DUBLIN, Ohio — Members came to the Ohio Farmers Union (OFU) annual convention for many reasons, but an interest in family farms was the common thread.<br>
While there, they elected a new president, heard about Ohio’s new Food Policy Advisory Council, carbon credits, discussed policy and more.<br>
“I like Farmers Union because I think they represent our size of farmers – family farms,” said Dale Grassbaugh, director from Licking/Knox counties. “They’re not against the mega-farms, but they don’t look after them as much as some of the organizations.”<br>
“It’s a grassroots organization; it’s all about family farmers. It’s more or less followed my small-farm philosophy,” said James Durliat of Williams County, attending with his wife, Carol.<br>
Ken and Colleen Herman of Fulton County were there with son Adam and daughter, Ava Lillian, age two months. They have a 30-cow dairy farm and small cropping operation.<br>
“We like OFU because it’s more oriented to individuals,” Ken said. “Instead of looking just at the big needs, it also looks at the little needs.”<br>
New members John and Rita Norris of Knox County came with their son, Steven, who raises whitetail deer.<br>
“We just joined in the fall,” John said. “I thought it was a good organization and I think we need as many organizations supporting us as we can, because there are fewer farmers all the time.”<br>
New president<br>

Roger Wise was elected OFU president, replacing Joe Logan who, after six years, had served the maximum time permitted by the bylaws.<br>
“I want to continue to promote the policies of the Farmers Union and I want to do my best to fill Joe Logan’s shoes, he’s done an outstanding job,” Wise said.<br>
Farmers Union needs to continue to be visible in Columbus, he said. Utility issues and farm issues, such as the large dairy farms and large confined feeding operations, were some of his concerns.
“We have two dairies in our county at home, in Sandusky County, and they have created a lot of discussion,” Wise said. “Just about everybody has an opinion one way or another. We want to bring the proponents and opponents together to at least be able to live together, because it is quite contentious.”<br>
Ohio Food Policy Council<br>

Robert Boggs, Ohio Department of Agriculture director, told the group that the Ohio Food Policy Advisory Council will be operational by March. Gov. Ted Strickland issued an executive order in August 2007 to establish a food advisory council to advise the agriculture director about food and agricultural policies, especially pertaining to smaller sustainable ag activities, Boggs said.<br>
“The advisory council will benefit Ohio’s agriculture in many ways,” he said. “One of the ways is to help us, as strange as it may seem, to reintroduce agriculture to the state of Ohio.”<br>
Ohio’s institutions – prisons, universities, even Meals on Wheels – consume a lot of food, Boggs said. Producers in Ohio, especially smaller producers, have a hard time accessing the procurement system. He wants to make it easier for producers to bid on contracts for supplying food to those institutions.<br>
Carbon credits<br>

National Farmers Union (NFU) has 3.5 million acres signed up to receive carbon credits, NFU President Tom Buis told the group. No-till farming captures about a half-ton of carbon an acre. The credits are marketed on the Chicago Climate Exchange, and it must be done in 5,000-ton contracts.<br>
“(NFU) serves as an aggregator,” Buis said. “We pull farmers together and allow them to have access to that market.”<br>
Besides no-till, land that is permanent grassland or in forestry also captures carbon and so, is eligible, as are methane digesters, Buis said. The payment is about $2 per acre, which, Buis said, “is not much, but it helps; it is going the right direction. Europe trades for about $30 a ton.<br>
“I like to say American farmers feed the world, increasingly fuel the nations and help us address our environmental problems, and I think that’s accurate.”<br>
For information on OFU, visit www. ohfarmersunion.org