Legal with Leah

The 2026 Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) update brings lower values in many reappraisal counties and a significant policy win on permanent pasture. Leah Curtis, associate general counsel for Ohio Farm Bureau joins this Legal with Leah to break it all down and shares what farmers should expect.

A recent meteorite in northeast Ohio has sparked fascination and a few legal questions. If a meteorite lands on private property, who owns it? Can people search for fragments on someone else's land? And what should landowners know about trespassing? On this Legal with Leah, Leah Curtis, associate general counsel for Ohio Farm Bureau discusses these questions and what this rare event can teach us a...

A recent case in North Carolina has reached the Federal Circuit Appellate Court, addressing property rights and the proper compensation for when former rail lines are "banked" and converted into public trails. On this Legal with Leah, Ohio Farm Bureau Associate General Counsel, Leah Curtis discusses "rails to trails" projects, potential impact on farmland when these conversions happen, and Farm Bu...

Plans for data centers continue to pop up around Ohio, and so do the questions that come with them. Leah Curtis, associate general counsel for Ohio Farm Bureau, joins this Legal with Leah to talk about what these centers mean for local communities and how to stay engaged in the development process.

Four property tax reform bills were signed into Ohio law at the end of 2025. On this Legal with Leah, Ohio Farm Bureau Associate General Counsel Leah Curtis breaks down the bills and what the changes mean for Ohioans.

House Bill 10 introduced important reform to pesticide application rules in Ohio. On this Legal with Leah, Ohio Farm Bureau Associate Genera Counsel Leah Curtis explains why the changes matter for farm families.

In recent years, there has been a new addition to our airspace. And while some may assume it's a bird or a plane, it may actually be a drone flying overhead. These unmanned aerial vehicles and systems can be a great instrument but can also create a nuisance. Leah Curtis, Associate General Counsel for the Ohio Farm Bureau gives an update on the latest policies surrounding drones.

The CAUV or Current Agricultural Use Value program, where farmland is taxed at a rate that reflects its value for agricultural purposes instead of its value as development property, is increasing once again in 2025. For this Legal with Leah, get an update on CAUV values with Ohio Farm Bureau Associate General Counsel Leah Curtis.

Among a myriad of items included in the new state budget for Ohio, there are changes to pesticide licensing laws that Ohio Farm Bureau considers overly burdensome when it comes to the direct impact of Ohio agriculture. In this Legal with Leah, Ohio Farm Bureau Associate General Counsel, Leah Curtis discussed these changes and what farmers need to know as they go into effect. ODA Private Applicator...

On the Legal with Leah Podcast, CAUV is often discussed as a farmland preservation tool, but there are some other tools in the law that landowners can consider. Ohio Farm Bureau's Associate General Counsel Leah Curtis shared what benefits ag districts can have for landowners.

On this Legal with Leah, Leah Curtis, Associate General Counsel for Ohio Farm Bureau is back yet again, to talk about the Corporate Transparency Act as a new deadline to file has been set.

Farmers may be feeling like they’re on a roller coaster when it comes to Beneficial Ownership Information reporting requirements of the Corporate Transparency Act. A previously reinstated filing requirement has once again been put on hold. Lots of CTA news over the holiday period and lots of conflicting information out there on where things stand, so Leah Curtis, Ohio Farm Bureau’s Associate Gener...

Some breaking news about the Corporate Transparency Act. As you have heard Ohio Farm Bureau’s Associate General Counsel Leah Curtis on the Legal with Leah Podcast, there was a deadline coming soon for most companies to file some information to the Federal Government. Seems that deadline has been eased a bit in light of some recent court decisions.

Time is running out for thousands of farmers who may face steep fines and possible jail time for failing to file their businesses with the federal government as part of new rules through the Corporate Transparency Act. Ohio Farm Bureau's Associate General Counsel, Leah Curtis has details about the rules and upcoming deadline.

There is yet another lawsuit about the health of Lake Erie and targeting farmers about their role in water quality for the Western Lake Erie Basin. Find out more about the case and why Ohio agriculture groups are getting involved on this Legal with Leah.

What’s happening with CAUV values for those due for an update in 2024? Leah Curtis, policy counsel for Ohio Farm Bureau has the details in this Legal with Leah.

After years of advocacy from Ohio Farm Bureau and its partners, the Ohio Department of Taxation announced that it will address inaccurate woodland calculations in the Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) program. As Ohio Farm Bureau Policy Council notes in this Legal with Leah, these changes should result in significant tax savings for many woodland owners.

Ohio Farm Bureau is asking the highest court in the land take on a case to help Ohio landowners. In this Legal with Leah, OFBF Policy Counsel, Leah Curtis has the details of the brief the organization filed in the O'Connor v. Eubanks case.

A new license available to farmers to use in their direct marketing businesses is available. In this Legal with Leah, Ohio Farm Bureau's Policy Counsel, Leah Curtis discusses this new license, how it will be helpful to farmers who direct market and how Ohio Farm Bureau was involved in the process.

Under the Corporate Transparency Act, some new paperwork requirements are going to be handed to farmers. Ohio Farm Bureau's Policy Counsel, Leah Curtis talks about what these changes are and what they mean on this edition of Legal with Leah.

A U.S. District Court of Arizona recently vacated critically important crop protection tools and, for now, farmers will not be able XtendiMax, Engenia and Tavium during the 2024 growing season. How will this impact Ohio farmers and what can be done to allow for use of the products that have already been purchased? Ohio Farm Bureau Policy Counsel, Leah Curtis has the details in this Legal with Leah...

Many Ohioans will be treated to a rare phenomenon this spring when viewing of a total solar eclipse will be viewable for much of the state. On this Legal with Leah, we’re talking with Ohio Farm Bureau Policy Counsel, Leah Curtis about some of the concerns this might bring up for landowners.

In November, Ohio voters passed Issue 2 by a count of 57% to 43%, which means certain aspects of the legalization of recreational use and cultivation of marijuana will soon go into effect. How will this impact agribusinesses and farm employers? Ohio Farm Bureau's Policy Counsel, Leah Curtis has some answers.

Trespassing is a concern that a lot of farmers and rural landowners unfortunately have to deal with. On this episode of Legal with Leah, Ohio Farm Bureau's Policy Counsel, Leah Curtis discusses trespassing laws and the liability that can fall on landowners when people enter their property.

Continuing the conversation about Ohio Farm Bureau's newly updated Landowner Toolkit, we are covering the topic of Boundary Disputes. According to Ohio Farm Bureau's Policy Counsel, Leah Curtis, when property owners may have issues with trees or encroachment on their property, they often turn to Farm Bureau for information.