• General

    Working Through Challenging Times and Building Resiliency

    This season’s weather has brought not only tremendous amounts of rain, but also exacerbated the problems many farmers already face. In these challenging times, it’s important that we stay in touch, share resources, brainstorm strategies, and empathize with each other’s experiences. 

    In late June, OEFFA hosted a “Rainy Day Exchange” conversation offering farmers space to discuss the challenges they are facing, ask questions, and share ideas.  Nearly 60 producers, agricultural service providers, and researchers joined the call by phone and computer to share their experiences and offer feedback, resources, and solidarity.  The discussion and feedback focused on several topics that warranted attention, including stress management; alternative production options; pest, disease, and weed management; next steps for the season; crop insurance options, and building long-term resiliency into our farming systems.

    Flooded field in Coshocton, Ohio

    In July, we hosted “Salvaging the Season on Your Organic Grain Farm,” a follow up online gathering designed specifically for organic and transitional grain growers.  Ohio State University Extension’s (OSUE) Alan Sundermeier presented mid- and late- season cropping and cover crop options, weed management strategies, and dry down considerations to a small group of grain grower leaders.  Alan stressed that farmers can harvest and sell a forage crop grown on Prevent Plant acreage and still collect their insurance payment as long as they harvest after September 1.

    Bryan Lee and David Manthei of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) shared a program related to disaster relief funding available for cover cropping on Prevent Plant acres and the Conservation Stewardship Program. 

    Jami Dellifield of OSUE led us in a “Staycation” exercise and talked about stress management.

    Dave Shively and the OEFFA Grain Grower Chapter leaders on the call heartily invited the group to attend the August 10 farm tour and field day at Bartholomew Farms in Ottawa Lake, Michigan on the Ohio/Michigan border.

    In August, OEFFA will host another lunchtime call focused on “Managing Farm Stress,” with co-presenters Patty Roth from Michigan State University Extension and Sarah Noggle of OSUE. Patty and Sarah will discuss the current farm economic climate, highlight the physical and mental impacts of stress, and train participants to recognize signs of stress, prevent self-harm in the agricultural community, and access resources for themselves or their loved ones. Mental health is an uncomfortable subject for many, but we all need a lift from time to time. This call will provide a facilitated space for farmers to support each other while learning practical tools for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and community. ALL are welcome. Please join us and feel your best so you can farm your best.

    OEFFA’s upcoming conference in February will offer training for both producers and agricultural professionals in farm stress management, as well as resiliency training for producers. 

    Stay tuned to OEFFA for information on future conversations. If you have thoughts on helpful topics or would like to discuss your challenges, or would like to request education and resources, please contact Julia Barton at (614) 359-3180 or julia@oeffa.org.

  • General

    An End to Gerrymandering: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

    “Undemocratic” Congressional District Map

    A U.S. District Court in Cincinnati recently released a unanimous ruling that Ohio Congressional district boundaries were manipulated for partisan gain by Republican mapmakers and violate the rights of the public to democratic elections. They also went a step further and said the map needed to change before any future elections.

    But, not so fast! Ohio Attorney General David Yost asked the court for a stay, which would postpone the drawing of new maps for an undetermined period of time. While the district judges denied the request for a stay, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to put a hold on any potential changes to the district maps in Ohio and in Michigan, which also has a pending case before the court.

    To get a better understanding of how gerrymandering district boundaries works against the democratic process, view this tutorial from the Washington Post.

    In Ohio, Republicans regularly won 12 of the state’s 16 congressional seats, even when the voters were evenly divided between the parties. A view of Ohio’s three C’s–Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati–illustrates how urban, and frequently Democratic, voters are split into small districts or combined with larger and more rural areas.

    Rich Exner, a data analysis editor for Cleveland.com posted this “un-gerrymandered” map in March. Here are some of the highlights he noted with this analysis of a more representative map:

    • Metro and rural areas with similar characteristics are generally kept together.
    • Up to six districts could be expected to produce competitive races.
    • The rest of the districts are largely Republican (five) or Democrat (four)–not because of ill-conceived political design, but because people of like thoughts tend to live near each other.
    • Seventy-eight of the 88 Ohio counties are kept whole.
    • Just 10 counties are divided into two districts; none are split three or even four ways, as currently is the case for both Cuyahoga and Summit counties.
    • No cities are split, other than a few cases where they cross county lines or, in the case of Columbus, where the city is larger than a single district.

    See the district-by-district analysis from Cleveland.com here, and while Exner also illustrates how things could get worse, we will have to wait until the U.S. Supreme Court reconvenes and hears the cases involving Ohio and Michigan to see if they will take an unprecedented step in ordering states to ensure their Congressional districts allow for truly democratic elections. We can only hope…

  • General

    Ohio Legislator Leads on Healthy Food for Kids

    Senator Sherrod Brown joined with Senator Susan Collins to introduce the Kids Eat Local Act

    The Kids Eat Local Act (SB 1817) was introduced by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Susan Collins (R-ME). If passed, the new law will make it easier for schools to utilize locally grown food in the National School Lunch program.

    Current law does not allow schools to specify “local” as a product specification in school food procurement requests and while they can currently use a “geographic preference” option, most schools have found that process confusing and burdensome. Simplifying local food procurement will improve the ability of schools to source produce from Ohio farmers.

    The interest in Farm to School (F2S) has increased in Ohio. Whether in large urban districts or smaller schools throughout the state, programs are springing up to provide healthy, local food options to Ohio children, to teach through school gardens, and much more. See some examples of Ohio F2S success stories here.

    “Ohio farmers grow some of the best produce in the country,” said Senator Brown. “This legislation will increase locally grown foods in our school lunchrooms while strengthening our farms and rural communities.”

    By including the Kids Eat Local Act in the next Child Nutrition Act Reauthorization, schools will have a new, easier-to-use local product specification option. This addition would create important new opportunities for local farmers to sell into school districts, bringing a win-win for students and farmers. This legislation would provide schools flexibility in determining the definition of “local” that best suits their needs.

  • General,  State Policy

    New Report Details Challenges and Opportunities for Ohio Agriculture

    Ohio Agriculture: The Changing Contours of Farming

    Every five years the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistics Service (USDA NASS) completes a comprehensive survey of agriculture across the country. The 2017 survey results show how Ohio could benefit from increased and targeted investments.

    OEFFA’s new report, “Ohio Agriculture: The Changing Contours of Farming,” helps put Ohio in focus by providing a national overview and state-level analysis of farm demographics, farmland, farm size, farmland tenure, local and regional marketing, and organic agriculture. It includes recommendations for Ohio policy makers, community and economic development professionals, and investors.

    Notable statistics include:

    • Nationally, the number of women operators was up almost 27 percent.
    • Ohio is 6th in the nation in the number of beginning farmers.
    • The amount of Ohio farmland increased for the first time in decades.
    • The average age of farmers continues to increase.
    • Consolidation also continues, further eroding the agriculture of the middle.
    • Government payments received by Ohio farmers increased by 86 percent.
    • The amount of leased land decreased by almost 165,000 acres.

    Of critical note is that the value of food sold directly to the public went from $46 million in 2012 to almost $80 million in 2017. Given this growth, the State of Ohio would see a significant return on investment if it committed resources to local and regional food processing infrastructure.

    The Council of Development Finance Agencies has been working for the past 2-3 years on defining food systems as an asset class ripe for investment and how development finance agencies can become more engaged in developing localized food systems through traditional finance approaches such as bonds, tax increment finance, tax credits, and revolving loan funds.

    Also, as Ohio continues to face persistent algal blooms and invest in solutions and incentives, including Governor DeWine’s proposed H2Ohio program, the report sheds light on the vast potential of organic agriculture to improve Ohio’s water quality.

    The interest in organic agriculture continues to grow as Ohio is now 6th in the nation in the number of organic farms and 2nd in the amount of acreage being converted from conventional to organic production systems. Programs that would provide financial assistance and support to farmers that are transitioning to voluntary, market-based organic production systems would go a long way to addressing water quality in the state, while capturing the unmet demand for certified organic food and farm products.

    Read the full report here and contact our policy program for more information.

  • State Policy

    OEFFA Members Work the Statehouse

    OEFFA 2019 Lobby Day a Success!

    OEFFA members and staff honed advocacy skills and met with their legislators at the Ohio Statehouse May 7

    Support for beginning farmers has been a high priority for OEFFA and its members for years. The policy program has been advocating for the state to adopt a measure successfully implemented in Minnesota that provides tax credits for landowners who sell or lease land or other agricultural assets to beginning farmers.

    The recent release of the five-year Census of Agriculture by the U.S. Department of Agriculture revealed some good news for Ohio agriculture generally, and reveals opportunities for the state to grow healthy food systems, contribute to rural community economic development, and grow the agricultural sector by supporting this industry.

    After decades of farm loss, the number of farms is on the rise and Ohio is 6th in the nation in the number of beginning farms. While the growth in the number of beginning farms is positive sign, starting an agricultural business is full of challenges one of which is access to land and capital.

    Rowan Patton and Sheryn Bruff prepare for legislative meetings after a morning of training and role play

    On May 7 about 20 members, staff and supporters gathered at Trinity Episcopal Church to hear from long-time lobbyists from the County Commissioners Association of Ohio. Cheryl Subler and Adam Schwiebert talked about what it’s like to meet with legislators, how to establish good long-term relationships and the importance of follow up. OEFFA Policy Director Amalie Lipstreu and Operations Coordinator and former legislative staffer Greg Hargett role played some possible meeting scenarios for attendees.

    In the afternoon, 17 meetings were held between the House and Senate and considerable support was garnered for the Family Farm ReGeneration Act, or HB 183. Two steps are needed to move this from an idea to a program that encourages farmers to sell or lease land to beginning farmers: the first is that it is included in the two year biennium budget, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of June, and the second is that the bill passes both chambers and is signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine.

    The House passed its version of the budget on May 9, and it did not include the HB 183 provisions. There is still time to advocate for its inclusion in the Senate version as well as general support for the bill’s passage. Learn more about bill here and sign-on to the petition today!

  • Farm Bill

    Local Food Funding Opportunities Abound

    Light Up Your Community with LAMP

    OEFFA worked with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), to provide long-term and permanent funding for local food programs and we won! The final farm bill included the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) which provides funding for the Farmers’ Market and Local Food Promotion Programs (FMLFPP), as well as the Value-Added Producer Grant program and more.

    In April, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced the availability of $23 million in funding for the FMLFPP which includes two programs, the Farmers’ Market Promotion Program and the Local Food Promotion Program.

    The deadline for both programs this year is June 18, 2019 and applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov.

    You can find more information about these two programs and the types of projects that have been funded here.

    Farmers’ Market Promotion Program

    FMPP supports projects that have a direct farmer-to-consumer focus, such as: farmers markets, community supported agriculture programs, roadside farm stands, pick-your own operations, and agritourism.

    FMPP will continue to offer two distinct types of grants: 1) Capacity Building (CB) and 2) Community Development, Training and Technical Assistance (CTA) projects. There are no changes to the maximum and minimum awards size from last year. For CB projects, the minimum award is $50,000 and the maximum award is $250,000. For CTA projects, the minimum grant award is $250,000 and maximum award level is $500,000. The program now requires a 25 percent cash or in-kind match.

    The maximum duration for both FMPP CB projects and CTA projects is 36 months; projects are expected to begin on September 30, 2019 and be completed by September 29, 2022. The FY 2019 Request for Applications for FMPP can be found here, general information about FMPP can be found here.

    Local Food Promotion Program

    LFPP seeks to develop and expand local and regional food business enterprises to increase access to locally produced foods and develop new market opportunities for local producers. LFPP supports projects including, but not limited to: processing, distribution, aggregation, and storage and marketing of locally or regionally produced food products sold through intermediated marketing channels.

    LFPP will continue to offer two types of grants: 1) planning grants and 2) implementation grants. There are no changes to the maximum and minimum awards size from last year. Planning Grants provides a minimum award of $25,000 and a maximum of $100,000. Implementation Grants have a minimum award of $100,000 and a maximum of $500,000. The program also requires a 25 percent cash or in-kind match.

    Planning projects grants have an award period of up to 18 months and are expected to begin on September 30, 2019 and be completed by March 31, 2021. Implementation project grants can be awarded for up to 36 months and are expected to begin on September 30, 2019 and be completed by September 29, 2022. The FY 2019 Request for Applications for LFPP can be found here, and additional information about the program can be found here.

    Community Food Projects Funding

    The National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is now accepting applications for two specific types of food system grants under this program: Community Food Projects and Planning Projects.

    The goal of this program is to:

    • Meet the food needs of low-income individuals through food distribution, community outreach to assist in participation in federally assisted nutrition programs, or improving access to food as part of a comprehensive service;
    • Increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their food needs;
    • Promote comprehensive responses to local food access, farm, and nutrition issues; and
    • Meet specific state, local, or neighborhood food and agricultural needs including needs relating to: (1) equipment necessary for the efficient operation of a project, (2) planning for long-term solutions, or (3) the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers.

    Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on June 3, 2019. Find more information and application details here.

  • State Policy

    Family Farm ReGeneration Act Moves Forward

    The average age of farmers continues to climb, more than 100 million acres of farmland will changes hands in the near future, and the biggest challenge identified by beginning farmers is access to land.

    OEFFA is working to see how the state of Ohio could do more to ensure a future for agriculture. More than a year ago, we began meeting with members of the Ohio Legislature to alert them to a legislative tool Minnesota recently passed.

    In little more than one year, the Minnesota Beginning Farmer Tax Credit received more than 800 applicants and provides tax credits for landowners that transfer land to a beginning farmer. OEFFA reached out to the Ohio Farmers Union, the Ohio Farm Bureau, and leaders of the House and Senate agriculture committees to advance this idea.

    In April, Representatives Susan Manchester (OH R-84) and John Patterson (OH D-99) introduced HB 183, the Family Farm ReGeneration Act, to incentivize Ohio landowners to transfer their farmland to beginning farmers.

    How the Tax Credit Works

    An existing landowner would complete an application to the program with the Ohio Department of Agriculture, in coordination with a beginning farmer and could be entitled to a tax credit of:

    • 5 percent of the sale price of the farmland, up to a $32,000 maximum;
    • 10 percent of the rental income for three years, up to a maximum of $7,000 per year; or
    • 15 percent of the cash equivalent of a share rent agreement for three years, up to a maximum of $10,000 per year.

    In addition to the benefit of getting access to land, beginning farmers would also be eligible for a tax credit of up to $1,500 per year for up to three years to cover participation in a financial management program.

    Action on the Bill

    OEFFA presented proponent testimony on HB 183 and continues to work with members of the Senate to introduce companion legislation and include this in the next state biennium budget that will be completed by the end of June.

    OEFFA members will be gathering for a Lobby Day training and action to meet with legislators on Tuesday, May 7.

    There is still time to contact your legislator and tell them to support the Family Farm ReGeneration Act!

    Contact us to learn more about how you can help ensure the future of farming in Ohio.

  • Conservation,  Farm Bill

    Conservation Stewardship Program Applications are Due by May 10!

    Farmers across the country have little more than a week to apply for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), with applications due May 10. OEFFA urges farmers to sign up for this program which provides payments for conservation activity that many producers already employ. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition has provided an information alert with details to answer many questions you may have.

    What is CSP?

    CSP is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) largest conservation program that offers whole farm conservation assistance to farmers across the U.S.

    Sign-up opportunities are available each year. The program provides financial assistance for advanced conservation through five-year contracts on all kinds of farmland. Many organic producers already use practices that are detailed in this Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) program or can benefit from using CSP to provide for wildlife habitat, conservation buffers, to protect water quality, and much more.

    Changes to the program as a result of the 2018 Farm Bill include a higher payment rate for some conservation activities, such as cover crops and resource conserving crop rotations, and specific support for organic and transitioning to organic activities.

    How Do I Sign Up?

    Applying to CSP is simple. Before May 10, applicants must complete and submit a short form, NRCS Form CPA 1200. This is the same, generic three-page form used for all NRCS conservation programs that offer financial assistance and is available online through the link above or at your local NRCS office.

    Importantly, you need to have a farm record number established through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), to include all agricultural or private forest land in the operation. If you don’t have an FSA number, go to your FSA office to establish a farm record number before submitting your CSP application. Applicants must also have control of the land for the five-year term of the CSP contract.

    After submitting your application, you will work with NRCS to complete the tools to evaluate management systems and natural resources on the operation’s land.

    If you plan to apply for CSP, drop us a line and let us know!