<b>By CELESTE BAUMGARTNER<br>
Ohio Correspondent</b> </p><p>

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio wheat, barley, rye and oat growers stand to benefit from research funded by a voluntary marketing program passed by the Ohio House of Representatives.</p><p>
The Ohio Wheat Growers Association worked with State Rep. Steve Reinhard (R-Bucyrus) in passing the measure.</p><p>
“Establishment of the Ohio Small Grains Marketing Program will assure that Ohio wheat producers remain competitive in an ever-more complex global marketplace,” said Ohio Wheat Growers Association (OWGA) President Jay Griffith.</p><p>
The Ohio Wheat Growers started surveying members several years ago as to whether a checkoff or market promotions program was something they wanted.</p><p>
“We were told it was,” Griffith said. “We then decided to take a legislative approach to passing a checkoff because financially the organization did not have the funds to achieve it any other way; it is very expensive to manage a farmer-run referendum.”</p><p>
Also, by going the legislative route the grain growers could enable the new organization in a more modern way than the current revised code allows, Griffith said.</p><p>
The legislation provides for one-half of one percent of Ohio grown grains covered by the program (soft winter wheat is the primary product) to go into a fund that is managed by a nine-member board, Griffith said. Those marketing program funds could be used for market development, research, promotion and education.
“Some projects might need the membership of larger national organizations such as the U.S. Wheat Growers to promote wheat around the world,” Griffith said. </p><p>
Research on small grains and wheat through the university system has been ongoing but funding has been languishing because the budget, Griffith said.</p><p>
The research centers primarily on efficiency of production, new varieties and techniques, Griffith said. Funding is also necessary so the information can be disseminated to farmers.</p><p>
Ohio was the largest wheat-producing state that didn’t have a farmer-run promotion board, Griffith said. The Ohio grain growers spent time talking to farmers from around the country to find out what they had in the way of legislation and how it worked.
“We tried to learn from their successes and their trials and tribulations with regards to what we crafted into our final enabling legislation,” he said. </p><p>
“We spent a lot of time determining what we really wanted, what the law would allow us to do, and then tried to draft it into a package that we are hopeful will serve Ohio producers of wheat and small grains for a long time to come.”</p><p>
Gov. Ted Strickland is expected to sign the bill within the next 10 days; the marketing program will go into effect 90 days after it becomes law.</p><p>
Ohio wheat growers are number one in the country in red winter wheat production. Ohio is one of the largest flour milling states in the country and grains are a vital part of the economy.</p><p>