for its
recent gift to the Lorain
County Cooperative
Extension Support
Fund, which helps the
university achieve its
land-grant mission to
extend knowledge.
Watch OSU
Extension on
YouTube
Did you know that
OSU Extension has its
own YouTube channel?
Extension insight and
expertise on everything
from food preservation, 4-H, community
development, and the
agricultural industries
are only a click away. Go
to youtube.com/user/
OSUExtension.
11
CONNECTING MEMBERS TO THE INSIGHTS THEY NEED FROM THE PEOPLE THEY TRUST
Buck selected for national ag
leadership training program
This summer, Ohio Farm Bureau
will continue to collaborate with
Ohio FFA to offer a youth leadership
opportunity.
Photo by Dave Liggett
Dr. Emily Buck of New Bloomington
has been selected to be a part of the
eighth class of American Farm Bureau’s
Partners in Agricultural Leadership
(PAL) class, a two-year, high-level
program that includes intense, in-person
and hands-on training.
The PAL program takes 10 young
farmers and ranchers who have already
begun their personal development journey and focuses on moving them to the
next level. The curriculum is designed
to be of a high-level, executive type
that provides participants with unique
opportunities to represent agriculture
when opportunities arise in the media, on
speaking circuits or in testimonial arenas.
Buck is an associate professor of agricultural communications at Ohio State
University. She and her husband John
farm approximately 1,000 acres of corn,
wheat and soybeans in Marion County
where she serves on the county Farm
Bureau board and as communication action team leader. Buck also raises a flock
of Southdown sheep. She was the 2013
Ohio Excellence in Agriculture award
winner and 2014 finalist in the national
competition, where she finished in the
top three, making her eligible to apply
for AFBF’s PAL program.
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The conference is open to high
school students and costs $140. RSVP
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or [email protected] for more
information.
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12
BUCKEYE FARM NEWS
FOOD DIALOGUES : TOLEDO
®
Balancing food
production and clean water
The 2014 Toledo water crisis drew worldwide attention
to a crucial question: How
do we balance our need for
clean water with our need
for abundant food? A diverse
panel of experts will discuss
the environmental, agricultural, social and economic
aspects of this critical topic
May 28 in Toledo from 9 a.m.
to 1 p.m. Ohio Farm Bureau
helped obtain a grant from
the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers
Alliance for the event, which
also is sponsored by the Ohio
Corn Marketing Program,
Ohio Small Grains Marketing
Program and Ohio Soybean
Council. The event will be
live streamed on the Internet. Visit ofbf.org for log-in
information near the date of
the event.
| MAY-JUNE 2015
Deadline extended
for local water quality
project grants
County Farm Bureaus will have more time to develop
local partnerships and projects that help protect Ohio’s water
resources.
Earlier this year, Ohio Farm Bureau announced financial
assistance opportunities for county Farm Bureaus to address
agriculture’s role in Ohio’s water quality challenges. County
Farm Bureaus now have until 5 p.m. July 31 or until all funds
are awarded to submit their applications.
The grant funds will be awarded to county Farm Bureaus
on a dollar-for-dollar match for applicable local water projects
that are collaborative and support Ohio Farm Bureau’s goal
of enhancing water quality and food production. Examples
are, but are not limited to, workshops, field days, county fair
displays, educational materials, issue briefings or water quality
monitoring activities.
Projects conducted under the OFBF County Water Quality
Initiative Program require a local match contribution (cash
or in-kind) to the project equal to 100 percent of the amount
requested in OFBF funds. At least 40 percent of the matching
funds must come from project partners outside of Farm Bureau.
Connect with your county Farm Bureau by visiting
ofbf.org/counties.
GM IS PROUD TO PARTNER
WITH FARM BUREAU® TO BRING
YOU THIS VALUABLE OFFER.1
Farm Bureau members can get a $5001 bonus
cash toward the purchase or lease of most new GM
vehicles. Visit fbverify.com/gm for more details.
1
Offer available through 4/1/17. Available on all 2014 and 2015 Chevrolet, Buick and GMC vehicles. This offer available with all other
offers, excluding discounted pricing (employee, dealership employee and supplier pricing). Only customers who have been active
members of an eligible Farm Bureau for a minimum of 30 days will be eligible to receive a certificate. Customers can obtain certificates
at www.fbverify.com/gm. Farm Bureau and the FB logo are registered service marks of the American Farm Bureau Federation and are
used herein under license by General Motors.
CONNECTING MEMBERS TO THE INSIGHTS THEY NEED FROM THE PEOPLE THEY TRUST
Photo by Paint Creek Joint EMS & Fire District
County's fundraising pays off
Grain bin rescue equipment that was purchased with the help of Highland County Farm Bureau
was used last month to rescue a man trapped in a grain bin.
YOUNG AG PROFESSIONALS UPDATES
Leaders needed for YAP state committee
Ohio Farm Bureau’s Young Agricultural Professionals (YAP) is looking for
young people age 18 to 35 to serve on its state committee. Members serve twoyear terms, assist in planning the yearly leadership conference and host young ag
professionals at a number of events.
YAP’s state committee provides leadership and growth experiences to young
people interested in improving the business of agriculture, learning new ideas
and developing leadership skills.
An application process is used to select committee members and is based on
Farm Bureau involvement, leadership potential and community service. Applications are due May 29 and can be found at ofbf.org.
YAP farm tour event to be held June 27
Ohio Farm Bureau’s Young Agricultural Professionals is hosting the third
annual Farm Tour Summer Reach Out on June 27. This family event, open to all
Farm Bureau members, will start at the Miami County Fairgrounds in Troy and
give participants the option to go on one of four tours. Lunch is included in the
cost, which is $20 per adult and $5 per child age 12 and under.
Tour 1: Brownhaven Dairy Farm, edge-of-field monitoring site, Grand Lake
St. Marys Boat Tour, Moeller Brew Barn.
Tour 2: Versailles Winery, Buckeye Ag Testing, Meadow View Growers.
Tour 3: Bowman and Landes Turkeys, Indian Creek Distillery, Fulton Farms.
Tour 4: Young’s Jersey Dairy and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Learn more and register through your county Farm Bureau office or at
experienceyap.com.
New e-newsletter for young ag professionals
An interest in staying connected throughout the
year led to the creation of a new biweekly e-newsletter for Young Agricultural Professionals. The
“Growing Our Generation” e-newsletter will feature
articles and insights put together by YAP guest editors with unique farms, jobs and perspectives.
So far Nathan and Jennifer Brown of Highland
County and Kyle and Ashton Walls of Knox County
have edited editions that reflect their interests and expertise. To see past issues of
the e-newsletter and subscribe to it, visit ofb.ag/subscribe2GOG.
New foundation
director, graphics
director hired
Shawn Cleveland of Upper Arlington
has been named executive director of the
Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation, a 501(c)
nonprofit, public charitable organization.
He will focus on creating an overall vision
and direction for the
foundation to expand
its good works and
increase its financial
resources. Previously, Cleveland was a
director of development with Ohio State
University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
The foundation was reorganized this
year and now encompasses the Animals
for Life Foundation and the Ohio Center
of Agricultural Law, Inc. Advisory boards
will still represent animal and legal issues
and report to the foundation’s board,
which consists of OFBF board members
and staff as well as representatives from
industry and the public.
Lisa Griffis is OFBF’s new director of
graphic design. She will provide graphic
design leadership and oversight of publications, including Our
Ohio magazine and
Buckeye Farm News.
Previously, Griffis
was a graphic designer
and assistant art director for The Plain Dealer
in Cleveland and art
director of The Cincinnati Enquirer. She
has earned dozens of awards, including
from the Society of News Design, Associated Press Society of Ohio and National
Press Photographers Association.
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13
14
BUCKEYE FARM NEWS
| MAY-JUNE 2015
Township trustees can help landowners
work through line fence disputes
Spring is the season to check fences, and when farmers start to focus on
them, questions to Ohio Farm Bureau
begin to increase. Staff members have
made two presentations so far focused
on the township trustee role in the
dispute process. In a nutshell: trustees
can help you work through that dispute,
according to Leah Curtis, Ohio Farm
Bureau director of agricultural law.
Curtis reminds there is no longer a
50/50 law because it changed in 2008.
The law today says landowners maintain
fences in existence prior to 2008 in equitable shares. “If you and your neighbor
can’t agree on what is equitable, then
you would go to the township trustees,”
she said. Landowners could also choose
to use the common pleas court to settle
disputes or determine the share of maintenance for each landowner.
The change in the law came about as a
result of Ohio Farm Bureau’s Line Fence
Task Force, which suggested changes to
the law so it would comply with case law
in the state. “The law had become unworkable due to various court decisions.
Today’s line fence law is a compromise,
but it makes it workable and allows for a
process,” Curtis explained.
If landowners want to build a new
fence, they are responsible for doing that
on their own and neighbors would only
have an obligation to contribute to the
costs of that fence if they turn livestock
against it. Landowners who build a new
fence should record their costs with the
county recorder to preserve the ability
for reimbursement in this situation.
Curtis encourages members to look
at all options for cost sharing. “You can
always agree to share maintenance with
your neighbor for whatever amount you
would like. Record the agreement with
the county recorder to preserve it for
future enforcement. This is something
to do in the beginning of the process to
save yourself some trouble,” she said.
There are some special circumstances
regarding line fences. One deals with
railroad rights of way. “If there is a railroad right of way and you want to have
a fence there, you have to contact the
railroad about the fence; the railroad has
the responsibility to construct the fence
or to pay for it. If you run into trouble,
contact the Public Utilities Commission
of Ohio (PUCO) because it is the agency
that regulates railroads.”
Another special circumstance deals
with certain government neighbors.
Conservancy districts, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources or a political
subdivision with an interest in recreational trails need to pay for half of a
fence’s cost, Curtis said.
Curtis has previously written on
➨
line fence laws. Read her blog “Five
Reminders about Line Fence Law” at
ofb.ag/linefenceblog. More information
about line fence laws, property rights,
dog laws and other important landowner issues can be found in the Ohio
Landowner Toolkit booklet, which is
available at county Farm Bureau offices.
New discounts for select Case IH tractors
Three new Case IH tractor lines have been added to Farm Bureau’s member incentive program. Eligible OFBF members can get
a discount of $300 to $500 when purchasing qualifying Case IH
equipment from participating dealerships. The discount is stackable,
meaning it can be used with other discounts, promotions, rebates or
offers that may be provided by Case IH or a Case IH dealership.
Those interested in the discount program must be a Farm Bureau
member for at least 30 days. A current Farm Bureau membership
verification certificate must be presented to the Case IH dealer to
receive the discount.
To learn about this discount and other great Farm Bureau benefits, visit growwithfb.org.
15
CONNECTING MEMBERS TO THE INSIGHTS THEY NEED FROM THE PEOPLE THEY TRUST
NATIONWIDE NEWS
Farm Safety 4 Just Kids works
to expand its vision for safety
The fact that agriculture has the
second highest fatality rate among youth
workers keeps Farm Safety 4 Just Kids
(FS4JK) founder Marilyn Adams up at
night. Following the tragic death of her
11-year-old son Keith in a gravity flow
wagon, she made it her personal mission
to keep kids safe.
“Our dream at FS4JK is to make sure
every child in the U.S. has an opportunity to learn how to be safe on farms and
in rural settings,” Adams said. “We can
only achieve that goal through our Children’s Safety Campaign endowment.”
While both individual and corporate
sponsorships drive the work of FS4JK
today, the future of the organization and
its safety legacy rests on the endowment.
After nearly 25 years of providing educational resources, organizing volunteers
and advocating for children’s safety
on farms, FS4JK looks to expand its
efforts throughout the next 25 years and
beyond. Although overall preventable
farm-related injuries have declined by 60
percent nationally, more work needs to
be done to continually reduce farm-related injuries and deaths.
FS4JK currently employs nine outreach coordinators and has 120 chapters
across 33 states and four Canadian
provinces. Broadening the organization’s
presence into every state will require a
large capital base to ensure the sustainability of the program. Paramount to its
success will be hiring outreach coordinators who can dedicate time to safety
in each state, while expanding awareness
of FS4JK and organizing volunteers to
conduct safety training events.
The Children’s Safety Campaign endowment will need the support of both
Agriculture has the
second highest fatality
rate among youth
workers at 21.3 per
100,000 full-time
equivalents compared
to 3.6 per 100,000
across all industries.
Occupational Injuries and Deaths
Among Younger Workers-United States,
1998-2007. Journal of the American
Medical Association, 304 (1).
33-35 (2010).
corporate and individual donors to meet
its goal of “reaching every kid on every
farm.” Every dollar given to the Children’s Safety Campaign will go toward
saving the lives of rural children.
To find out more about the endowment and how you can help keep
children safe in your community visit
our Children’s Safety Campaign website
farmsafetyforjustkids.org.
Nationwide and Nationwide Agribusiness have roots in agriculture:
Nationwide began as part of the
Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and
Nationwide Agribusiness through its Iowa-based farm and cooperative heritage.
The Nationwide Foundation has been
a major contributor for more than 20
years to Farm Safety 4 Just Kids’ focus
on local chapter development, aimed at
spreading the safety message to farm,
ranch and rural families, particularly
children. Terrance Williams, president
and COO of Nationwide Agribusiness,
is the national chairman of FS4JK’s Children’s Safety Campaign.
This information was obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Nationwide Agribusiness/
Farmland Mutual Insurance Company and its employees make no guarantee of results and
assume no liability in connection with any suggestions or information contained herein. Furthermore, it cannot be assumed that every acceptable safety method is included in this article or that
specific circumstances may not require additional methods or alternative safety suggestions. Also,
nothing contained herein is meant to represent or indicate compliance with applicable standards
or requirements mandated by federal, state or local jurisdictions.
Town Hall Ohio is an awardwinning public affairs radio program that draws an impressive list of
participants and covers a wide variety
of topics. Eleven Ohio stations carry
the program, including flagship
station WTVN in Columbus. You
can subscribe to it via podcast on
iTunes. Here are some excerpts of
recent shows from influential leaders
in Ohio.

“People don’t give a second thought
to food being there and advances
in food. They go to a restaurant
and the restaurant always seems to
have what’s on the menu. If there is
anything people think about less than
food, it might be water. We just don’t
think about that not being there. This
was truly a major event to have the
water shut off in Toledo for a couple
of days.”
~ Ohio State College of Food,
Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
Dean Dr. Bruce McPheron talking about
Ohio’s water quality issues.

“Our goal for tax policy needs to be
two things: we need to make sure we
provide adequate resources to perform
essential state services, and we do it in
a way that is beneficial to all Ohioans.
When we look at that, we are going to
hit those two goals.”
~ Ohio Senate President Keith Faber
discussing Ohio’s overall tax
policy goals.

“Ag is our No. 1 business, it is one
of our priorities and we’ve got to
continue to pay attention to that. I
think we will see changes occur as
we go through that (budget) process,
and we definitely want to do things to
continue to support the programs that
are out there now and see that they
have the resources necessary.”
~ Ohio Speaker of the House Cliff
Rosenberger discussing agriculture as a
priority in the biennium budget process.
BUCKEYE FARM NEWS
Insights you need from the people you trust.
PO Box 182383
|
Columbus, OH 43218-2383
Farmers need to certify conservation compliance by June 1
June 1 is the deadline for farmers to file certification regarding highly erodible land and wetland conservation with their local U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) service center.
This new 2014 Farm Bill provision is required for farmers to become or remain eligible for crop insurance premium support. Most
farmers already have a certification form on file since it’s required for participation in most USDA programs. However, farmers such
as specialty crop growers who receive federal crop insurance premium support but may not participate in other USDA programs, also
must now file a certification form to maintain their crop insurance premium support.
For more information, visit ofb.ag/conservationcertification.
WE STAND FOR
you.®
And for making smart choices to ensure safety.
Safety is about planning. Taking the time to do it right. And make smart decisions. That’s why
Nationwide®, the nation’s number one farm insurer, partners with the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation®.
Call 866-670-1765 or visit nationwide.com/ofbf to learn more.
Source: Munich Re Report. Based on premium and loss data. Nationwide and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance
Company. We Stand For You is a registered trademark of Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Co. ©2014 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. The
Farm Bureau, FB, and the FB national logo are trademarks of American Farm Bureau Federation and used with permission under licence by Nationwide.
VMSF2091 (12/14)