Bill Would Help Get Ohio Farm Lands into New Hands

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Accessing land is one of the biggest hurdles for farmers who are just starting out, and a new bill in Ohio aims to help.

An estimated 100 million acres of current land used to grow our food is expected to be up for grabs in coming years as the current generation of farmers in the U.S. retires. Amalie Lipstreu, policy director at the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, said beginning farmers face competition for this land from developers, larger corporate farmers, investment companies and the fossil-fuel industry.

"It's certainly in our national security to ensure that we've got some land in agriculture and some folks that are really interested and able to grow food for our population," Lipstreu said.

On Tuesday, a House committee discussed House Bill 183, which would allow income-tax credits for beginning farmers who participate in a financial management program, as well as tax credits for landowners who transition their land to a beginning farmer. The credits would apply to land sold, leased or used in a share-rental agreement with a beginning farmer.

Read more: https://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2019/04/10/bill-would-help-get-ohio-farm-lands-into-new-hands