Farm and Dairy’s week in review: 2/21

Here are this week’s top stories from Farm and Dairy:

1. Ohio budget: Shale gas industry may feel hit if governor’s severance tax enacted

If approved, Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s 2016-2017 budget proposal will change the way oil and gas drillers are taxed. The current severance tax imposes a rate of 20 cents per barrel for oil and 3 cents per million cubic feet for gas. The proposed budget won’t tax small drillers at all, but will impose rates on larger producers who use hydraulic fracturing.

Some groups, like the Ohio Oil and Gas Association and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, are opposed to the severance tax proposal. The increased severance tax could discourage companies from operating in Ohio.

2. Urgent care v. ER? Tips on making the right choice

Making the decision to go to either urgent care or the emergency room can be tricky, especially with children. Urgent care facilities are equipped to treat some ailments and injuries, but for more severe situations, like minor brain injuries or bone fractures, an emergency room physician’s care is needed. While many parents panic when their child is sick, it isn’t always necessary to head to the ER.

3. Guebert tells OEFFA members ‘big ag’ is unsustainable

Sustainable agriculture was one of the focal topics at the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association’s annual conference. Illinois writer and columnist Alan Guebert addressed the problems he sees with big ag, including the myths it promotes, like feeding the world and producing the world’s safest food supply, and foodborne illnesses. According to Guebert, America needs to return to affordable, sustainable agriculture.

4. Goats for land management

If you have unwanted vegetation, overbearing brush and invasive plants, goats could take care of the problem. They have special gut enzymes that let them digest plants that are toxic to other animals. Goats can get into spaces that bush hogs can’t, so fencerows, hills, creek banks and wooded areas can be cleared without the use of machinery.

5. Farm emergency action plans help first responders, save time

When there’s a farm-related emergency, many first-responders aren’t equipped with the proper training or tools to manage the situation. In order to help first responders, farm owners can develop and implement farm emergency action plans to help first responders make quick decisions to rescue farm workers and protect property.