By CELESTE BAUMGARTNER
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Agricultural runoff problems, progress from the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, budgets at all levels – these are just some of the highlights of policy development up for discussion at the 2010 Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) annual meeting Dec. 1-3, said John Fisher, executive vice president.

Delegates to the annual meeting will review the area of agricultural pollution and algal growth starting with Grand Lake St. Marys in Mercer and Auglaize counties and what solutions there might be.
“There are some proposed rules that we’re working on right now. I think there will be some delegate discussion about where we go with watersheds and how we find solutions for runoff problems,” Fisher said.

There are water quality issues on the national level in the Chesapeake Bay and the Mississippi River runoff going into the Gulf of Mexico. Water quality issues are a hot topic right now, he added.

“We will talk about the progress of the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, all the good work that that volunteer body is doing … what does that mean going forward?” Fisher asked.
“How do we proceed working with the current agreement we have with the Humane Society of the United States and Ohio agriculture? We’ll talk about that, what it means for the future.

“I think we’re going to talk about budgets at all levels; from county government to state government to the federal, nobody has any money,” he said. “So how are we going to deal with those issues from the farm level all the way to the White House?”

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear several high-profile speakers next Wednesday, Fisher said. Dr. E. Gordon Gee, president of The Ohio State University, will speak on the future and challenges of land grant universities at the luncheon.

Outgoing Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Robert Boggs will discuss the Livestock Care Standards Board. Mary Kay Thatcher, American Farm Bureau Federation, will talk about the farm bill and Dan Toland will address social media and its impact.

The Hospitality Corner will be open Wednesday and the Silent Auction and Live OFB Foundation Auction will take place in the evening. The Kickoff Luncheon and Harvest Banquet will take place next Thursday.

“We’re going to recognize several people at our Harvest Banquet,” Fisher said. “The Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award will be presented to Senator (George) Voinovich (R-Ohio); also to Lois Boyer, a longtime volunteer from Clinton County, a past member of the state board of trustees and a very active OFBF member for many years.”

The Agricultural Communicators Award will recognize Ruth McLaughlin from Muskingum County. Wade Leaman of Geauga County will receive the OFBF Cooperative Award.

The OFBF County Achievement Awards, as well as the Young Farm Couple, Excellence in Agriculture and Discussion Meet winners will all be recognized.

The real business – discussion of topics brought up and voted on by delegates to the meeting – will take place in general sessions Dec. 2-3. The meeting will be at the Columbus Hyatt Regency and Convention Center.

For more information visit www.ofbf.org and click on the “Events” link or call a county Farm Bureau office.