Happy Thanksgiving
State Representative Jim Buchy...
The Day that Continues to be changed by the Advancements of Modern Agriculture 
November 23, 2011              

At Thanksgiving time, like many families in western Ohio, my family gathers for a meal to count our blessings.  The hard work of each individual member has helped to prepare a meal and provide for the fellowship we are lucky to have.  Over generations, agronomists have changed the fruits that we receive from our agricultural labor.  The food brought to that first Thanksgiving meal was not the same as what we enjoy today. 

Food has changed over time and the process to get food to our table has evolved.  This evolution has built our region into the number one agricultural part of this state.  Yet, the changing technologies and increasing productivity has taken a toll on our land.  We must take steps to conserve our blessings and act as environmental stewards.  New technology is providing these abilities.  We can now recycle excess agricultural waste such as manure into energy—and it can be done at the farm.  We can clean up our lakes and streams by using non-toxic algae to remove phosphorous and other nutrients from the water.  These technologies will strengthen agriculture and provide profitable ways for farmers to act as conservationist. 

Last week, testimony began on HB 276, a bill that will make bio-digesters and algae part of agriculture law.  I introduced this bill with Representative Lou Gentile a Democrat from southeast Ohio.   This is an issue of better agriculture in the 21st Century.  I look forward to working with Representative Gentile to discuss the importance of these advancements with our colleagues.  Thus far this bill has included the input of interest groups from the Ohio Farm Bureau to the Ohio Environmental Council.  Much like the pilgrims and Indians this thanksgiving is about working together in a cooperative environment.  When addressing our most significant issues, we will be served best to put partisanship to the side. 

In the future, we will witness the impacts of this bill in our own backyards.  You may receive electricity produced by manure from the neighboring dairy farm or you may drink clean water in a plastic bottle produced by algae that was used to purify our rivers, lakes, and streams.  The long-term impact of this bill will result in seeing the bottoms of our rivers.  It is our hope that the introduction of bio-digesters and algae to the Ohio agricultural code will result in less excess nutrients entering the water cycle.  Years down the road in the 77th House District our descendents will gather to be thankful for stronger agriculture and a cleaner environment.