Earlier today, Ohio Soybean Association (OSA) President and Putnam County soybean farmer Tommie Price testified during a Nutrient Management Hearing held by the Ohio House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee at Cooper Farms in Van Wert.  Price’s testimony focused on the benefit of having the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) act as the regulatory body for agricultural regulations in Ohio.

 A portion of Price’s testimony is as follows:

OSA believes the benefit of having ODA act as the regulatory body for agricultural regulations is a priority for the industry. We encourage the legislature to continue its efforts to transfer all portions of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Soil and Water that deal with agricultural programs to the ODA.

Consolidating services in ODA would not be without historical precedent.  During the 1990’s, Ohio lawmakers placed the regulatory authority over Ohio’s largest livestock facilities at ODA.  ODA and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) have been working with US Environmental Protection Agency for years to transfer the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System oversight to ODA.  The transfer of ODNR’s manure program is the next prudent step in developing a more streamlined and efficient government program. Simply stated, ODA’s top priority is regulating agriculture and ensuring food safety. The regulation of livestock facilities, large and small fits that mission.

Many of the suggested tactics to curb phosphorus run-off on farms would include changing laws to specifically prohibit current agricultural practices.  While some of the suggestions are rooted in common sense, the experience of farmers in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia suggests that we should be cautious when including farming practices in the Ohio Revised Code.  The science and equipment in agriculture are constantly changing to address farmer’s production needs. OSA recommends taking a conservative approach by including a provision that new laws changing agricultural practices expire after five years. At that time, the legislature could hold hearings to see if the proposed laws are still needed.