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Ohio Farm Bureau talk property tax relief with Senate Ways and Means Committee

Property tax for farmers rose 307 per cent between 2008 and 2014

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

Members of the Ohio Farm Bureau recently met with Ohio’s Senate Ways and Means Committee to discuss the sharp increases local farmers have faced in property taxes.

Ohio’s Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) helps farmers pay lower property tax in the hopes they’ll keep the land instead of selling it for development.

The statewide average market value per acre is $3,889 per acre, according to the CAUV. Franklin County’s land averages about $10,263 per acre.

But according to reports farmers have seen their property taxes rise as much as 307 percent between 2008 and 2014.

And with corn sitting at around $3.68 per bushel and other low commodity prices, farmers are struggling to pay down their loans.


Katherine Harrisson addreses the Ohio Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Photo: Ohio Farm Bureau

“I anticipate (the farm) can bring in about $180 per acre per year,” Katherine Harrison, a livestock farmer and Farm Bureau state trustee, said to the committee, according to the Ohio Farm Bureau. “The taxes run approximately $120 per acre per year. That leaves a possible net of $60 per acre per year to pay down a loan for $300,000 to purchase the land.”

Members of the Farm Bureau spoke on Senate Bill 36. The bill would remove wrong information in CAUV calculations and make the formula less affected by non-farm factors.

CAUV is one of the main obstacles facing Ohio farmers, state trustee Mike Bensman told the Ways and Means Committee.


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The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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