The resolution states the following:

Hendrix joy
Joy Hendrix
Managing Editor / Progressive Forage

“Whereas, the Ingredient Definition Committee of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) established the existence of two alfalfa products – direct dehydrated alfalfa and sun-cured alfalfa; and

“Whereas, AAFCO has recently taken action to define direct dehydrated alfalfa to mean the aerial portion of the alfalfa plant, reasonably free of other crop plants, weeds and mold, that has not been stored in bales or in stacks as sun-cured alfalfa hay prior to being ground and dried by thermal means under controlled conditions; and

“Whereas, AAFCO has set out to differentiate between chopped alfalfa, which is dehydrated in the field, from alfalfa stored as bales or stacks; and

“Whereas, we, the members of the House of Representatives of the 132nd General Assembly of the State of Ohio, seek to maintain transparency in Ohio’s agriculture and animal feed industry and to protect Ohio consumers; now therefore be it

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“Resolved, that we, the members of the House of Representatives of the 132nd General Assembly of the State of Ohio, in adopting this resolution, urge alfalfa manufacturers to label alfalfa based on AAFCO's alfalfa definitions, so that only direct dehydrated alfalfa that meets AAFCO's new definition may contain the words ‘dehydrated alfalfa’ on the product's label within this state; and be it further resolved, that we, the members of the House of Representatives of the 132nd General Assembly of the State of Ohio, urge alfalfa processors and suppliers to label any alfalfa product that is stored as bales or stacks and any alfalfa product that contains sun-cured alfalfa as "sun-cured alfalfa" as defined by AAFCO in section 3.1 of its official publication and not as "direct dehydrated alfalfa" or "dehydrated alfalfa"; and be it further

“Resolved, that we, the members of the House of Representatives of the 132nd General Assembly of the State of Ohio, recognize AAFCO's current 3.5 definition of ‘direct dehydrated alfalfa’ and no longer recognize the previous 3.2 definition of ‘dehydrated alfalfa’; and be it further

“Resolved, that the Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit a duly authenticated copy of this resolution to AAFCO.”

The resolution directly affects producers and consumers of alfalfa products. Processers and suppliers will be expected to use these specific terms while marketing their products. A similar resolution remains in committee in the state Senate.  end mark

Joy Hendrix