Southwest Acres February 2012 by Acres Midwest

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Issue 12

FOR OHIO CORN GROWERS It’s all about the … By GARY BROCK gbrock@recordherald.com

ill a time come when southern Ohio corn farmers see a yield of 300 bushels an acre? And not just as a fluke or exception but harvest after harvest? It is not a question of if this will happen, but how soon, says Purdue University Agronomy professor Bob Nielsen. Nielsen says that for Ohio farmers, it will be all about the yield, and what will happen in coming years to increase that yield to reach the “magic” 300 bushel an acre number. In January, Nielsen and other agriculture experts held seminars in Fayette County to discuss the issue of crop yield and what can be done to increase it. He said that obtaining a 300 bushel an acre yield is “doable” even today, pointing out that this has happened in “yield competitions” in the southeast where the winner has broken the 300 bushel mark. But, for a normal harvest in a normal year, such a yield may happen in 30 years - or less. “We have seen that when things change, advance, they happen much faster than expected. So the 30-year prediction may not happen. It could be sooner,” he said. Nielsen said the “sooner” will depend on many things and some of them are things the Ohio farmers can control, and some are things over which they have no control. The biggest “no control” of course is the weather.

See YIELD/A3

Wanted: Soybean farmers for yield study

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Beck’s Hybrids buys Ohio’s Imboden Farms SW Ohio Corn College held

Corn harvest in 2012 successful

Fishers own 2 Century Farms

By GARY BROCK gbrock@recordherald.com

Ag programs win top awards

11 12 13 14

Growing organic

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Algae as fuel Grapes galore Safety rules to impact farmers Amish Cook Women on the Farm Still farming at age 98

HORSE SHED RUN INS

hat factors do soybean farmers control that impact their crop yield? That is one of the questions The Ohio State University wants answered in a new three-year study of soybean crop yield - and they want the help of southern Ohio farmers to take part in the study. And better yet, the farmers who volunteer will be paid for their efforts. Dr. Laura Lindsay at OSU Extension told Fayette County farmers at a recent seminar that it is “extremely difficult to estimate soybean yield.”

This year, Ohio State Soybean Performance Trials hopes to learn what can be done to increase soybean yield. And that is where Ohio farmers can help. Dr. Lindsey says the trials, funded by the Ohio Soybean Council, will look at yield limiting factors in soybeans across Ohio. She said yield has risen steadily since the 1920s to an average of about 45 bushels an acre today. “What will it take to reach 100 bushels an acre?” she asked, saying that in order to each the 100 bushel mark for soybeans in the next 30 years, the rate must increase 3.3 bushels

per acre every year. That’s a tall order. To learn what factors stand in the way of this, Ohio soybean farmers in nine locations are being asked to take part in the survey. Those chosen will be paid $200 for their contribution to the findings. In all, more than 200 fields, about 70 each of the next three years, will be examined. The following are the state districts, the counties in those districts and the number of farmers sought in each of those districts: - District 10 (Williams, Fulton, Lucas, Defiance, Henry, Wood, Paulding, Putnam, Hancock, Van Wert, Allen Counties) 10-

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ACRES of Southwest Ohio

Water quality concerns impacting farmers

of Southwest Ohio February 2013 Publisher — Pamela Stricker Editor — Gary Brock Layout — Jayla Wallingford

Sales Adams County (937) 544-2391 Lee Huffman, Publisher lhuffman@peoplesdefender.com Brown County (937) 378-6161 Steve Triplett, Publisher striplett@newsdemocrat.com Clinton County (937) 382-2574 Sharon Kersey, Ad Director skersey@wnewsj.com Fayette County (740) 335-3611 Sherri Sattler, Ad Director ssattler@recordherald.com

Highland County (937) 393-3456 Mickey Parrott, Ad Director mparrott@timesgazette.com Subscriptions Brenda Earley, Circulation Director (937) 393-3456, bearley@timesgazette.com Contact ACRES of Southwest Ohio: 761 S. Nelson Ave. | Wilmington, OH 45177 | (937) 382-2574

ACRES of Southwest Ohio is published monthly by Ohio Community Media, LLC and is available through the Georgetown News-Democrat, Hillsboro Times-Gazette, Ripley Bee, Washington CH Record-Herald, West Union People’s Defender and Wilmington News Journal. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue in whole or in part is prohibited. ACRES of Southwest Ohio is available for purchase at each of the newspaper offices for $1/copy or contact us to subscribe. Subscriptions $19.95 per year.

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Laura Lindsey from Ohio State University Extension talks to farmers at the January Field Agronomy Day in Fayette County, where she discussed plans for a comprehensive soybean study this year.

SOYBEAN Continued from page 1A

Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson, Belmont Counties) 26 farmers. - District 70 (Preble, Montgomery, Greene, Butler, Warren, Clinton, Hamilton and Clermont Counties) 5-8 farmers; - District 80 (Highland, Pike, Jackson, Brown, Adams, Scioto, Lawrence and Gallia Counties) 2-6

farmers; and - District 90 (Muskingum, Guernsey, Noble, Monroe, Perry, Morgan, Washington, Hocking, Athens, Vinton and Meigs Counties) 2-6 farmers. Those soybean farmers interested should contact Dr. Lindsey’s office at OSU, 614-292-2001 or 614-292-9080, or by email at lindsey.233@osu.edu. (Gary Brock is editor of ACRES of Southwest Ohio.)

t may seem like a broken record, but once again Ohio farmers seem to be under the gun of state and federal regulators who see the “business of farming” as needing additional controls and mandates. First, I will not suggest that some, or even many, of these recommendations and changes are not warranted and necessary. Many are. But as 2013 gets under way and Ohio farmers are hoping to concentrate on the new growing season at hand, more and more of their time is being spent reviewing and acting on what new laws and regulations are “coming down the road.” There are several articles in this month’s ACRES of Southwest Ohio dealing with these changes and proposals. What they will mean for Ohio’s farmers is anyone’s guess. Perhaps what will have the most impact going forward for our farmers are two words spoken last year by Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Those words? “Fix it.” Our governor was talking about the quality of Ohio’s water which is none too good. The state’s EPA, Department of Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture said one of the problems is the way water runoff from farm fields harm water quality. What gets into the water from these streams is soluble phosphorous, which leads to a number of problems with our water quality. So these agencies have developed guidelines for farmers to fol-

Gary Brock is Editor-In-Chief of Acres

low to help reduce this runoff. There is an article listing these recommendations in this month’s ACRES. Last month, to pound home the need for farmers to start changing their fertilizing methods, a letter went out to each and every one of them. The letter was sponsored by about 20 of Ohio’s major agricultural organizations and groups, including OSU Extension, the Farm Bureau Federation and every “producers” group in the state. Here is how the letter begins: “As a farmer in Ohio you have a significant challenge bearing down quickly. Government, special interest groups, the media and the public all expect you to help clean up the state’s water resources. If farmers don’t do this on their own, there will be federal and state laws and regulations that will mandate how you farm. That is why you’re receiving this letter signed by nearly all of Ohio’s agricultural organizations – to make it clear that farmers must take seriously their responsibility to manage nutrients.” That is an attention-getting start.

And true. If Ohio farmers don’t change how they fertilize their fields and work hard to stop the runoff into Ohio’s streams and lakes, someone soon will come along and make them. And speaking of that, farmers also are being asked to take a look at new proposed food safety standards and rules that were announced Jan. 4 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The newly proposed Produce Safety rule goes into effect this year, and farmers will have until May 16 to comment before the rule is finalized. According to OSU, the rule will take effect for some operators within just 60 days. The proposed Produce Safety rule can be found in the Federal Register, and is one way the government is putting the Food Safety Modernization Act into practice. These changes just pile on for farmers more of the rules and regulations that may go into effect this year that will affect how they operate. What does that mean? Usually it can be explained like this $$$$$$$ While I don’t disagree that many changes and regulations will be necessary, everyone has to understand the underlying result will be an increase in costs to the farmers, and that will mean an increase in cost to us consumers. (Gary Brock is editor-in-chief of ACRES.)

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Bob Nielsen from Purdue University told Ohio farmers in January that 300-bushel an acre yield could become the “norm” sooner than we think - as long as farmers understand what can affect the yield, what they can control and what they can do about those factors.

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YIELD Continued from page 1A

And that leads to the biggest challenge he sees for farmers - stress. Not the stress on the farmers themselves (although that is very much an issue), but stress on the stalks of corn as they grow. This stress comes from changes in the weather and “and all other factors that impact our yield,” he says. “We need to identify and manage the yield-limiting factors that we DO have control over.” He says that the best grain yield starts with four things the farmers can do: 1. Getting the stand off to a healthy start at kneeheight early in the season; 2. Once the stand is healthy knee-high, then maintain it season-long; 3. Spend time in the field monitoring the crop; and 4. Pay attention to the details. Regarding all the “technology and advancements in farming” Nielsen pointing out that in the history of corn growing there have really been just two major advances since 1866 - double-cross hybrid seeds in the 1930s and fol-

lowed by the development of single-cross hybrids and other changes in the 1950s. Those events caused a spike in corn yield every year. He said this third “miracle” will likely be biotechnology, genetic engineering and molecular breeding techniques that will boost the yield up to that magic 300 bushel range at some point in the future. But for today, Nielsen says that what corn growers should not do is wait for that “third miracle” of technology to suddenly boost corn yield. “Maybe what is a realistic goal for most of us is to strive to improve our ability to grow pretty good corn more consistently year in and year out,” he said. That alone will help boost yield. “Consistency is the key, he says. And the enemy of consistent growing is weather, and the stress weather puts on crops. Regardless of how we feel about global warming, Nielsen says there is no doubt that “our climate is changing, and there is more extreme weather.” He said there are yield influencing factors that

farmers can control to help increase production. One factor is seed hybrid selection. “It is important to select a hybrid that will do good every year, with a wide range of tolerance every year,” he said,. How does a corn grower select the best hybrid? Nielsen said for farmers to check and evaluate a variety of trial results from a number of locations and sources. “Choose hybrids whose yields are at least 90% that of the highest yielding hybrids in almost every variety trial you can find,” he said. And don’t count on anyone else to tell you what is best, he added check the results yourself. He also pointed out that tillage (vertical or no-till for example); types of fertilizer and when to use; crop rotation; nitrogen management and of course, disease and insect management also play major roles in crop yield. “It’s not rocket science,” he said. Just identify and target the yield issues and manage them. And 300 bushels an acre may not be far away. (Gary Brock is editor of ACRES of Southwest Ohio.)

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Livestock Coalition (OLC) Board of Directors (Board) elected new officers and identified three key focus areas in December to guide its direction for this year. Dick Isler, executive vice president of the Ohio Pork Producers Council, will serve as president of OLC. He will lead the organization as it addresses its priority issues, including antibiotics in food producing animals, nutrient management and water quality issues, and maximizing resources available from national farm organizations working on similar issues. “The use of antibiotics in livestock and environmental management at farms are important issues for farmers and all Ohioans,” said David White, OLC executive director. “The Board prioritized these focus areas that will advance our ability to engage in public dialogue and support our mission to assist Ohio’s livestock farm community in expanding its positive contributions to the state by advancing environmentally friendly, socially responsible and economically viable farming. “ The focus areas were approved at the December Board of Directors meeting. Board members also elected the following officers during that meeting: • Dick Isler, presi-

dent. Isler replaces David Glauer, DVM, who served as president the past two years. Dr. Glauer will continue to represent the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association on the OLC board. • Roger High, who represents the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association, will serve as vice president. • Scott Higgins, who represents the American Dairy Association Mideast and is a past president of OLC, was elected to serve as secretary/treasurer. Mr. High held the seat previously. “The OLC has a proud history of electing strong leaders committed to building trust in Ohio’s farmers and food producers through open and proactive engagement with the public,” said White. “This slate of elected officers continues that tradition.” “I am honored to be assuming this role with OLC,” said Isler. “Under the leadership of Dr. Glauer, the OLC has served as an effective voice for livestock farmers and has established positive partnerships with opinion leaders and other Ohioans interested in farm and food issues. I am committed to continuing the work of OLC and look forward to this opportunity on behalf of the livestock community.” In 2012, OLC leadership developed a strategic plan to guide ongoing programs and strengthen OLC’s ability

to meet its vision and mission. The strategic plan identifies three priority areas for long-term success: • Drive unity among Ohio’s animal agriculture stakeholders; • Shape perception of animal agriculture in Ohio; and • Proactively identify emerging issues. “Farmers are dedicated to responsible production as well as the standards and best practices that ensure the animals on our farms receive quality care, our natural resources are preserved and protected, and that our rural communities remain vibrant,” said White. “I am confident the Ohio Livestock Coalition Board of Directors has set a positive direction for our efforts on behalf of farmers and their communities in 2013.” The OLC, formed in 1997, is a statewide trade organization consisting of diverse agriculture organizations and individual farmers committed to a mission of advancing environmentally friendly, socially responsible and economically viable livestock farming practices. The OLC vision is to create an environment in which Ohio’s farm community can prosper and grow, and is a trusted resource in sharing fact-based information about animal agriculture and food production.

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ACRES of Southwest Ohio

Family-run business buys Ohio’s Imboden Farms

Southwest Ohio that the purchase in May and the just-announced purchase of the Imboden land “Is an excellent move on Beck’s behalf. It really positions them for the future. They are looking to the future.” He also pointed out that the announcement by Beck’s just adds to the positive environment being seen in the Ohio agricultural economy. “I look at it as a very aggressive move on Beck’s part. They are exploding and growing out,” Gamble said. Gamble was excited by what the decision will mean for Ohio’s agriculture community. “Holy moly… we (Ohio) are positioned for a very good year. The decision by Beck’s just demonstrates how positive the economic climate is here in Ohio,” he said. “Because over time, there certainly will be synergy from the purchase. I think it will be a winwin for everyone,” he said. Beck’s has long been a major presence at the annual Ohio Farm Science Review, an annual agriculture and farming event held each September, drawing more than 150,000 each year for the week-long event highlighting the latest in farming technology and research. The 285 acres next to the Farm Science Review site is expected to be used as a warehouse and distribution center, with construction starting later in the year and into 2014. Beck’s spokesman Bruce Kettler told Business First in Columbus that small research plots may be planted at the Madison County location this spring. He added that the seed processing facilities will stay in Indiana and Illinois. Jason Gentry, a Beck’s seed

By GARY BROCK gbrock@recordherald.com

ATLANTA, IND. — Beck’s Hybrids has announced the purchase of Imboden Farms in central Ohio, a purchase estimated to include more than 5,000 acres. The Beck-Imboden Ohio Farm includes fields south of Columbus along the Scioto River and extends just north of Circleville to south of Waverly. The purchase spans at least four Ohio counties, including Fayette, Pickaway, Ross, Pike and Scioto Counties. The purchase, along with other land purchases last year, has been called a “great strategic move for Beck’s and a great decision for agriculture in Ohio.” According to the announcement from Beck’s, as a large irrigated grain producer in the Midwest, Les and Carol Imboden founded Imboden Farms nearly 30 years ago and have been instrumental in designing and installing irrigation systems. “Establishing the best succession plan for Imboden Farms was extremely important to Carol and I,” said Les Imboden, owner of Imboden Farms. “After being a 100 percent Beck’s Hybrids customer for several years, we approached the Beck family because of the outstanding business environment they’ve created.” Last May, Beck’s purchased 285 acres of land in Madison County near London. The land is near I-70 and other major highways, and also right next to the large 2,100-acre Ohio Farm Science Review complex at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center. Chuck Gamble, Farm Science Review Manager, told ACRES of

Beck’s Hybrids facility in Atlanta, Indiana.

advisor for Southwest Ohio, said he is excited about his company’s commitment to the community and Ohio. “That is a big step.” Gentry has been with the company for five years, and says it is a wonderful company and the Beck’s are a “wonderful family. They have the farmer, their customers and their employees in mind in this growth and in everything they do.” Presently, Beck’s has seed crops in Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. But the Imboden farms in Ohio were attractive because of the central-pivot irrigation on the plots and the fact that the land is isolated from most other central Ohio farms - reducing the risks of genetic contamination. Les Imboden will remain as general manager of the Beck-Imboden Ohio Farm and become an employee of Beck’s Hybrids. Beck’s has also hired three full-

time employees and one parttime employee for the Beck-Imboden Ohio Farm. Imboden is a first generation farmer and over the years has become a leader in many industry organizations. He currently serves as board treasurer of the Ohio Corn Marketing Association, a delegate for the U.S. Grains Council, is a member of the Grower Services Action

About Beck’s Hybrids: Beck’s Hybrids is a family-owned and operated seed company that serves farmers in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky. Beck’s Hybrids ranks third in market share in this five state area. According to a recent media survey, Beck’s ranks as the sixth largest seed company in the United States and the only one in the top six that is family-owned, making Beck’s the largest retail, family-owned seed company in the United States.

Team for the National Corn Growers Association, and is board secretary for the Ohio Christian University Foundation. For the 2013 growing year, the farm will continue to raise commercial corn and soybeans. Imboden will also continue to manage the Rivers Edge Golf Club located on the property. “With nearly 75 percent of the farms under irrigation and containing mostly higher productivity soils, this purchase is a solid, long-term investment for Beck’s and for the benefit of our customers,” said Scott Beck, vice president of Beck’s Hybrids. “As we keep growing, it’s important that our seed production is diversified in multiple states and environments, to continue providing our customers with the best in seed quality, field performance and service.” (Gary Brock is editor of ACRES of Southwest Ohio.)

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February 2013

2012 Ohio Corn H a r ve s t R e p o r t Farmers harvest successful crop despite extreme weather challenges

Photo by Leah Phillips Dr. James Camerato, an associate professor of the agronomy department of Purdue University, talks about the use of Nitrogen to a group of farmers during the 2013 SW Ohio Corn College in January.

Improving yield topic for corn farmers at SW Ohio Corn College By LEAH PHILLIPS lphillips@wilmington.edu

WILMINGTON — Learning ways to maximize resources was the takeaway for 55 farmers from eight counties at the 2013 SW Ohio Corn College held in Wilmington in January. The college, sponsored by Ohio State University Extension and held in the Clinton County Extension Room on Nelson Avenue, featured five speakers for what organizers called a “cutting edge” program for producers. The program was designed to help those in attendance better understand production, profit and Nitrogen usage. “We’re wanting producers to stretch their yield and be efficient,” said Tony Nye, the OSU extension agent for Clinton County. Dr. Peter Thomison, a professor of horticulture and crop science at OSU, opened up the seminar, specifically addressing what it would take to accomplish a yield of 300 bushels of corn per acre in our area by the

“We’re wanting producers to stretch their yield and be efficient.” — Tony Nye, OSU extension agent for Clinton County year 2030. Nye said it is of the utmost importance to him and others alike to utilize the acreage farmers have available now to improve yield, adding that reaching the 300-yield goal in the foreseeable future can be a reality for Ohio farmers. Dr. Pierce Paul, an associate professor of the department of plant pathology at OSU, discussed costs as it relates to the use of fungicides. Paul talked about the rise, since 2007, in spraying corn crops with fungicidal agents and the cost per acre if used. Fungicides are now used to protect the yield.

Dr. James Camerato, an associate professor of the agronomy department of Purdue University, talked about the use of Nitrogen being added to the soil and its reaction. He also spoke about commonly used sources of Nitrogen, the impact of soil type, plant population and hybrids. Barry Ward, an assistant Extension professor and leader production business management with OSU, and Alan Sundermeirer, the OSU Extension educator for Wood County, discussed the cost of an upcoming production year and the importance of covering crops to enhance profitability. Tate Cockerill, who represented a sales team from southwest Ohio with Pioneer Hybrid said he enjoyed the program. “I’m glad to see local growers. They confirmed some data our company is conducting research on,” Cockerill said.

DELAWARE – It should now come as no surprise that Ohio’s 2012 corn crop beat all expectations last harvest season. Ohio’s corn farmers experienced extreme weather during the 2012 growing season, yet in spite of historic challenges a plentiful yield was produced, according to the Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association (OCWGA) in January. The results of the 2012 season are borne out in the annual crop report released recently by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service. Facing what published reports cited as the broadest and most intense drought since 1956, corn farmers in Ohio and across the Midwest faced significant obstacles. In Ohio, the USDA declared an emergency state of drought for 85 of Ohio’s 88 counties. “Ohio’s corn growers are resilient and work hard from planting to harvest to produce a quality, bountiful crop each

year,” said OCWGA President Brent Hostetler. “Corn growers met obstacles along the way, but best farming practices and improved technology helped them contribute to our nation’s eighthlargest crop in recorded history despite the drought.” Each year, improvements are made in agriculture, from more advanced seed varieties to more effective and efficient machinery, according to Hostetler. While there is no doubt the drought has affected the crop and supplies are tighter than in years past, the United States will still have more than 500 million bushels of unused corn. That is enough corn to fill the Empire State building 18 times, according to the OCWGA. Even with the reduced amount of corn, farmers were still able to fill all the needs for consumers, livestock producers and the food industry, as well as continuing to bolster the country’s domestic fuel supply through ethanol.

(Leah Phillips is a senior at Wilmington College studying communications.)

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ACRES of Southwest Ohio

CENTURY FARM GOT ITS START AS LOVE STORY Fishers are now proud owners of twoCentury Farms By ANDREA L. CHAFFIN achaffin@civitasmedia.com

t sounds like a lyric from a country song, but according to Don Fisher’s family folklore, the Clinton County farm he owns got its start when a Civil War soldier fell in love with the farmer’s daughter. “The story I heard was that someone fought a battle or two and won, and they told them to stack their rifles and draw their pay, and he did and went to walking,” Don recalled, his face twisting into a grin. The man, William Harrison Fisher of Virginia, Don’s greatgrandfather, made his way up to southwest Ohio, where he worked as a farmhand in Liberty Township. It was there he met Mary Matilda Henry, the Clinton

County woman who would eventually come to own the 76 acres he worked on. “He took a liking to her,” Don, 79, added of his father’s grandfather. The couple built an eight-room frame home in 1882, raised corn and wheat and made hay. Cattle and horses drank from the well near the back barn. Their son, Edwin Clifton, inherited the land in 1890, and he and his wife, Josephine Gilchrist, purchased an adjoining 50 acres in 1904. The family had feeder cattle and pigs, marketing them in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. Their son, Emerson, and his wife, Thelma, purchased the farm in 1955 and passed it down to their son, Don. See FISHERS/A7 The Walnut Plains Farm, near Port William, is shown in this 2011 aerial shot.

The Maple Dell Farm, near New Vienna, is shown in this 2011 aerial shot.

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ACRES of Southwest Ohio

February 2013

FISHERS Continued from page 6A

One hundred and 23 years later, the same family owns and operates Walnut Plains Farm near Port William, now a grain farm. It was one of two farms owned by Don and his wife, Virginia, that were designated Ohio Century Farms by the Ohio Department of Agriculture this year, a status awarded to families who have owned the same farm for at least 100 consecutive years. The department contacted the Fishers last year and encouraged them to apply for the designation. State officials had discovered a 1986 publication of the book, “Ohio Family Farm Heritage,” which featured articles submitted by Don’s mother. Across the state, 78 farms received the designation in 2012. For the first time, a farm has been designated in each of Ohio’s 88 counties, said David Daniels, director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture. “We consider this to be a

very important program,” said Daniels, a Highland County native whose own farm was also designated an Ohio Century Farm in 2012. It’s also important the public realizes farms are businesses, he added. “If you stop and think about what 100 consecutive years means to a local economy — that’s huge,” Daniels said. “You can’t find many businesses across the state that have been in operation for 100 years.” Not only do the Fishers own one farm that has been in their family’s operation for 100 years: they own two — one from each side of Don’s family. Maple Dell Farm, near New Vienna, was purchased by Don’s grandparents on his mother’s side: William Estel Fisher and Clara Bernard in 1908. Maple Dell — on Fisher Road, of course — is where Don and Virginia call home. The rural area remains wide open and is only decorated with the occasional farmhouse. The farm can be reached by driving

down the skinny, curvy country roads, which meander through seemingly endless corn and soybean fields. Estel had lived there as a boy, and purchased the 100 acres from Thomas Bernard, shortly adding 80 additional acres. It was a livestock and grain farm with horses, Shropshire sheep, Shorthorn cattle and Poland China Hogs. There was also corn, wheat, clover, a fruit orchard, vegetable garden and enough dairy cows to sell cream and butter. In 1969, it was passed down to the couple’s two daughters, Edythe and Thelma. Edythe and her husband Harold Haworth, who also owned a well-known hardware store in Wilmington, did not have any children. Thelma and her husband, Emerson, who met as Wilmington College students in the late 1920s, only had one child who would inherit it all: Don. Maple Dell, named for the lush Maple trees which once decorated the front acres meeting the road, has changed over

the decades. The old, dilapidated white farmhouse was torn down to build a new brick one from scratch in the mid 1990s. A large, new barn has taken the place of the last two which burnt down. But it’s located on the other side of the house. “We decided we better not build another one there,” Virginia laughed. Don, who has lived in Clinton County his entire life, still owns a few of the tractors he started out with, including an early 1950s John Deere — the second he ever purchased. “I still like to play with them once in awhile,” Don said. He also likes trucks, easily rolling through the list of the ones he owns to an interested listener. He can count the area families off his fingers, too, mentioning others which will likely soon be qualified to apply for the century status as well. Unlike many farming families which have lost land acreage over the decades, the Fishers have increased theirs, now own-

ing nine different farms throughout the county. Virginia, a self-described city girl originally from Cincinnati, said it’s something you can only find in rural areas. “People like me from the city, I never knew anybody who lived in the same place that long,” she said, adding that she used to jump on a tractor, but not a combine. “I picked her up at a dance hall,” Don interjected. “It was the best decision I ever made.” They were married in the early 1970s. Their son, Vincent, handles much of the operation now, planting and harvesting about 1,200 acres. Their hope is that the farms will continue to be passed down through the generations, with the help of their grandchildren and son-in-laws. In their retirement, the couple enjoys spending time with their Jack Russell dog, Tiny. (Andrea Chaffin is a staff writer for the Wilmington News Journal.)

Above photo by Andrea L. Chaffin Virginia Fisher, right, reads an excerpt from the book, “Ohio Family Farm Heritage,” to her husband, Don at their home on the Maple Dell Farm. At right are aerial shots of the two farms taken in the 1970s: top, Walnut Plains Farm and bottom, the Maple Dell Farm where the Fishers now reside.

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ACRES of Southwest Ohio

Ohio Farm Bureau wins top award from national bureau COLUMBUS – The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) received the top honor for a state organization during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) 2013 annual meeting this week in Nashville, Tenn. OFBF was presented the Pinnacle Award, which recognizes outstanding accomplishments in programming and membership. Qualifying it for the Pinnacle Award, OFBF also received the President’s Award for superior programming in leadership development, member services and public relations and communications. Additionally, Ohio won the Award for Excellence in all five programming areas including the President’s Award categories plus education and outreach, and policy development and implementation. Ohio competed against other state Farm Bureaus of similar size in the awards program. “This shows what members working together can accomplish,” said John C. (Jack) Fisher, executive vice president of Ohio Farm Bureau. “Our members, staff, friends at Nationwide and all our partners should be very

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proud of their organization.” Two Ohio county Farm Bureaus, Hamilton and Wayne, were among the top 25 county programs honored with AFBF’s County Activities of Excellence Award. Hamilton County was recognized for its program “Making Farm Bureau Relevant to the Equine Community” while Wayne County was honored for its program “Animal Agriculture Educational Kiosks.” Both Ohio counties exhibited their programs at the AFBF trade show. Also during the national convention, Ohio’s discussion meet winner, Brad Heimerl of Johnstown, advanced to the Sweet 16 round of the national competition. Ohio’s Outstanding Young Farmer, Erik Scott of Georgetown, and Excellence in Agriculture winner Greg McGlinch of Versailles, also represented Ohio in the national contests. According to Fisher, Farm Bureau’s goal is to make a positive difference for its members and their communities. “Awards like these validate the work being done every day by Farm Bureau members across the state,” he said.

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World renown: State Fair’s Soybean Education Program receives international award WORTHINGTON – The Ohio State Fair, in conjunction with the Ohio Soybean Council, has received an award of distinction in the inaugural Soybean and Environmental Sustainability Awards competition from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) for its soybean education program at the 2012 Fair. In addition to receiving first place in its attendance division for the “educational event, exhibit or program for the fairgoing public – soy use” category, the Ohio State Fair was presented with the coveted Judge’s Choice Award for the entire Soybean and Environmental Sustainability Awards competition, which recognized fairs in four different categories, and in each of five divisions based upon attendance. The entries were evaluated and judged by a team of industry leaders selected from the membership of the IAFE. The multi-faceted program was developed in partnership with the Ohio Soybean Council and soybean checkoff to educate fairgoers, farmers and concession vendors about the state’s most abundant and versatile crop, the soybean: Many concessionaires made their fried foods healthier by adopting the use of trans fat-free high-oleic soybean oil in their food booths, featuring educational signage alongside the delicious treats. Various additional soy-based products, such as hand sanitizer and paint, were used throughout the 360-acre Ohio Expo Center. A final educational element was the sponsorship of several buildings and the entire junior livestock show, capped with Ohio Soybean Day, Saturday,

From left to right, Ohio Soybean Council Executive Director Kirk Merritt, Ohio State Fair General Manager Virgil Strickler, Chairman of the Ohio Soybean Council Board of Trustees and Hancock County soybean farmer John Motter and Ohio Soybean Council Communications Director Jennifer Coleman pose with the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) Soybean and Environmental Sustainability Judges’ Choice Award for the Ohio State Fair’s soy education program.

Aug. 4. On this day, Ohio soybean farmers greeted fairgoers and answered questions about the uses of soybeans and how farmers grow them. Additionally, potted soybean plants along with signage sharing interesting facts such as “one acre of soybeans can produce 82,368 crayons” were located throughout the grounds. The Soybean and Environmental Sustainability Awards were developed to encourage fairs to utilize soy products in their oper-

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ations, educate the public about the soy products, to incorporate environmentally sustainable practices in fair operations as well as to educate the fairgoing public about environmentally sustainable practices. The Ohio Expo Center hosts the 2013 Ohio State Fair, which will run July 24-Aug. 4. In 2012, 840,306 people attended the Ohio State Fair. For more information, call 1-888-OHO-EXPO or 1-614-644-FAIR. On the Web, visit them at

ohiostatefair.com. The Ohio Soybean Council is governed by a volunteer farmer board, which directs the Soybean Promotion and Research Program. The program’s primary goal is to improve soybean profitability by targeting education, marketing and research and development projects through the investment of farmer-contributed funds. To learn more, visit www.soyohio.org and www.ohiosoybeanfarmers.org.

ACRES of Southwest Ohio

January 2013

Scioto COUNTY AGRICULTURE SNAPSHOT

JACK

PIKE

MS SCIOTO LAW

2007 CENSUS OF

Look for ulture more Agric in snapshots ns future editio! of Acres

AGRICULTURE County Profile

% 2007 2002 change Number of Farms ..............................................755......................709 ............+6 Land in Farms...................................102,025 acres .......96,449 acres ............+6 Average Size of Farm ..............................135 acres ............136 acres.............-1 Market Value of Products Sold ...........$19,938,000 .......$14,867,000 .........+ 34 Crop Sales $95,916,000 (79 percent) Livestock Sales $26,124,000 (21 percent) Average Per Farm....................................$26,407 ..............$20,968 ........+ 26 Government Payments..........................$1,067,000 ............$684,000 ........+ 56 Average Per Farm Receiving Payments..........$5,080.................$4,147 .........+ 22

Economic Characteristics

Quantity

Farms by value of sales: Less than $1,000 .....................................................................267 $1,000 to $2,499 .....................................................................139 $2,500 to $4,999 .......................................................................95 $5,000 to $9,999 .......................................................................86 $10,000 to $19,999 ...................................................................79 $20,000 to $24,999 ...................................................................19 $25,000 to $39,999 ...................................................................17 $40,000 to $49,999 .....................................................................6 $50,000 to $99,999 ...................................................................17 $100,000 to $249,999 ...............................................................16 $250,000 to $499,999 ...............................................................11 $500,000 or more........................................................................3 Total farm production expenses ($1,000) .............................16,539 Average per farm ($)............................................................21,906 Net cash farm income of operation ($1,000) ..........................5,814 Average per farm ($)..............................................................7,700

Operator Characteristics

Scioto County – Ohio Ranked items among the 88 state counties and 3,079 U.S. counties, 2007 State Quantity Rank

Item

Universe

U.S. Rank

Universe

MARKET VALUE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS SOLD ($1,000) Total value of agricultural products sold Value of crops including nursery and greenhouse Value of livestock, poultry, and their products

19,938 10,040 9,897

70 73 58

88 88 88

2,252 1,867 2,052

3,076 3,072 3,069

VALUE OF SALES BY COMMODITY GROUP ($1,000) Grains, oilseeds, dry beans, and dry peas Tobacco Cotton and cottonseed Vegetables, melons, potatoes, and sweet potatoes Fruits, tree nuts, and berries Nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod Cut Christmas trees and short rotation woody crops Other crops and hay Poultry and eggs Cattle and calves Milk and other dairy products from cows Hogs and pigs Sheep, goats, and their products Horses, ponies, mules, burros, and donkeys Aquaculture Other animals and other animal products

7,573 (D) 971 (D) 216 1 (D) (D) (D) 161 42 27 253 26

66 9 30 (D) 76 78 (D) 14 (D) 83 77 79 37 64

88 12 88 88 87 84 88 88 88 86 88 88 88 53 88

1,341 (D) 821 (D) 1,770 1,506 (D) (D) (D) 1,914 1,656 2,111 920 1,664

2,933 437 626 2,796 2,659 2,703 1,710 3,054 3,020 3,054 2,493 2,922 2,998 3,024 1,498 2,875

17,162 14,102 7,371

58 33 68

87 88 88

884 1,375 1,284

2,039 3,060 2,634

688 509

69 68

87 86

1,749 1,321

2,481 2,263

(D) (D) 9,490 1,510 624

8 8 54 28 41

88 86 88 88 88

(D) (D) 2,045 854 1,235

3,024 2,627 3,060 3,066 3,023

TOP CROP ITEMS (acres) Soybeans for beans Corn for grain Wheat for grain, all Forage - land used for all hay and haylage, grass silage, and greenchop Corn for silage TOP LIVESTOCK INVENTORY ITEMS (number) Cattle and calves Hogs and pigs Sheep and lambs Quail Horses and ponies

Quantity

Principal operators by primary occupation: Farming................................................................................................289 Other ....................................................................................................466

Loaded

Principal operators by sex: Male .....................................................................................................673 Female....................................................................................................82 Average age of principal operator (years)............................................55.4 All operators by race: American Indian or Alaska Native ..........................................................13 Asian ........................................................................................................3 Black or African American.........................................................................Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander .................................................White.................................................................................................1,071 More than one race ..................................................................................3 All operators of Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino Origin.................................3

Fullly Fully lyy Loa ad ded Loaded

Land in Farms by Type of Land

Cropland 51.3%

Other uses 5.0% Woodland 29.8%

Pasture 14.0%

Master Feed Mill 190 Owens Avenue Wilmington, Ohio 45177 45177 (937) 382-3873

Farms by Size 400

Farms

300

200

100

1-9

10 - 49

50 - 179

180 - 499

500 - 999

1,000+

Acres/Farm

Information from www.agcensus.usda

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10A

February 2013

ACRES of Southwest Ohio

State’s largest indoor equipment display held in Columbus By KATE LIEBERS kliebers@civitasmedia.com

bout 15,000 agricultural supply enthusiasts made the trip to Columbus the last weekend in January to attend this year’s Power Show Ohio – the state’s largest indoor exhibition of outdoor equipment. Held at the Ohio Expo Center, Power Show manager Dennis Alford boasted of the show’s breadth of farming, construction and gardening equipment. “There’s a lot of specialty type of equipment that you might not get to see just going to an

equipment dealer,” he said. Sponsored by the Ohio-Michigan Equipment Dealers Association, the exhibit featured power tools, supplies and computer software from more than 600 brand name companies. Attendees were able to browse products such as all terrain vehicles, baling equipment, chippers and shredders, excavators, fertilizer, generators, hydraulic equipment, irrigation equipment, livestock equipment, mowers, pressure washers, rakes, seeds and seeders, tanks, tractors, tillers, tools and more.

New this year was a “Now and Then” display, featuring antique tractors and their modern day counterparts. The products were displayed throughout three buildings in the Expo Center – a total of about 300,000 square feet – to accommodate the growth the exhibit has experienced in its 43 years. As part of that growth, the exhibit – which originally showcased only agricultural equipment – has included more lawn and outdoor equipment, Alford said. He said whether attendees are hobby farmers or professional construction

employees, the show catered to a variety of audiences. Additionally, visitors had a chance to listen to seminars and to speak with manufacture representatives. “You get an opportunity to maybe learn some things about the equipment that you may not be able to otherwise,” Alford said. Throughout the threeday event, educational seminars covered topics such as farmland preservation, crop nutrient management and its effects on water, barn rehabilitation, farm safety, small engine maintenance. The show’s younger audience had an opportunity to flex their own agricultural muscles at the National Kiddie Tractor Pull. The contestants, ages three to eight years old, competed by pulling a weighted sled behind a miniature pedal tractor. More information about the show is available at www.PowerShowOhio.com. (Kate Liebers is a staff writer at the Delaware Gazette.)

ACRES photos by Devin Hamilton

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February 2013

GROWING ORGANIC: Weekend of facts and learning for farmers OSU says number of speakers at February conference sets a record By TRACY TURNER OSU Extension

COLUMBUS – From vegetable grafting and dairy cow management to plasticulture strawberry production and organic grain production, Ohio State University professionals will present pertinent information on some of the key issues in organic and sustainable agriculture next month during Ohio’s largest sustainable food and farm conference.

The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association’s (OEFFA) 34th annual conference, Growing Opportunities, Cultivating Change, is Feb. 1617 in Granville. And with 27 workshops, Ohio State scientists, specialists and students will offer a record number of presentations during the event, which is expected to draw 1,200 participants, organizers said. The previous high was 19 workshops from Ohio State professionals in 2011. “Our workshops draw on the talents and expertise of scientists and researchers, farmers, chefs, homesteaders, and entrepreneurs from across Ohio and the Midwest,” said Lauren

Ketcham, OEFFA’s communications coordinator. “With cooking demonstrations and more than 90 educational workshops on sustainable farming, gardening, green living, livestock, and business management, there’s something for everyone.” The Ohio State presenters are from the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and its research and outreach arms, the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) and Ohio State University Extension. The conference features some 90 sessions in all plus a trade show; two pre-conference workshops on food safety and

grazing; a kids’ conference; and keynote talks by Nicolette Hahn Niman, an attorney, rancher, and writer, and George Siemon, a founding farmer of Organic Valley. Registration ranges from the $65 one-day student member rate to $205 for both days for an adult nonmember of OEFFA. Meals, the kids’ conference and the pre-conference workshops are extra. Register online at http://www.oeffa.org/2013. Editor: Members of the press can attend some or all of the conference free of charge. To arrange a press pass, contact Lauren Ketcham at lauren@oeffa.org or 614-4212022, ext. 203.

McSpadden Gardener, OSU/OARDC plant pathologist, “OFFERings 2013: Defining the Organic Research Agenda,” Saturday, 1:45-3:45 p.m. Brad Bergefurd, OSU/OARDC Extension educator and specialist, “Plasticulture Strawberry Production,” Saturday, 1:45-2:40 p.m. Hoorman, “Biology of Soil Compaction,” Saturday, 1:45-2:40 p.m. Julie Fox, direct marketing specialist, “Maps, Apps and Mobile Media Marketing,” Saturday, 1:45-2:40 p.m. Michael Lilburn, OSU/OARDC, “Organic Pasture Poultry Research at OARDC,” Saturday, 2:503:45 p.m. Mike Hogan OSU Extension, “Writing a Grant Proposal for On-Farm Research,” Saturday, 2:50-3:45 p.m. Casey Hoy, OARDC Kellogg Endowed Chair, “Creating Opportunities in Local Food Supply Chains with a New Approach to Business Planning,” Sunday, 9:30-11:30 a.m. P. Larry Phelan, OSU/OARDC,

professor of entomology, “Improving Protein Quality for Bread Making and Suppressing Weeds in Organic Spelt,” Sunday, 9:30-10:25 a.m. Denise Ellsworth, program director of Honey Bee and Native Pollinator Education, “Enhancing OnFarm Habitat for Pollinators,” Sunday, 9:30-10:25 a.m. McSpadden Gardener, “Why Cover Crop Your Tomatoes?” Sunday, 10:35-11:30 a.m. Alan Sundermeier, OSU Extension, “Report on 10 Years of Research on Organic Grain Production in Northwest Ohio,” Sunday, 10:35-11:30 a.m. Mary Gardiner and Celeste Welty, OSU entomology professors, “Managing Cucumber Beetles to Reduce Bacterial Wilt in Cucurbits,” Sunday, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Phelan, “Partnering with the Soil Community for Healthy and Resistant Plants,” Sunday, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Sundermeier, “Interpreting Forage Test Results and Their Implications,” Sunday, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Workshop schedule: Workshops offered by OSU experts in order of date and time include: Matt Kleinhenz, associate professor and OSU Extension specialist, “Vegetable Grafting: Why and How,” Saturday, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Jeff McCutcheon, OSU Extension educator, and Bob Hendershot, 2010 Stinner Award winner and retired grazing management specialist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, “Pasture for Profit,” a four-part workshop series on Saturday, 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:45-3:45 p.m. and Sunday, 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-2:30 p.m. Mike Hogan, OSU Extension educator, and Julie Fox, OSU Extension marketing specialist, “Is Your Farm MarketReady? Selling to Restaurants and Grocers,” Saturday, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Gustavo Schuenemann, assistant professor, Veterinary Medicine, “Transition Dairy Cow Management,” Saturday, 9:3010:25 a.m. Jim Hoorman, assistant professor and OSU

Extension educator, “Using Cover Crops to Reduce Crop Variability in a Changing Climate,” Saturday, 9:30 -10:25 a.m. Rory Lewandowski, OSU Extension educator, “Measuring and Maintaining Soil Health,” Saturday, 10:35-11:30 a.m. Parwinder Grewal, OSU professor and director of the Center for Urban Environment and Economic Development, “Ecosystem Services of the Soil Food Web,” Saturday, 10:3511:30 a.m. Michele Williams, a research scientist with OARDC, “Natural Suppression of Pathogens in Food Systems,” Saturday, 10:35-11:30 a.m. Matt Kleinhenz, OSU associate professor and Extension specialist, “Microclimate Management in High Value Vegetable Production,” Saturday, 1:45-3:45 p.m. Marne Titchenell, wildlife program specialist for OSU Extension, “The Good, the Bad, and the Hungry: Dealing with Wildlife Conflict,” Saturday, 1:45-3:45 p.m. Brian

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February 2013

ACRES of Southwest Ohio

ALGAE FARM DEVELOPS ALGAE FUEL Unusual research facility operates with W.Va company

By MAURICIO ESPINOZA OSU Extension

OOSTER — Right next to a commercial nursery and greenhouse operation on the outskirts of Wooster, paddlewheels keep water constantly moving in four 30-by-200-foot ponds shaped like automotive raceway circuits. The water is deep green and murky. That’s just how Phil Lane likes it. Lane is a program manager for Touchstone Research Laboratory, a West Virginia-based company that operates this unusual facility on a stretch of farmland where the remnants of corn and soybean fields are

now buried under snow. And the stuff making the ponds green is another type of crop that could one day grow alongside the more traditional fare occupying Ohio fields: algae. “Algae can be grown just about anywhere, so we are not competing with farmland for growing food crops,” said Lane, who manages the Wooster algae pilot facility. “Algae can add value to marginal lands, generating a crop that can be turned into biofuel and a variety of bioproducts.” Algae farming is expanding across the United States and around the world, showing great promise as a fast-growing and efficient source of natural

oil for renewable transportation fuel, bio-plastics, food supplements and many other products. Growing algae in places like Ohio may sound like a strange proposition, especially in the middle of winter. After all, most large-scale algae operations are found in warmer climates with lots of sunshine, as these conditions allow for yearround production. However, the project in Wooster is seeking to change that. Built in late 2011 at Cedar Lane Farms, the two indoor and two outdoor raceway ponds host collaborative research between Touchstone and Ohio State University’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), whose

Wooster campus is located just a few miles from this site. OARDC is the research arm of Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Funded by close to $7 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Ohio Coal Development Office, this research involves testing of three innovative technologies that seek to make algae farming viable, more cost-effective and sustainable in a wider variety of climates and locations. The first technology, previously developed by Touchstone exclusively for algae production, is a phase-changing mateSee ALGAE/A13

The algae grown in Yebo Li’s lab serves as the seed for algae production in Touchstone’s research ponds. Photo by Ken Chamberlain

“Ultimately, the aim is to reduce costs enough to make the algae industry competitive with petroleum fuels.”

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ALGAE Continued from page 12A

rial that covers a majority of the pond surface. This material regulates daily temperature, helping the algae grow during colder periods; controls the infiltration of invasive species; and reduces water evaporation, which is a big problem with open-pond algae systems. “We are testing this technology at both the indoor and outdoor ponds,” Lane explained. “For each pair, one pond will be covered by the phasechange material while the other pond will have no protection and serve as the control. “We are seeing up to 90 percent reduction in evaporation with this material. We are also looking at the impact of this material on other variables, for example, if algae growth increases, if lipid (oil) content goes up.” The second technology serves an environmental purpose. It involves pumping carbon dioxide from Cedar Lane Farms’ advanced coal-burning system into the ponds. Like all plants, algae needs CO2 to grow. And since algae grows very fast — doubling its mass in 24-48 hours depending on the type — it can use a lot of the greenhouse gas. How much? Lane said

February 2013 the goal for the four ponds at Cedar Lane Farms is to keep up to 60 percent flue gas CO2 generated by the facility’s coal-burning system from being released into the environment. The third technology involves research conducted by OARDC biosystems engineer and OSU Extension specialist Yebo Li. As an alternative to using commercial fertilizers to feed the algae, Li is testing a liquid waste (called “effluent”) that comes out of anaerobic digesters — systems that produce biogas from organic matter. “The effluent is rich in nitrogen and phosphorous, two nutrients that algae needs to grow,” said Li, who obtains this effluent from quasar energy group, an OARDC research partner that operates an anaerobic digester on the Wooster campus. In an effort to make this algae-growing system as sustainable as possible, Li is using the biomass left over after extracting oil from algae as a feedstock for anaerobic digesters. Doing this takes care of the algae biomass and also helps produce more clean energy, which in turn leads to more effluent fertilizer available. In other words, it’s an integrated system in which nothing is

“Algae contains about 40 percent lipids and 60 percent biomass, so future large-scale algae farming would generate a lot of biomass residues that can be used as a fertilizer or for making energy.”

wasted. “Algae biomass is rich in proteins and carbohydrates and works very well for anaerobic digestion,” Li said. “Algae contains about 40 percent lipids and 60 percent biomass, so future largescale algae farming would generate a lot of biomass residues that can be used as a fertilizer or for making energy.” Li’s laboratory also tests and grows the seed algae that is later added to the ponds to multiply. With these three technologies combined, the four ponds at Cedar Lane Farms can produce some 2,000 gallons of oil per year — approximately 10 times more oil than what soybeans could yield on the same area of land. “Tests at his pilot plant will help us determine the operating costs and yields from this technology,” Lane said. “We hope the pilot plant will attract investors to license this technology to others in the algae industry and that the production process will be adopted to provide energy savings and to reduce water usage. “Ultimately, the aim is to reduce costs enough to make the algae industry competitive with petroleum fuels.” Brian Joseph, president of Touchstone, said Ohio is a good place for algae farming because it has a high water table that makes it easy to set up ponds, as well as a large supply of waste heat available. The opportunity to work with Ohio State is another important asset. “Having Ohio State as a partner is great,” Joseph said. “They have great depth of expertise in every part of the biological spectrum that you can think of.”

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GRAPES GALORE Grape growing-winemaking conference coming this month By TRACY TURNER OSU Extension

COLUMBUS – Grape growers, wine producers and anyone interested in learning more about the wine industry will have several opportunities to learn from local and national professionals in the field during the 2013 Ohio Grape and Wine Conference. The conference, which will be held Feb. 18-19 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Dublin, is anticipated to attract some 250 participants throughout the region, said Imed Dami, a state viticulture (grape growing) specialist with the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) and Ohio State University Extension. The conference is offered jointly by Ohio State’s Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, OSU Extension, OARDC, the Ohio Grape Industries Committee and the Ohio Wine Producers Association. OSU Extension and OARDC are the outreach and research arms of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. The conference will

offer sessions that focus on viticulture and enology with themes focused on vineyard innovations, fruit wine and specialty production among other topics, and is designed to help growers and winemakers, as well as to boost Ohio’s wine industry, Dami said. “Attendees will get a regional perspective on various practices, production techniques and insight into the grape and wine industry,” he said. “We’ll also provide research updates and educational programs that are beneficial for either new or existing producers. “The conference will also provide an excellent opportunity for networking for grape growers and wine producers, as well as feature a trade show.” The conference comes as the Ohio grape and wine production industry continues to grow. It now ranks among the top 10 in the U.S. for grape acreage, grape and wine production, and number of wineries. The Ohio grape and wine industry employs 4,100 people and attracts 1.7 million visitors every year with an estimated economic impact of more than $500

million annually, Dami said. He notes that grape production has become the fastestgrowing sector in Ohio agriculture with a current growth rate of about 10 percent per year. “This growing interest is driven by the high value of wine grapes as an alternative and profitable cash crop in Ohio; its adaptability to the already existing lands that are otherwise unsuitable for row crop production; and grape shortage and upward demand for locally grown grapes,” he said. Workshop topics will include: Developing an Effective Disease Management Program for Grapes; Vineyard Weed Management; Pesticide Safety; Vineyard Fertility Management; Grape Disease Control; Grape Root Borer Research Project; and Evaluation of Wine Grape Varieties New to Ohio, among others. Registration for the full conference is $200 if received by Jan. 30 and $225 after that date. For more information on the conference or for registration information, contact Christy Eckstein 614-728-6438 or by email at ceckstein@agri.ohio.gov.

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February 2013

ACRES of Southwest Ohio

CHANGES COMING?

FDA’s proposed safety rules will impact farmers By MARTHA FILIPIC OSU Extension

MEDINA — Ohio’s produce farmers may want to take some time to review the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s newly proposed Produce Safety rule. They have until May 16 to comment before the rule is finalized, said Ashley Kulhanek, agriculture and natural resources educator for Ohio State University Extension. After finalization, the rule will take effect for some operators within a mere 60 days. “That’s a short period of time after finalization before they have to comply with the new rules,” she said. The proposed Produce Safety rule, announced on Jan. 4 and published in the Federal Register today, is one way the government is putting the Food Safety Modernization Act into practice. The act was signed into law in January 2011, and growers and the food industry have been waiting since then to get details on what it will mean for their operations. Also announced Jan. 4 was the proposed rule for Preventive Controls for Human Food, geared toward facilities that process, package or store food. Still in the works are additional rules regarding the safety of imported food and for facilities producing animal feed. The proposed Produce Safety rule focuses on standards for growing, harvesting, packing and holding produce on farms. It is geared toward fruits and vegetables that will likely be eaten fresh. Not included is

produce that is rarely consumed raw (such as potatoes) or is destined for commercial processing. The hope is that the new rules will reduce the incidence of foodborne illness related to fresh produce: According to the FDA, between 1996 and 2010, approximately 131 producerelated outbreaks were reported, resulting in 14,132 illnesses, 1,360 hospitalizations and 27 deaths. The rule addresses a number of areas that could affect the safety of produce on the farm, including: Irrigation and other agricultural water. Farm worker hygiene. Manure and other additions to the soil. Intrusion of animals in the growing fields. Sanitation conditions affecting buildings, equipment and tools. The rule contains special provisions for sprouts, which are considered much more risky and vulnerable to disease-causing bacteria. A fact sheet summarizing the rule is available at http://www.fda.gov/Food/Fo odSafety/FSMA/ucm33411 4.htm and basic information about the rule is available at http://www.fda.gov/Food/Fo odSafety/FSMA/ucm33455 4.htm. To comment, click the link from the Federal Register page, or go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for FDA-2011N-0921. The Federal Register page also includes information to submit comments in writing. The 120day comment period began today with the publication of the draft rule in the Federal Register. After reviewing summaries of the rule, Kulhanek

said she sees no real surprises. “There’s an exemption for small farms just like the FDA said there would be,” she said. “And the proposed rule allows states to request variances from some or all provisions depending on local growing conditions. “So, if there’s an instance where one of the rules might seem unattainable by the farms in the region, the state can apply for a variance, or a different way of doing things, so farmers can still grow their produce as long as it’s proven safe.” To determine if an operation is exempt from the rules, see the flow chart available here: http://www.fda.gov/Food/Fo odSafety/FSMA/ucm33455 4.htm - happen. Kulhanek said she expects Ohio State will be asked to do some research in the future to help determine those safe alternative practices for local growers. Before taking her new position as an OSU Extension educator in Medina County, Kulhanek was the coordinator and primary instructor of Ohio State’s Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Education Program (http://producesafety.osu.ed u), a program sponsored by the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science in Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, and delivered by Kulhanek and county Extension educators. The three-hour GAPs workshops have been held throughout the state for about five years to assist Ohio’s produce growers in adopting practices to keep

produce safe. Currently, a grant from the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Program allows the workshops to be offered for just $10 per person, a significant discount. Kulhanek, who remains one of the instructors of the GAPs programs and is Ohio’s representative to the National Produce Safety Alliance, said she believes the new regulations on water quality may be the biggest challenge for Ohio’s growers. The proposed rule states that water used for produce “be safe and of adequate sanitary quality for its intended use,” and that “specific criteria for the quality of agricultural water be established for water that is used for certain purposes, with proposed requirements for periodic analytical testing.” “If you’re irrigating, getting clean water for crops it not always easy,” Kulhanek said. “A lot of growers use streams or creeks, ponds, reservoirs, open sources, and the quality of water can change from day to day. “If an animal dies in the water, bacterial counts will go way off the charts. And the cost or frequency of testing water quality might be an issue. I think it’s going to be something a lot of people will comment on.” Paying for new equipment or training of employees might also be an issue for some growers, she said, “but it can be done.” The risk posed by wildlife or other animals defecating in fields may also be a difficult issue for growers to manage, Kulhanek

said. “It’s my assumption that the FDA understands that it’s not going to be perfect,” she said. “Wildlife is unavoidable.” One key is scouting and inspection, Kulhanek said. “Growers are going to have to take some time to walk or drive the perimeter of produce fields to see if wildlife have been walking through, if there’s been some heavy deer traffic, for instance. If they find signs of wildlife, they’ll have to figure out a way to handle it. That can be done by adding fencing, noisemakers, or some other kind of repellent, she said. According to information on the FDA’s website, FDA will not require fencing of farms, habitat destruction, or animals to be harmed in order to comply with animal intrusion regulations, Kulhanek said. “The FDA or auditors will want to see that growers have used due diligence, that they have made the effort to do a preliminary risk assessment before planting and before harvesting, and have taken pro-active measures to prevent those risks where possible,” Kulhanek said. She encourages all Ohio

produce growers to attend GAPs training, even if they are small farmers or are otherwise exempt from the new rules. “Any grower can make improvements to help make produce safer overall,” she said. Besides, although the FDA may not force small growers to abide to the new rules, grocery chains or produce auctions may decide that even those exempt by FDA’s standards are not exempt in their eyes. “Buyers want safe food, period,” she said. Upcoming trainings were held in January as part of the Ohio Produce Growers and Marketers Association Congress. More programs will be planned when a new program coordinator is hired, said Doug Doohan, professor of horticulture and crop science, and the originator and leader of the GAPs training program. “Everyone has to realize that there’s no such thing as 100 percent risk reduction,” Kulhanek said. “There’s no such thing as 100 percent safe when you’re talking about fresh produce. “But there’s always room for improvement.”

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15A

The Amish Cook nap. They keep me busy but are a joy to be around. They are all very cute. McKenzie and Cole are coloring in their books while I am writing. They think I am coloring too because they wanted to color when they saw me writing. It has been a very cold week so far. I don’t drive the ponies when it is this cold. I have two more ponies here to train. Sunny belongs to my boyfriend Mose’s sister’s family. They want me to train her for their little boys. He is a miniature pony and is doing well with the training so far. The other pony is named Roxy and she is mine now. Mose’s Dad gave her to me. She did have some training before but is still really rowdy. I need to keep working with her but she makes me laugh at how stubborn she can get. This is Friday morning and I

i, I am Susan, I decided to write for Mom this week. My 17th birthday is tomorrow the 24th so my treat to Mom is to write the column for her. I made monster cookies yesterday. I wanted to have some to treat everyone for my birthday. I am here at my babysitting job. I brought some cookies for them too. The children really like the cookies. I think monster cookies are a treat for the children especially since they have M & Ms in them. Today I have only the twins here. They are two years old and the girls name is McKenzie and the boys name is Cole. On Mondays and Fridays I also have their four year old brother, Hunter, to babysit for. Hunter makes me laugh. When nap time comes he can really talk, thinking I will forget about his

have to make supper we had time to finish the 750 piece puzzle which we started on Sunday afternoon. It is oval shaped and has deer on it. We got the puzzle from a reader last Christmas. It was fun to put it together. Mom wants to do it together because my brothers want it hung in their bedroom. Mose has two new nieces that were born 5 days apart. Last Friday evening I went with Mose and his family to meet his sister Polly’s new Baby girl named Delilah Louise. She is so sweet. Tonight I am planning to go with Mose to see his sister Hannah’s baby girl name Alissa Fern. Mose has twenty one nieces and nephews, he has six brothers and six sisters. I will share the recipe I used for the monster cookies.

had a very nice birthday yesterday. Dad and Mom went to the funeral of Dad’s cousins wife. She lost her battle to cancer. How sad for the family. I stayed home and folded laundry, washed dishes, a nd cleaned up the house. Around 2:30 Mose came and took me along to town. He had me pick out what I wanted for my birthday. I picked out a nice office chair which I will have in my bedroom by my desk. I will use it a lot. I also picked out an “around the house toolkit”. Now I’ll have my own set of small tools if I need to fix or hang something up. Mose bought me a Dairy Queen ice cream cake and brought pizza home for the whole family for supper. Mom and Dad had returned from the funeral by then. It was a treat for everyone. Since we didn’t

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dition.” Cost for the banquet is $20 per person, and includes the dinner that begins at 7 p.m. and features New York Strip steak. Tickets can be purchased at the Fayette County Extension Office, Pettit’s BP or from any member of the Cattlefeeders before Feb. 21. For more information, call Roger Bonham, 614531-7164.

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February 2013

ACRES of Southwest Ohio

Farmers urged to reduce nutrient runoff By MARK FAHEY mfahey@recordherald.com

hio farmers received a letter from 20 of Ohio’s largest agricultural organizations in January urging them to take voluntary action to reduce nutrient runoff from their farms. “Agriculture must begin immediately to reduce nutrient runoff in a manner that can be documented,” read the letter. “If this can’t be accomplished voluntarily, it will be imposed mandatorily.” Nutrient runoff from farms can end up in local lakes and waterways, causing excessive algae growth. In 2011, high rain water levels and phos-

phate runoff caused algae blooms in the western basin of Lake Erie and Grand Lake St. Mary’s in western Ohio, producing toxins that can make visitors sick. A similar explosion of algae growth occurred in Deer Creek Lake in Pickaway County in 2010, as well as in other major lakes in the state. The problem was less noticeable last summer due to drought conditions. “That’s kind of just where it shows up, in the water bodies. It doesn’t mean there’s not things growing in the streams too,” said Chet Murphy, district administrator for the Fayette County Soil and Water Conservation

District. Not only are local bodies of water affected, but nutrient pollution in southern Ohio eventually runs into the Mississippi River, contributing to a large “dead zone” each summer in the Gulf of Mexico. Excess nutrients in the Gulf lead to massive plant growth, and the decomposition of those plants removes oxygen from the water, killing fish and other marine animals. “It’s really an issue for the entire state of Ohio because the same kinds of things that happen in Grand Lake and Lake Erie are happening in the Gulf of Mexico,” said Joe Cornely, senior director of communications at the

Ohio Farm Bureau.”It’s geographically further removed, but it’s the same concept.” In the letter, signed “Ohio’s agriculture community,” the Ohio Farm Bureau and other agricultural organizations encouraged farmers to use the principles of “4R Nutrient Stewardship,” which include using the right fertilizer source, at the right rate, at the right time and with the right placement, to reduce nutrient pollution off their properties. “It’s everybody’s responsibility to protect the environment and farmers are included in the Ohio community that shares in that responsibility,” said Cornely. “We’re not the

only ones, but since we manage so much of the land base, a sizable chunk of the job is on our plate.” Murphy said that the Fayette County Soil and Water Conservation District is partnering with the Fayette County Health Department to test water flowing in and out of the county to determine how much the area is adding or subtracting from nutrient loads. “What we need to do from now on is to find a way to monitor results,” said Murphy. “I would not like to see it go to regulation. We’re a firm believer in voluntary efforts, but at some point that’s up to the public and legislative bodies and what they feel

needs to happen.” Murphy said that he has seen more and more effort being put into learning good nutrient stewardship, and Cornely said that the Farm Bureau has received a generally positive reaction to the call to action. “I’ve been working with farmers for 30-some years and they’re aware that they have a job to do here,” said Cornely. “The purpose of the letter was just to remind folks of that, to drive home a recognition that this is not something that any of us can afford to ignore.” (Mark Fahey is a staff writer for the Record-Herald in Washington Court House.)

What do changes mean for farm operations? By GARY BROCK Publisher-Editor

hio farmers and livestock producers will need to make changes in how they operate in the future because of new water quality regulations being recommended by the state to fight runoff and algae contamination of our water supply. That was the news given recently by Steve Prochaska, Field Specialist, Agronomic Systems for Ohio State University Extension. In light of the letters sent in January to Ohio farmers by a coalition of about 20 Ohio agriculture organizations, including OSU Extension regarding water quality regulations, Prochaska told a gathering of farmers in Fayette County that the problem is real, and water runoff from parts is a contributing factor to the problem. The letter to Ohio farmers said, in part: “As a farmer in Ohio you have a significant challenge bearing down quickly. Government, special interest groups, the media and the public all expect you to help clean up the state’s water resources. If farmers don’t do this on their own, there will be federal and state laws and regulations that will mandate how you farm. That is why you’re receiving this letter signed by nearly all of Ohio’s agricultural organizations to make it clear that farmers must take seriously their responsibility to manage nutrients.” Prochaska echoed these feelings, saying, “Ohio water resource quality has been diminished by cyanobacteria. Soluble phosphorus from agricultural fields is a contributing factor to this problem.” And while farmers can talk all day about how they

feel the real problem in Ohio water quality is from runoff into our streams, lakes and rivers from city/urban waste, the fact remains that farmland runoff has been pointed to as a source of Ohio’s water problems, and regulations will be addressing those problems. “The decline in water quality has been linked to certain agricultural practices,” he said, and the phosphorous loss into streams was considered the main culprit. When this problem came to Gov. John Kasich’s attention in 2011, his response was simple, “Fix it.” And the three state agencies given the task of “fixing it”, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency developed in mid-2012 the “Ohio Clean Lakes Initiative.”

This initiative includes guidelines and regulations for farmers aimed at protecting water quality. Prochaska said farmers should start by following a list of “farm level” recommendations: - Take soil tests and follow the fertilization rates found in the Tr-State Recommendations and the OSU recommendations; - Do not spread phosphorous on frozen or snow-covered ground; - As much as possible incorporate nutrients into the soil layer or onto the growing crop at the opportune time; - Maintain good nutrient application records. This is the right time, right place, right rate and right material method of keeping runoff from happening. Prochaska said one of the biggest problems are hazardous algae blooms, which can be found

Ohio State University’s Steve Prochaska shows farmers what they can do to avoid “nutrient runoff” - fertilizer washing off their land into ponds and streams - in the future.

throughout Ohio, including Fayette County. These organisms produce toxins in lakes and streams, and some of these toxins are hazardous to people, fish and animals. The outbreak of illnesses in Grand Lake St. Mary’s in 2011 was a defining example of this problem. Ironically, the drought

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of 2012 saw a diminished problem with the toxin algae that turns lakes green - lack of rain means a lack of water runoff. And phosphorous runoff aids in the algae development. Prochaska asked the area farmers at the recent seminar why soluble phosphorous is now leaving Ohio farm fields. He said

there were several reasons, including changes in crop rotation, less wheat grown, changes in tillage, P and K broadcast spread in the fall and higher crop yields that leave greater residue on the soil. In addition, Prochaska recommended to farmers that they: - Repair broken subsurface drainage; - Treat concentrated surface runoff areas; - Construct wetlands for treatment; - Control drainage; - Look at alternate draining ditch designs. The bottom line for Ohio farmers was made clear - follow these recommendations by the three state agencies to reduce runoff into the streams and lakes, or face mandatory regulations in the future if the problems persist.

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Issue 12

WOMEN ON THE FARM

‘We depend on each other’ Shawhan offers personal touch to dairy cows By PAT LAWRENCE patlawrence@cinci.rr.com

ot only is Janet Shawhan on a first name basis with her coworkers, she knows all their mothers personally. Janet and her family own and operate Starlite Dairy and Grain. Most mornings she rises at 4:30 a.m. and heads for the milking parlor by 5 a.m., where about a hundred amiable Holsteins obligingly line up for her ministrations. “I call them co-workers because they work with me everyday and we depend on each other. They’re just like people, each one is different,” she says.

“Some are all business, some like to visit, some want to love on you.” Every cow has her teats dipped with an iodine solution, then towel dried before the milking cups are applied, then dipped again with soothing glycerin. A fresh towel is used for each cow at each milking. Janet says, “I have two washers and driers in the house and another set out here. I do laundry morning and night!” The electronic milking machines use a pulsating vacuum that simulates the effect of a suckling calf; cows empty their milk in 3-5 minutes. A sensor indicates when the milk slows down, and the milker automatically releases. See SHAWHAN/B2

Janet Shawhan of Starlite Dairy and Grain in Hillsboro knows all the names of her cows. The dairy farm houses approximately 200 cows, heifers, bulls and calves.

Orval Grooms still farming at 98 Family roots in farming run deep Compiled by Carleta Weyrich cweyrich@civitasmedia.com

One of the fastest growing age groups in farming is the 70 and over group, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics from the last decade. Case in point is Orval Grooms of Adams County, age 98, who cut 50 acres of hay this past summer - three times. “It’s all I’ve done all of my life,” Grooms said when asked why he was still farming. Last winter, Orval’s Ivan (left) and Orval Grooms of Adams County have about two centuries of farm experi- brother, Ivan Grooms of ence between them. West Union, now age

102, wrote about the family’s history and experience in farming for The People’s Defender publication Reflections of Adams County. The following is the story of three centuries of a way of life like no other, as told by Ivan. “My history of farming that is recorded goes back to 1777, when my great-great grandfather, Abraham Grooms, came from Gun Powder, Md.,” said Grooms. “He settled at Soldier’s Run in Tiffin Township, Adams County. He found a spring on a hillside where he built a water

mill, which he operated for many years.” Abraham was a large landowner, having bought 506 acres from Robert Rankin and 247 acres from John Killen. He also purchased 320 acres in Tiffin Township in 1810. A miller by trade, he sold many acres to his sons in 1817. Abraham’s son Tiffin also was a large landowner in Adams County, owning around 1,000 acres. He lived and farmed in Beasley Fork all of his life. It was also noted that he was a great musiSee GROOMS/B3

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Dairy Data …

Above, Shawhan works in the milking parlor. The cows produce an average of 78 pounds of milk a day. The recently upgraded equipment at the farm helps Shawhan finish each day’s milking in about two hours.

SHAWHAN Continued from page 1B

“Our cows average 78 pounds of milk a day, about 2,500 gallons a year.” Janet says. “We updated our milking parlor with a completely different system in December. It’s a double-eight — sixteen cows at a time instead of ten — and a big change for the cows. Now we milk from behind, rather than the side. Cows don’t like change but they’re getting used to the new conditions. Now the entire milking only takes about two hours. We’re finished in time to enjoy the sun rise.” The collected milk is piped directly to a refrigerated 2,000-gallon stainless steel tank in the milk room, stored for pick-up and shipping to a processing plant. Starlite Dairy sells their milk to Dairy Farmers of America, a national cooperative that has recognized their facility as a Gold Standard Dairy for years. The milk is processed and sold by buyers that include Kroger, Meijer, General Foods, Dannon and Nestle. Starlite is one of 2,984 dairies in Ohio. It’s home to about 200 cows, heifers, bulls and calves housed in open, curtain-sided freestall barns with rubber flooring. The arrangement maximizes cow comfort and safety, allowing animals to choose where they lay in the extensive barns and providing constant ac-

cess to food and water. The feed is a Total Mixed Ration including hay, corn silage bean meal and ground corn with minerals. The composition varies according to the animal’s characteristics and is tested regularly by a professional nutritionist. High-production cows, low-production cows, dry cows, new calves, are all kept in distinct areas; all have specific mixtures formulated for their nutritional needs. Janet says, “New mothers and any cows that need a little extra attention go to the ‘the pamper pen’. Every cow has a name and number. I can call their names faster than their numbers!” She introduces them, “Jello, Molly, Joan, Daisy, Merry, my favorite, she’s like a puppy,” and recounts their heritage. “This is Splish, out of Splash. This is Buttery, out of Butterball, out of Buttercup. We had an alcoholic line, too-Whiskey, Daquiri, Margarita and Mud Slide.” Janet always intended to work with animals. “My father had a window covering business in Gahanna, Ohio-I built blinds as a child- but Dad was also on the Columbus Zoo board. He was proud to have been instrumental in bringing the first Bonobo monkeys to the zoo. Since we had five acres, he was always bringing animals home-a one legged crane, a domesticated deer, a llama. I grew up volunteering at the zoo and showing

horses in 4H.” She and Tom married in 1980. “We were both the youngest of four children. We met when his brother married my sister. He proposed on our first real date.” They moved into the house Tom was born in, near Beavercreek. By the time their second son was a toddler, Janet was milking full time at the family dairy. “We bought our first farm about five miles from the homeplace. In 1983, after we paid off the farm, we bought the cows, a herd of 50-60, from his dad.” It’s a closed farm, according to Janet. “Our heifer cows remain on the farm. We only bought cows once, to increase the herd to a more profitable size, when we moved to Highland County in 1997. We have new calves year round since milk production requires that the cow be lactating from having given birth. We keep some bull calves, too. We generally rely on artificial insemination, which Tom manages, but a cow that hasn’t taken after several AI’s will be mated with a real bull.” The family still farms in Greene County as well, about 1,800 acres total, and grows corn, soybeans, hay and wheat, but all the cows are at the dairy near Marshall. Sons Ray and Dan are an integral part of the enterprise. “They both went to mechanic’s school and are good mechanics, which has saved the farm a

• In 2011, total milk production in Ohio was 5,142,000,000 lbs., more than 605 million gallons of milk (11th in the U.S.). California had the most - 41,462,000,000 lbs. - followed by Wisconsin with 26,117,000,000 lbs. Total U.S. production was 196,245,000,000 lbs. • The total value of milk produced in Ohio totaled $1,115,814,000 (11th in the U.S.). California was ranked first with $7,687,055,000 followed by Wisconsin with $5,301,751,000. Total US value of milk was $39,735,714,000. • In 2011, Ohio had 270,000 head of dairy cattle (10th in the US). California has the most at 1,780,000 followed by Wisconsin with 1,265,000. The US total is 9,229,500. • Ohio ranks first in the nation in Swiss cheese production, 5th in number of manufacturing plants, 10th in overall cheese production, and 11th in total milk production. The estimated economic impact of Ohio’s dairy industry is $4.2 billion with a total of 14,350 jobs created for Ohioans. • When a dairy farmer sells a dollar of milk, it generates economic activity of $3, and every $1 million of U.S. milk sales generates 17 jobs. The U.S. dairy industry is estimated at $140 billion in economic output, $29 billion in household earnings, and more than 900,000 jobs • There are dairy farms in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. • The 2007 Census of Agriculture listed 3,681 dairy farms in Ohio. Today, the state lists 2,984 dairies. • More milk is produced today with only 9 million cows than with 26 million cows in 1944.

By the Numbers … 21 billion – Gallons of milk produced in the US each year 8.6 lbs. – Weight of one gallon of milk 350 – Approximate number of squirts in a gallon of milk 350,000 – Glasses of milk produced by a cow over her lifetime 3 gallons – Amount of milk needed to make one gallon of ice cream 30 cups – Amount of milk required to make one pound of butter 1 – Number of stomachs in a cow (it has four compartments) 300 – average number of day in a cow’s lactation period when she produces milk 1,400 lbs. – Average weight of a mature dairy cow 1967 – Year when plastic milk jugs were introduced in the US 6 – Main breeds of dairy cows: Holstein, Jersey, Ayrshire, Guernsey, Brown Swiss, Milking Shorthorn. 400,000 – Number of people employed in the dairy industry in California alone 100 cows – Average size of a dairy herd in the US 1200 cows – Average size of a dairy herd on the West Coast and in the Southwest 50 cows – Average size of a dairy herd in the Northeast 98 – Percentage of American dairy farms that are family owned

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February 2013

Continued from page 1B

cian. His son, John, had 11 children, and many of them were farm owners. Another son of Tiffin, Leander, (the grandfather of Ivan and Orval) bought what became his family farm on Poplar Ridge Road. He purchased the 162 acres for $770 from two ladies with the surname Thompson. There was a log home on this property. Ivan recalled when the log home was torn down and seeing a team of horses pulling the logs out. “After the house was torn down, I found a half dime,” he said. “Many Indian darts were also discovered when the land was plowed.” Afterward, a new home was built by Harry “Doc” Grooms and Allen Trotter. Leander and his son, Wylie (the father of Ivan and Orval), farmed the land together until Wylie’s wife, Bertha, became ill with tuberculosis. Wylie’s first wife, Ida, had died in childbirth. Their son was Harley “Sap” Grooms. He was cared for by his grandmother, Margaret, while Wylie and Bertha took their other two children, Estel and Ocie, to Red Star, Ark. for Bertha’s health. Wylie found work in a sawmill and a grocery store. While there, Ocie became ill and died at the age of two. Four sons were born while they lived in Arkansas - Ivan, Orval, Mac, and Trevis. Wylie had left the farm in Leander’s care during his absence. However, during that time Leander passed away and

another of Leander’s sons was to care for the farm while Wylie was away. After eight years, Wylie, Bertha and the family moved back to their Adams County farm. Ivan recalls riding back on a train. Before the train ride, the boys all got a new pair of shoes. Upon their arrival, they found that the farm had been overgrown from neglect. After they settled back in, a new son, Eugene, was added to the family. “While growing up in a large family with no modern machinery or money, life was a struggle,” Ivan said. “My parents were unable to support us. This was during the depression of the 1930s. Also, there was a drought which made farming impossible. I was around 20 years old when I and three of my brothers (including Orval) left the farm to search for work. We ended up in Chabney, Illinois on a farm owned by Ira Butler. “We tilled the land for corn and wheat, and milked cows, for $1/day. After a couple of years, we returned home to help our father on the farm. Farming was very hard labor - we plowed with horses, cut corn by hand, raised tobacco, wheat and chickens. “The cows were “hand” milked. The milk was kept in milk cans and kept in a cool spring. After we separated the cream and milk, it was taken to the town creamery to be sold.” In 1936, Ivan married Mable Grooms, and rented the family farm. In 1966, they bought the farm for $10,000. They

had three children, and raised cattle, pigs and chickens. The eggs were sold, and the money was a source for the three children’s school clothes. From the beautiful feed sacs that the grain was sold in, the school dresses were made. There was no inside plumbing or running water. Water was drawn from a well. Wash was done on washboards with homemade lye soap. They cut wood and burned it in a potbellied stove for heat. No electric service was available for many years. “We depended on Kerosene Lamps,” said Ivan. “When it got dark, we went to bed.” Butchering day was a big day for the Grooms, and they slaughtered the hogs on their property or at Allen Trotter’s house. From the hogs, they had hams, bacon, and rendered fat for lard. “To build a fence was a hard job as well,” Ivan said. “I went in the woods and cut the timber, which was typically cedar and locust, and made the posts. My father and I also surveyed farms, and we raised a large vegetable garden for canning.” Even with all the hard work, there were many happy and enjoyable times. They saw their neighbors and had time to visit. The brothers remained close since Eugene had a farm next to Ivan’s, Mac owned one next to Eugene’s, and the other brothers all lived nearby, Estle being the only one that didn’t farm, as he became a teacher. Parent Teacher Association activities were a joy. There were ice cream so-

The Grooms brothers — Orval, Mark, Trevis, Ivan, and Estel — are shown above as the family prepared to board a train to Ohio from Arkansas in 1918. Ivan remembers they all got a new pair of shoes before leaving.

The five brother are shown together again on July 3, 1942. Orval, Mark, Ivan and Trevis were all farmers while Estel became a school teacher.

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cials and pie/cake suppers. “What a good time we had at the County Fair the children took their 4H projects,” Ivan continued. “We also had family picnics, and we always went to church and Sunday School. Since my farmland was joined to the farmland of three of my brothers, we swapped hands helping each other.” Meanwhile, Orval married Myrtle, and they raised six children. Their farm was near Ivan’s farm and a mile from the farm of their brother Trevis. In addition to growing corn and soybeans, Orval raised tobacco for more than 60 years. After a few years, life became a little easier for Ivan. He sold his horses and bought a tractor. Electric (REA) became available, bringing lights and a washing machine. In the midst of his

farming, Ivan was called to the ministry while working in a cornfield one day in 1947. He was a pastor for 55 years. Ivan and Orval also enjoyed music. They, along with their father, grandfather and neighbors all played music for entertainment. Ivan played fiddle, Orval the guitar, their father and grandfather the fiddle. Their brother, Estel, played the trombone in the West Union band. Ivan and Orval still play together for their birthdays, especially performing hymns and Christian songs for their guests. “I enjoyed farming to it’s fullest extent - even through all the hardships,” Ivan said. “I farmed for many, many years, from the age of 20 to 90 years. I recall climbing up in the barn at age 90 to hang tobacco. Perhaps we couldn’t afford what we would have liked, but we always had food and warm clothing.” “I always exercised and had good food,”

Orval said of his longevity in life, as well as in farming. Today, Ivan and Orval are the last remaining of the Grooms brothers, and are still independent. Though he now lives in town, Ivan still loves to raise tomatoes, and he enjoys his sunflowers, especially his Dinnerplate, and his Dahlias and Tulips. About 10 years ago Orval stopped raising row crops and put his cropland down into hay and pasture for his beef cattle. The farm was hit hard by a tornado last year, but that didn’t stop Orval. A neighbor and his son, Russ Grooms, manager of the local IGA, help out on the farm, but Orval keeps working, too. Even when the cold winds of winter were blowing, Orval said, “I always get the cattle fed.” (Carleta Weyrich is a staff writer for The People’s Defender in West Union.)

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February 2013

ACRES of Southwest Ohio

Educational series to focus on sheep, goat care By DAVE DUGAN dugan.46@osu.edu

In the same format as the Beef School that I am hosting at North Adams High School, there will be a Sheep and Goat WebEx Series starting on Monday, Feb. 4. The closest location is the Clinton County Extension office in Wilmington. The dates are the four Mondays in February and the program will begin at 7 p.m. each night. If you would like to attend there is no charge, but you do need to contact Tony Nye atnye.1@osu.edu or call (937) 382-0901 so handouts can be made ahead of time. The topics and speakers are: Feb. 4 - Dr. Eric Gordon, OSU Large Animal Veterinarian, “Vaccination Programs for Sheep and

Goat Operations”; Feb. 11 - Dr. Meghan WulsterRadcliffe, CEO, American Society of Animal Sciences, “Artificial Insemination Techniques of Sheep and Goats”; Feb.18 - Jeff McCutcheon and Rory Lewandowski, OSU Extension, “Managing Pastures and Hay Fields after a Drought”; Feb. 25 Dr. Keith Inskeep, West Virginia University, “Use of EAZI-BREED CIDR for Sheep and Goat Operations.” The Sheep and Goat WebEx Series is a fourpart educational series; an individual can go to all or part of the programs. Follow www.ohiosheep.org or http://sheep.osu.edu/ for program changes or additional remote sites. Pork Quality Assurance

and Animal Composting Mark your calendars for two programs that will be coming up in midMarch. The date is March 14 for several things, some of which I will explain in the next section. In the evening on March 14, will be a Pork Quality Assurance for adults at the United Producers Stockyards in Hillsboro begins at 7 p.m. Prior to the PQA there will be an opportunity to attend training for Animal Composting. This program is limited in space, so register early. Tony Nye, Clinton County Educator will be conducting both of these programs, so for more information or you can register by calling Tony at (937) 382-0901. Training for Writing

Business Plans There will be four local opportunities for people to receive training to write better business plans for applying for Southern Ohio Agricultural and Community Development Foundation funds in 2013. For more information about previous programs you can log onto http://soacdf.net or call the office at (937) 393-2700. The dates, times and locations for the training workshops are: Thursday, March 14, 1 p.m.-Washington Twp Township Building, 2238 SR 756, Moscow Thursday, March 14, 6:30 p.m.- Brown County OSU Extension Office, Fairgrounds, Georgetown Monday, March 25, 1p.m. Southern State Com-

munity College, Gateway Center, US 62, Fincastle Tuesday, March 26, 6:30 p.m.- OSU Extension, Courthouse Annex, N. Cross St., West Union Organic Programs I get calls from time to time from people interested in growing organic crops. There are two upcoming educational programs that might be right on target if you want to know more about organic farming. The first one is in Ohio and the second is in Kentucky. Keep in mind that the rules may differ from state to state, but the production ideas would be the same. The Ohio Conference is put on by the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association in Granville on Feb 16 and 17. Registra-

tion information and complete conference details can be found athttp://oeffa .org or you can call (614) 421-2022. Registration for both days is $205 for nonmember adults, and one day is $120. Memberships are cheaper than the difference in fees, so if you plan to attend, look at the membership fees for individuals and families. The program in Kentucky will be at Berea College on March 1 and 2. The conference information can be found at http://oakky.org or you can call (502) 535-6787 with questions. Registration is $25 for adult non-members if paid by Feb. 17. (David Dugan is an OSU Extension Educator, ANR, Ohio Valley EERA.)

OSU Small Farm program to host March conferences By TONY NYE nye.1@osu.edu

Ohio State University Extension Small Farm Program will host two conferences in March dedicated to assisting small farm landowners. The mission of the OSU Small Farm program is to provide a greater understanding of production practices, economics of land use choices, assessment of personal and natural resources, marketing alternatives, and the identification of sources of assistance. Ohio State want to help farm families improve economic growth and development on their farms. To help small farm landowners and families diversify their opportunities into successful new enterprises and new markets. And to improve the agricultural literacy among small farm

landowners that have not been engaged actively in agricultural production in the past. These intensive conferences will give participants the opportunity to choose from a diverse variety of seminars that can help them be successful in their farming operations. The first conference is the 5th annual “Opening Doors to Success” Small Farm Conference and Trade Show to be held March 8 and 9 at Wilmington College located in Wilmington, Ohio. The conference will feature approximately 30 breakout sessions and a trade show for small farmers. The conference kicks off on Friday, March 8 at 5:30 p.m. with an informative session: “Opportunities and Challenges to Running a Successful Small Farm Operation” which will embrace interactions between

presenters and audience. A Panel of Area Producers will address such issues as labor, financing, customer relations, agritainment, and more. On Saturday, March 9, registration begins at 7:45 a.m. and the day will conclude at 3:45 p.m. The day will feature approximately 30 breakout sessions offered throughout the day and will cover a variety of topics that will include such examples as: Bee Keeping; Vermiculture; Vegetable Nutrient Management; Generating Energy for the Small farm; Utilizing Maps and Apps Technology to Market Your Business; Christmas tree Production; Cover Crops; Grafting of Trees; Cheese Making; Preparing and Selling Food Products – Rules, Regulations, and Legal Liability; Lavender Production; Raised Bed Production; Pasture Man-

agement; Selecting a Livestock Enterprise for a Small Farm; Fertigation of Tomatoes; SARE Grants and Resources; Greenhouse/Tunnel Production; Food Safety; Agricultural Law Considerations; Developing Water Systems for Pastures; Growing Hops; Marketing; Financial Management; Disease Management of Fruits and Vegetables; Producer panels and so much more. Registration is $20 on March 8, $50 on March 9 or $60 for both days. Registration deadline is March 1. For more information, log on to: http://clinton.osu.edu under county events, or contact OSU Extension educator Tony Nye at nye.1@osu.edu or 937382-0901. The third annual “Living Your Small Farm Dream” Eastern Ohio Small Farm Conference

and Trade Show will be held on March 23, 2013 at the Muskingum County Convention & Welcome Center, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:15 p.m. in Zanesville, Ohio. The conference will begin with a keynote address, “Planning and Goal Setting”, presented by Mike Hogan, OSU Extension followed by over 20 breakout sessions attendees can pick and choose from. Examples of breakout sessions at this conference will include: maple syrup, sheep production, goats health and production, forages, livestock nutrition, direct marketing of meat, social media, Christmas trees, legal issues for your small farm, soil basics, goats, brambles, high tunnels, beekeeping, vegetables and financing/loans, where to get additional assistance, and much more. Registration is $50 per

person. Registration deadline is March 18th. For more information log on to: http://muskingum.osu.edu , http://clinton.osu.edu , or contact OSU Extension educator Mark Mechling at mechling.1@osu.edu or 330-324-6341. These two conferences are co-sponsored by OSU Extension Small Farm Program; Farm Credit MidAmerica; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture offices of the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Agriculture Statistic Service and Rural Development. If you would like more information about this please contact Tony Nye at 937-382-0901 or Email at nye.1@osu.edu. (L. Tony Nye is the Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, OSU Extension, Clinton County.)

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ACRES of Southwest Ohio

February 2013

At left, Shawhan is nuzzled by the family’s German Shepherd Zeeva. Above, it appears one of the cows is straining to do a little nuzzling up to Shawhan as well.

Continued from page 2B

lot of money.” Janet is sure her grandson will join the family business. “He’s just 4, but he’s a farmer for sure. He already knows everything that goes on here.” Still, it’s a demanding business and there’s a lot to do, from fencing to crop management to pregnancy tests, bedding pens, grinding and mixing feed and, naturally, hosing down barn floors. The freestall barn is scraped twice a day. Starlite uses pond water for the cows -

they drink 40-50 gallons a day-and a manure lagoon for waste -about 12 gallons a day per cow. The lagoon contents are recycled as field irrigation several times a year. Janet says, “It’s great for replenishing the soil.” Zeeva, the German Shepherd and two rat terriers provide supervisory support, but Starlite has just added a new full-time employee and a second part-time employee. Janet says, “It takes someone very special to work in the dairy. Milk cows are like finely tuned machines. Things have to be exactly

right. We buy high quality hay from Nebraska specifically for our milk cows. They need clean, comfortable bedding, good ventilation, a safe, stress-free environment. And they’re all mothers; they deserve to be treated with respect. As long as this is our family’s farm, that’s how they’ll be treated.” When the boys were younger, Janet says, “It was cheaper to hire a babysitter and work in the field. I used to disc all day. Now, the boys do the farming, and I take care of the cows. Feeding and bedding starts about an

hour before the afternoon milking at 4 p.m. We eat our big meal at noon, so I plan a meal in the morning. After all these years, that’s still hard for me. At night, we have leftovers or pizza!” Electronic milking is clean and efficient, but not robotic. Milking is still a two person operation at Starlite and producing milk cows don’t take days off. Janet says,“The only vacations Tom and I had was to go to Amish Country for a day or two.” Over the years, though, she made note of things she especially appreciated

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during their times away. “It became my dream to build a luxury get-away cabin for other couples.” There were reservations even before construction was completed in November. She says, “I’ve spent a lot of my life talking to cows; talking to people will be fun!” Janet expects 2013 to be a busy year, welcoming guests, keeping the cabin in pristine condition, scheduling vaccinations, veterinarians,and hoof trimmers, mowing, landscaping, and always making sure her ‘coworkers’ are healthy, happy and productive. Two more grandchildren are on the way, plus, “we’ll be adding a new

barn and maybe replacing two older barns. And I hope to get a rose bed for the cabin.” Janet is convinced the new dairy employees, one man, one woman, have the patience and consideration needed for the job. She hopes they have her gentle touch. Dairy is one of the most regulated and inspected industries in agriculture, but the most carefully monitored dairy workers may be the ones under Janet Shawhan’s vigilant eyes. “We have a little piece of heaven here. I want it to stay that way for all of us.” (Pat Lawrence is a contributor to Acres of Southwest Ohio.)

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Your adventure begins as you fly into Copenhagen, Denmark. Enjoy a tour of this legendary city before you embark on the MSC Musica. Onboard you will experience outstanding service, nightly entertainment and five restaurants.

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Sail to ports in: Kiel, Germany; Dover, England, famous for its white cliffs; Ferrol, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal, one of the world’s greatest ports; Málaga, Spain; La Goulette, Tunisia, on the coast of North Africa and lastly the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” Dubrovnik, Croatia. Disembark in Venice where you will spend the day sightseeing that will include the Grand Canal and St. Mark’s Square. Then travel to Verona, followed by Milan where you will see the LaScala Opera House and Piazza del Duomo.

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ACRES of Southwest Ohio

January 2013

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DEADLINES/CORRECTIONS: Liner deadline 3rd Thurdsay of each month: Display Deadlines: Aug. Edition: July 31 Mar. Edition: March 6 Sept. Edition: Sept.5 Apr. Edition: April 3 Oct. Edition: Oct 2 May Edition: May 1 Nov. Edition: Oct. 23 Jun. Edition: June 5 Dec. Edition: Dec. 4 Jul. Edition: July 3

GENERAL INFORMATION Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8-5 POLICY: Please Check Your Ad The 1st Day. It Is The Advertiser’s Responsibility To Report Errors Immediately. Publisher Will Not Be Responsible for More Than One Incorrect Insertion. We Reserve The Right To Correctly Classify, Edit, Cancel Or Decline Any Advertisement Without Notice.

Wilmington News Journal 937-382-2574 We Accept

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2012 J.D. 1990 air seater, 7-1/2" spacing, monitor, markers, used on approximately 650 acres, $105,000 FIRM. Fremont Ohio. Call Mike 419-334-8124 or 419-680-0968. For Sale: Large amount of (new) electric fence supplies at 1/2 price! (200) bags of insulators, wood and t-post $5.00/bag, Polywire 660 ft. rolls $12.00 ea., Polytape 600 ft. rolls $30.00 ea. Hi-tensile spin jenny $30 ea. plus much more! Call (937) 205-5256. Klayton Juillerat

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Posted each month on these highly visited websites: newsdemocrat.com, peoplesdefender.com, timesgazette.com, recordherald.com and wnewsj.com To place an ad Call: 937-544-2391, 937-368-6161 937-382-2574, 740-335-3611 or 937-393-3456

Reaching Eleven Counties!

of Southwest Ohio

ACRES of Southwest Ohio

February 2013

First agriculture seminar a major success By ADAM SHEPARD shepard.95@osu.edu

Well, I can officially turn the page on the completion of my first major program with Extension. The Southwest Ohio Agronomy Day was held on Jan. 23 at the Fayette County Agricultural Service Center in Washington Court House. Attendance for the program was around fifty-five, which really pleased me. The weather was probably favorable for attendance; with highs in the teens an indoor event may have been appealing for many individuals. I was very fortunate by being able to plan a date that was open for two great speakers from Purdue University: Dr. Tony Vyn and Dr. Bob Nielsen, in addition with our new Ohio State University Soybean

and Small Grains Specialist Dr. Laura Lindsey. The afternoon brought discussion from a couple of my Extension colleagues Dr. Steve Prochaska and Harold Watters. Probably one of the topics that received the most discussion was the nutrient management portion. It seems like in some form or another we have all heard to some extent the concerns regarding phosphorus applications to agricultural fields. In Extension we are trying to provide growers the opportunity to learn about the 4R approach to nutrient management, and provide them with some options to improve the practices on their farms. The 4R nutrient approach deals with producers and consultants selecting the Right fertilizer source at the Right

feeders there will be no cost to attend. A couple other dates to watch for are the Cattlefeeders banquet scheduled for Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the newly remodeled Mahan Building. Tickets to this even are $20 per person and will be available from Pettit’s BP, OSU Extension Fayette County, or any member of the Fayette County Cattlefeeders. Also the Southwest Ohio Corn Growers will have their annual banquet on March 6 also at the Mahan Building at the Fayette County Fairgrounds. For more information about any of the above mentioned activities please give us a call at 740335-1150.

rate, at the Right time and in the Right place. The concept of the 4R system is based off of best management practices identified and endorsed by The Fertilizer Institute and The International Plant Nutrition Institute. More information about the 4R program can be found at www.nutrientstewardship.com. Finally, I would like to tell you about some of the upcoming programs in Fayette and surrounding counties. Fayette County will be a remote site for the Ohio Beef Cattle School from 7 to 9 p.m. The school will spread over two more nights: Feb. 26 and March 19. Originally the registration cost was $10 per meeting or $25 for the three-night series that started in January but thanks to the generosity of the Fayette County Cattle-

Photo by Gary Brock Dr. Tony Vyn explains different tillage systems and methods for corn and soybeans during the Southwest Agronomy Day held in Fayette County in January.

(Adam Shepard is education specialist, Ohio State University Extension, Fayette County.)

Extension. Registration for the full conference is $225. For more information on the conference or for registration information, contact Christy Eckstein 614-7286438 or by email at ceckstein@agri.ohio.gov. Huron County Home and Business Show : Feb. 23 Huron County Farm Bureau and the Huron County Chamber of Commerce invite you to the Home and Business Show. This event showcases more than 70 area businesses. Huron County Farm Bureau will have demonstrations and displays from Trent Nationwide Agency; Huron County Master Gardeners; Gardner’s SuperValu with Ohio Proud products, and cupcake and cake decorating; Huron Soil and Water Conservation District and more. Registration: Contact Huron County Farm Bureau at 888-292-6442 or by email at huron@ofbf.org. There is no cost to attend. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Location: Norwalk Middle School, Norwalk. Contact: (888) 292-6442 — MARCH — 5th annual “Opening

Doors to Success” Small Farm Conference and Trade Show March 8 and 9 at Wilmington College in Wilmington. The conference will feature approximately 30 breakout sessions and a trade show for small farmers. Registration is $20 on March 8, $50 on March 9 or $60 for both days. Registration deadline is March 1. Contact: http://clinton.osu.edu under county events, or contact OSU Extension educator Tony Nye at nye.1@osu.edu or 937382-0901. Five Nights On Campus - Lone Raven : March 14 An eclectic blend of traditional music from various areas of the world, as well as their own original compositions. Over 20 instruments on stage. Hours: 7:30 p.m. Location: OSU Marion, 1465 Mt. Vernon Ave., Marion. Contact: (740) 725-6341. www.osumarion.osu.edu/5-nights Ross County Farmers Care Breakfast : March 14 Ross County Farm Bureau invites you to its annual Farmers Care Breakfast. Breakfast selections include ham, sausage, pan-

cakes, fresh fruit, coffee, orange juice and milk. Food is prepared and supplied by Ross County Farm Bureau. The event includes an optional Workers’ Compensation safety meeting from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. No registration. Cost: $1 per person. Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Location: Ross County Service Center, Chillicothe. Contact: (740) 474-6284 Animals for Life Summit : March 20 World-renowned animal handling pioneer Dr. Temple Grandin will headline the first ever Animals for Life Summit. Grandin is a specialist in livestock handling and animal facility design. Born a severely autistic child, Grandin conquered her disability and has since published numerous books and articles on animal research and her triumphant life story. The Animals For Life Summit also will highlight aspects of human-animal relationships that include the associations between human health and pet ownership and the special relationships that form between service dogs and owners. Speakers include Dr. Candace Croney, animal behaviorist, Purdue University; Dr. Tod Beckett, DVM; Jeanette O’Quin, public health veterinarian, Ohio State University; Lesli Waller and Vinny the Therapy Dog; Raemleton Equestrian Therapy Center and Assistance

Dogs of America. Following the event, there will be an autograph/photograph session with Dr. Grandin. The Animals for Life Foundation is a nonprofit organization that celebrates the humananimal bond and the many ways animals bring quality to human life. Established in 2009, it has granted more than $100,000 to programs that aim to improve the human-animal bond. For more information on the Foundation, go to www.aflfoundation.org or www.facebook.com/animalsforlifefoundation. Registration: Contact the foundation office, 614-246-8271. Register by March 16. Cost: Early registration – $69, Student – $25 (before March 6); late registration – $89 (after March 6) Hours: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Location: NorthPointe Conference Center, Lewis Center. Contact: (614) 246-8271. www.aflfoundation.org Night at Heritage Hall Gala Opening & Progressive Dinner : March 21 Step back in time and dine while on this historic tour and dinner package. Enjoy this culinary and visual feast with period-themed entertainment and costumed interpreters. Ticket $25 per person. Hours: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Location: Heritage Hall, 169 E. Church St., Marion. Contact: (740) 387-4255. www.marionhistory.com.

Upcoming Events — FEBRUARY — Comfort Foods for the Winter Blues : Feb. 11 Join Butler County Farm Bureau for its Grow and Know event featuring Italian Farmhouse Soup and easy homemade rolls. Crockpot techniques and tips, plus three types of easy 60minute homemade rolls will be taught at this event. Attendees will be entered for door prizes. Registration: Contact Butler County Farm Bureau at 513-8448371 or by email at butler@ofbf.org. Register by Feb 7. Hours: 6 to 8 p.m. Location: Butler County Extension office, Hamilton Contact: (513) 844-8371 OEFFA’s 34th Annual Conference: Organic Growing Opportunities : Feb. 15 -17 OEFFA’s two-day conference is Ohio’s largest sustainable agriculture event, featuring more than 90 workshops on sustainable farming, gardening, homesteading, cooking, and livestock production; local and organic meals; a kids’ conference and childcare; a trade show; Saturday night entertainment, and more. George Siemon will be the

keynote speaker. He has been a leading organic agriculture advocate for nearly two decades. He is the CEO of Organic Valley and co-founded CROPP, North America’s largest organic farming cooperative. Nicolette Hahn Niman will be the keynote speaker on Sunday. She is a rancher, attorney, and author of Righteous Porkchop: Finding a Life and Good Food Beyond Factory Farms. Full-day Friday pre-conferences on livestock grazing and food safety will also be offered. Hours: all day. Location: Granville Middle and High schools, 248 New Burg St., 248 New Burg St., Ohio, Contact: (614) 421-2022, www.oeffa.org/2013. 2013 Ohio Grape and Wine Conference The conference, which will be held Feb. 18-19 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Dublin, is expected to attract some 250 participants throughout the region, said Imed Dami, a state viticulture (grape growing) specialist with the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) and Ohio State University

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February 2013

ACRES of Southwest Ohio

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