COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two important farmland aspects of the Clean Ohio program have received funding in the mid-biennium review (MBR) budget that is on its way to Gov. John Kasich for his signature. The agricultural easement purchase program received $6 million and $36 million was included for preserving green space.

“We’re very excited that both the (state) House and the Senate passed out of their Conference Committee a version of the MBR budget that contained funding for both the ag easements and the green space program within the Clean Ohio program,” said Beth Vanderkooi, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation’s (OFBF) director of state policy.

In the Capital Appropriations Bill, a slightly different piece of legislation, $6 million was allocated for the trails program, another component of Clean Ohio, Vanderkooi said. That bill has been signed by the governor and is now law.

“It did not include a component for either ag easement purchase or green space,” Vanderkooi said.

State Rep. Tim Derickson (R-53rd District), a member of the House Agricultural Committee, lobbied hard to have agricultural easements and green space included in the Capital Appropriations Bill. While he garnered much support, it was not enough.

He was pleased at their inclusion in the MBR, which came along about two weeks after the Capital Bill. “Most of the folks that are impacted by Clean Ohio are very happy to see those funds in the MBR,” Derickson said.

“We at Farm Bureau are very appreciative to the legislature for supporting the Clean Ohio Program the way that they have,” Vanderkooi said. “There was tremendous support from the people of Ohio for Clean Ohio back in 2008 when it was voted in. The Clean Ohio Program has tremendous bipartisan support.”

Added Derickson: “It was easy for me to get behind and lobby for this,” though he cautioned the MBR still needs the “blessing of the governor.”