The State of Ohio Agriculture
by State Representative Jim Buchy
Agriculture is one of the top issues for our local communities, and for
that reason it has been a priority for my office. Currently, I am
working on HB 229, an agricultural omnibus bill. The bill has
passed committee and awaits a vote on the House floor. This bill
will streamline regulatory operations at the Department of Agriculture
and help Director Zehringer operate the Department more
efficiently. The bill addresses regulatory issues at the
department from inflatable rides to permitted farms and from grape
production to horse racing. As the state legislature works on
this bill, it is well known that this spring has been very concerning
in the Ohio agriculture community. The large amounts of
precipitation have caused a late planting season, and the late season
could cause significant problems. I will continue to monitor the
issue.
The first week of June opened a planting window that was much
needed. There are still many concerns about the late planting
season. It may result in lower yields and a later harvest.
According to a June 5th USDA NASS Crop Condition Report, only 58
percent of Ohio corn was planted while the five-year average is 99
percent by that same date. Soybeans are understandably even
further behind. The report said 26 percent of Ohio soybeans were
planted with a five-year average of 88 percent. There have been
several good days for planting since this report, and the statistics
are likely to increase significantly in the next report. The wet
spring in Ohio is causing havoc for Ohio agriculture. Outside of
Ohio, crop planting has been much more successful and may offset the
issues arising in Ohio.
There are many concerns for our communities when crop planting is
running this far behind. The first of those concerns is the
potential of higher grain prices for feeding livestock. House
District 77 contains 40 percent of the permitted livestock operations
in Ohio. The cost of providing feed for these large livestock
operations will greatly affect the communities. With the
increased costs, prices in the grocery store will rise. Another
issue is the accessibility of corn for ethanol plants. In Ohio
there are several ethanol plants, and their production capabilities
largely rely on local corn. If there is not local corn, many have
the capacity to produce the fuel with corn that can be trucked in or
brought to the Ohio facilities by rail. Agriculture is very
important to the local and state economy, and issues such as the late
planting season must be monitored closely.
For farmers, the wet weather means more than just getting the planters
in the fields later. It also results in the necessity for these
environmental stewards to work with the federal and state agricultural
agencies to ensure they are meeting requirements of the programs they
have enrolled in. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), cover crops
and crop insurance are all subject to deadlines that have been affected
by the wet spring. If you are a farmer and you have not discussed
these issues with the local Farm Service Agency, the Ohio State
Extension Office and the Division of Soil and Water you may want to
consider using the next rainy day to speak with these experts.
The first five months serving you as state representative have been
rewarding, and I appreciate the warm welcoming I have received from so
many in the district. The issues being addressed in Columbus will
impact your lives. The contact you have made with the office to
oppose and support these measures is important, and I will continue to
communicate with the residents of the district. The issue of
agriculture will continue to be at the forefront in my office, and I
will use my experience to keep Ohio food the safest and least costly in
the world. These communities are some of the best places in the
world to live and rear a family, and maintaining strong agriculture is
crucial to protecting our families.
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