Farm Bureau speaks on gas leases

Mahoning County business and community leaders, as well as interested residents are invited to attend a special oil and gas leasing issues briefing, sponsored by the Mahoning County Farm Bureau.

The briefing will be at the Mill Creek MetroParks Farm, 7574 Columbiana-Canfield Road, Canfield Thursday at 7 p.m.

There is no charge to attend, but reservations are required due to limited seating.

Reservations can be made at info@mahoningfarmbureau.com or 330-533-5553.

The program will be facilitated by the Ohio Farm Bureau (OFBF) Director for Energy Services, Dale Arnold.

“Long-term energy demand and new drilling technology have sparked interest in tapping into the Marcellus and Utica Shale deposits in parts of the Appalachian plateau, including many areas of eastern and central Ohio,” Arnold said. “It is estimated that methane and methane liquids in these deposits can address major requirements for fuel well into the second half of this century.”

While many farmers and rural residents in the area have worked with energy service providers for years, new directional drilling technology, deeper wells and the amount of natural gas reserves expected have sparked new leasing arrangements.

“Land unitization requirements, repair/re-mediation practices, general payments, royalty and bonus provisions – leases now being presented to landowners are structured much differently than those offered during the 1970s–1990s,” Arnold said.

“The leasing agents have been actively soliciting leases in our area since last June, and many landowners still have questions about leases and terms,” said Public Policy Chairman of the Mahoning Farm Bureau Marjorie Yerman, a member organization that works to inform members on regulations and issues that impact agriculture and its relationship with rural, suburban and urban communities.