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Agriculture Products & Services Survey--Click on AgriFocus--Find your Flowers @ Farmer's Market
2008 Children's Literature Award Winner Announced "Clarabell-Making Milk and So Much More"
Hiring Labor for Agriculture - Made Easier
Introduction to Farm Bureau Membership Only $35
Fast Tractor Law Requires Emblems on October 18-Signs Available at Farm Bureau Office
Lighting and Marking of Agricultural Equipment for Highway Travel- A Reference Guide
Workers Compensation Group Rating Program-Wednesday, March 26 @ 9:00 a.m.
Mahoning Farm Bureau Officers
Biotechnology- Better for Agriculture, Environment and YOU!

2008 Children's Literature Award Winner Announced "Clarabell-Making Milk and So Much More"

Ohio Farm Bureau Federation has selected "Clarabelle - Making Milk and So Much More" written by Chris Peterson as winner of the 2008 OFBF Award or Children's Literature. The book highlights the author's family and their large dairy operation while explaining the latest technology being used by dairy farmers today including an anaerobic digestes system. David Lundquist, worked with the author to enhance the story with his exquisite photo's. The book is available for a discounted price of $11 at the county Farm Bureau office. Literature Award books from past years are also available from the county Farm Bureau office. Mailing costs are extra. The annual award recognizes a children's book that is considered to be a distinguished contribution to American literature and has an agricultural theme and published within the last two years.

Hiring Labor for Agriculture - Made Easier

Mid American Ag and Hort Services, Inc. (MAAHS) is a unique consortium of associations, organizations and employers organized to meet the educational, regulatory compliance assistance and labor recruiting needs of agricultural and other employers in Ohio and Indiana MAAHS' vision is to improve the working and earnings environment for Mid American employers and workers involved in agriculture and other areas of employment. MAAHS will meet the human resource needs of member employers. MAAHS can help prevent: government intrusion, financial hardship, business disruption, negative public relations, a snowball of inspections by multiple agencies. TheMAAHS will assist members with: -I-9 employment verification process -Ohio's Mandatory Bus Inspection Program -Social Security Mismatch letters -Federal and State Labor Housing Regulations -Mandatory New Hire Reporting Program -Drivers'license assistance for non-U.S. citizens -Public Water Systems Requirements -Driver's Record of Duty States record keeping under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations -Federal and State Child Minor Laws -Records required by OSHA For more information on membership and services, contact www.midamservices.org or labor@ofbf.org Phone: 419-724-2930

Introduction to Farm Bureau Membership Only $35

Test drive and find out what a $35 Farm Bureau membership is really worth.Learn more--go to www.ofbf.org or www.ourohio.org for details. Farm Bureau is not a government agency, so memberships drive our federation to successful programs and legislative activities.

Fast Tractor Law Requires Emblems on October 18-Signs Available at Farm Bureau Office

The "fast tractor" law which goes into effect October 18, allows designated farm machinery to be driven at speeds above 25 mph as long as it displays a speed identification symbol (SIS). Farmers have tractors capable of reaching higher speeds and the SIS, and needs to have emblems on the tractors. The emblem indicates a tractor's maximum speed, these emblems are available at our county Farm Bureau office. The decal is available for $6 and the metal sign with brackets is available for $12. Call to make sure they are in stock @ 330-533-5553.

Lighting and Marking of Agricultural Equipment for Highway Travel- A Reference Guide

Definitions: (As stated by the Ohio Revised Code)

  • Vehicle- every device, including a motorized bicycle,in, upon, or by which any person or property may be transported or drawm upon a highway, except motorized wheelchairs, devices moved by power collected from overhead trolley wires, or used exclusively pon stationary rails or tracks,a nd devices other than bicycles moved by human power.
  • Agricultural Tractor- every self propelling vehicle designed or used for drawing other vehices or wheeled machinery but having no provision for carrying loads independently of such other vehicles, and used principally for agricultural purposes.
  • Multi-wheel Agricultural Tractor- a type of agricultural tractor that has two or more wheels or tires on each side of one axle at the rear of hte tractor, is designed or used for drawing other vehicles or wheeled machinery, and is used principally for agricultural purposes.

What's new in lighting and marking legislation:

  • Multi-wheeled agricultural tractors muxt have flashing amber light at the far left and far right extremities of the tractor visible to the front ad rear.
  • All equipment manufactured on and after 2002 will meet requirements set forth by ASAE ( American Society of a Agricultural Engineers) S279.10.
  • Every vehicle from sunset to sunrise and when there is not sufficient natural light must display light and illuminating devices as required by the Ohio Revised Code.
  • A tax credit of $1000.00 or half the cost (whichever is the lesser amount) for retrofitting multi-wheeled tractors is available. [ Please contact your tax advisor for these matters.]
  • All equipment must comply with these new laws by October 5, 2001.

Code Requiremntes to be Aware of:

  • A Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) emblem must be visible to the rear from a distance of not less than 500 feet.
  • Vehicles displaying an SMV emblem may not travel at speeds exceeding 25 miles per hour.
  • White lamps facing the front of the vehicle must be visible from a distance of not less than 1000 feet.
  • Red lamps visible from the rear of the vehicle must be visible from a distance of not less than 1000 feet.
  • Red reflectors visible to the rear of the vehicle must be visible from a distance of 600 to 100 feet when illumninated by lower beam headlamps.
  • In the event that any lighting and marking requirements are obstructed by a piece of towed machinery, those lights must be made visible on the rearmost piece of equipment.

Other Optional Lighting

  • Farm machinery and motor vehicles escorting farm machinery may display flashing, oscillating, or rotating amber light(s).
  • Farm machinery and motor vehicles escorting farm machinery may display simultaneously flashing turn signals or warning lamps.

Workers Compensation Group Rating Program-Wednesday, March 26 @ 9:00 a.m.

Wednesday, March 26 The Mahoning/Columbiana County Farm Bureau's are hosting a Safety Seminar at the Mill Creek MetroParks Farm, Canfield. Registration is at 8:30 a.m. with the program starting at 9:00. The program will address "Understanding Property Protection with Surveillance Equipment, Wireless, Digital & High Resolution" presented by Stonehill Inc. Mary Fleming, Agriculture Health Coordinator, Grady Memorial Hospital will present the Importance of "Communicating with Your Employees, Stress & The Workplace plus Lyme's Disease-What is it". The new $2500 Reward signs will be distributed to Farm Bureau members at the seminar. The Ohio Farm Bureau offers a Workers Comp group program in order to help Farm Bureau members with no claims to benefit from lower ratings. The savings level last year was 78% with all groups combined. The Agriculture "A" group saved 95%. The program is offered to agriculture, manufacturing, construction, transportation, commercial and service companies. Evaluation for the group program are handled by provider Gates McDonald, the evaluation application packets can be obtained from the county Farm Bureau office or Gates McDonald representative, Kathy Redmond at 1-800-336-4733 x48650.

Mahoning Farm Bureau Officers

Mahoning County Farm Bureau elected officers for 2006-2007 membership year.
  • President: David Kenreich , Green Township
  • Vice President:Ralph Wince/, Green Township
  • Secretary : Andrea Zippay, Smith Township
  • Treasurer and Organization Director: Pearle Burlingame,Beaver Township
Committee Chairmen were also named by President Kenriech and are as follows: Communication: Jenifer Weaver; Jackson Township, Public Policy; Marjorie Yerman, Organization; Ralph Wince. <

Biotechnology- Better for Agriculture, Environment and YOU!

Biotechnology invovles genetic engineering and changing genetics/DNA in agriculture and health care.

The current world population growth will double to 10 MILLION people by the year 2030. Biotechnology will help meet the challenge of feeding this additional population, 95% of which are in the poor and developing countries, by using the amount of land and water available.

Here is a brief listing of the benefits of biotechnology:

  • saves valuable rain forests and animal habitats
  • triples plant yields without requiring additional farmland
  • Produces fruits,vegetables and other agricultural products that have their own ability to protect themselves from insects and diseases
  • decreases use of herbicides, insecticides and other chemical applications.
  • produces hardier plants to survive in extreme heat or cold and wetness or dryness
  • conserves water and land resources
  • enhances nutritional value of crops that are allergen-free and that stay fresh longer
  • preserves precious ground soils.
This information was compiled from information provided by the Council for Biotechnology Information and Alliance for Better Foods.
More information is available at their websites:
www.betterfoods.org
www.whybiotech.com
or by calling
Council for Biotechnology Information:
1.800.980.8660

©2001 Mahoning County Farm Bureau
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.