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Rise in farmland rental rates adds to local growers concerns BY RANDA WAGNER Morrow County Sentinel The songbirds are drifting back into Ohio, the days are gradually warming, and the planting season is fast approaching. Farming, in itself, has unique issues, and each year brings new challenges. One of the issues affecting Morrow County growers this Spring is the increase in cash rent rates with property owners. Many property owners have land they rent to local growers to farm. Rather than sit idle, the land can be a food source as well as revenue for both the renter and the ‘landlord.’ The renter and land owner settle on a price per acre, and everybody’s happy. But in the past two years, land rent has gone up substantially. Many farmers are being outbid for land they had long been renting. “With corn prices over $6.50 per bushel and soybeans over $14 per bushel, farmers are aggressively trying to acquire more land either by purchasing or renting it,” said Chad Endsley, Ohio Farm Bureau’s director of agricultural law. In the Morrow County area, ads have appeared offering $225 or $250 an acre to farm the land. That’s a tempting price for property owners, who now have to decide if they should switch to a new renter or keep the one they have and raise their rent. “There’s been a lot of land change hands this year,” a local agent said in March. “Landowners have new operators or ground is being sold.” In Morrow County, over half the farmland is rented out

for farming. Another reason why rental rates may be going up, Endsley said in a Feb. 24 article for the Ohio Farm Bureau, is the recent increase in the Current Agricultural Use Valuation (CAUV). Some landowners may be trying to make up for the higher CAUV taxes by increasing their land rental rates. Crop profitability along with low interest rates have been the primary drivers in this unprecedented run-up in cropland values, says Barry Ward, Leader, Production Business Management, OSU Extension, Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics. The relative scarcity of farmland has also been a driver in cropland values. Additionally, the Federal Reserve has indicated that it plans to maintain current low interest rates through mid-2015. The increase in grain prices has also affected hay growers. “As far as grains go, the pressure is on to grow grains,” says Jeff McCutcheon, OSU Extension Agent for Morrow County. “People are looking to convert more hay farmland to grow grain crops. The observation is, where hay ground was to be planted, it’s committed to crops such as corn and soybeans.”

There’s a need for forage, McCutcheon explains, because producers did not cull herds as hard in Ohio as they did in western states. Some factors to keep in mind, says Kent Thiesse in an article for Corn and Soybean Digest in October, is crop input costs for seed, fertilizer, chemicals, fuel and crop drying are likely to be higher in 2013, after an increase of about 1020% for the 2011 and 2012 crop years. He goes on to say local cash prices for fall 2012 were below $6/bu. for corn and below $13/bu. for soybeans at most locations in southern Minnesota. At normal yields and cost of production, many producers will be looking at breakeven market prices for 2013 near $5/bu. for corn and $12/bu. for soybeans. These price levels, or even lower, could become reality with more normal crop weather patterns across the U.S. during the 2013 growing season. Many farm operators are concerned that if land rental rates become too high for 2013, it may be very difficult to break even next year, if there is a much larger level of U.S. crop production and lower grain prices. An alternative to the high cash rental rate problem for 2013, or

potentially even higher rental rates in the future, may be a flexible cash lease rental agreement. This arrangement allows the final cash rental rate to vary as crop yields and market prices vary, or as gross revenue per acre exceeds established targets. Thiesse explains the use of a flexible cash rental lease is potentially fairer to both the landlord and the farm operator, depending on how the flexible lease is set up. There are many variations to setting up a flexible lease agreement between a landlord and farm operator. The big key, regardless of the flexible lease agreement, is that both the landlord and tenant fully understand the rental agreement, and the calculations that are used to determine the final rental rate. It is extremely important that all aspects of a flexible land rental lease agreement be spelled out in detail in a written rental contract, which is signed by all parties. Successful flexible cash lease agreements, as well as normal land rental agreements, have always involved cooperation, trust and good communication between the farm operator and the landlord.

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ACRES of North Central Ohio,

Monday, April 1, 2013

Of North Central Ohio Publisher — Devin Hamilton dhamilton@civitasmedia.com Editor-in-Chief — Gary Brock gbrock@civitasmedia.com Editor — Gregg Rettig grettig@civitasmedia.com

Advertising: advertising@acresmidwest.com Delaware: 740-363-1161 Scott Koon, Advertising Director skoon@civitasmedia.com Serving Union, Marion, Delaware counties Bellevue: 419-483-7410 Rick Miller, Publisher Serving Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca, Erie, Huron counties Galion: 419-468-1117 Vicki Taylor, Publisher Serving Crawford, Richland counties Mt. Gilead: 419-946-3010 Vicki Taylor, Publisher Serving Morrow, Knox counties Wauseon: 419-335-2010 Janice May, General Manager Serving Lucas and Henry counties Roy Slater, Regional Advertising Consultant 419-295-1009 rslater@civitasmedia.com Serving Hardin, Wyandot, Hancock, Putnam, Wood counties Subscriptions B.A. Wells, Circulation Manager (740) 852-1616 bwells@civitasmedia.com Contact ACRES of North Central Ohio: 55 West High Street / London, OH 43140 (740) 852-1616

Farmers feel the pinch of government By GARY BROCK Ohio’s farmers are frustrated. Not only do they have to face - every day the “normal” challenges of being farmers, they must also face wave after wave of changes, regulations, new paperwork and new expenses coming from Columbus and Washington. While I have no doubt that some of these new regulations are necessary, it seems that as we enter what some are calling a “Golden Age” in Ohio farming, our government is taking this opportunity to tighten regulations and expand their controls over what farmers do every day. In the March edition of ACRES, there were several stories about new federal food safety requirements and Ohio water quality regulations. The water quality issues involved fertilizer runoff for the most part. Part of what has made some — perhaps many — farmers unhappy is the assumption made in Columbus from the Ohio EPA, the USDA and and ODNR (the three agencies assigned by Gov. Kasich last year with fixing Ohio’s water quality problems) that much of the problem came from Ohio’s farmers. At a February seminar

for farmers in Fayette County, an Ohio State Extension representative made it clear that like it or not, “it is what it is” regarding these runoff issues and the need for Ohio’s farmers to change. That may well be. But farmers certainly are not liking it. A couple weeks ago, I received an email from one Greene County farmer who was not happy with the blame for the state’s water quality issues being place, even in part, on Ohio’s farmers. He wanted to remain anonymous, but here is what he shared with me in his email: ”Having read your remarks in the ACRES paper last month I think someone should ask these fine government folks who seem to have all the correct answers some questions. Would it not seem correct to have some tests showing just when and where the phosphorous is entering the streams? Just because phosphorous has been “pointed” to would it not be correct for the media to ask who is doing the pointing, where do they get their information, how do they get it, what makes them think it is correct, when did they get this information gathered, what tests have been done

at the outlets into the lakes and streams from the sewage and storm water discharge pipes from the cities and towns, or is it simply cheaper to blame the farmer and not fix any of the other source points because of cost, politics, or gross vote totals? “These people are aces at avoiding direct answers and of course there is always the old saying that if your repeat a lie often enough it becomes the truth. That and no organized opposition makes it become even easier. Just because the speaker is from Ohio State does not mean he has done the proper background work and that is the reason there needs to be questions — and no slack answers. Just the place the media is supposed to fill —- From my position I know we are not using nearly as much phosphorous as we used to — if for no other reason than cost, and now with global positioning and computers many farmers are only applying where fertilizer is actually needed and of course there are many more acres of no till — how does that add up to more loss into the water? “As we continue to allow government to regulate and force laws upon us, where

does it stop? Our freedoms are being lost almost on a daily basis, I would submit to you it cannot continue down this path for long — go and read the history of the last 10 years before the Civil War, it will make you think— or at least it should. Remember, some day it will be your turn to take the heat from government - will there be anybody left who cares?” Clearly this farmer is frustrated with the fingerpointing coming from Columbus and Washington toward our farmers. I agree that there are times when regulations are needed, and our water and quality must be protected at all costs. However, the response and regulations must be measured and appropriate. Are the regulations and new requirements an over-reaction? Are farmers seen as an “easy target” from politicians in Columbus who can force these changes on rural communities and then they they “are doing something” to solve the problem? I don’t think there is much doubt about the answer to that question. Gary Brock is editor of ACRES of Southwest Ohio.

ACRES of North Central Ohio is published monthly by Ohio Community Media, LLC and is available through the Delaware Gazette, Bellevue Gazette, Galion Inquirer, Morrow County Sentinel, Oberlin News Tribune, Fulton County Expositor and The Madison Press. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue in whole or in part is prohibited. ACRES of North Central Ohio are available for purchase at each of the newspapers offices for $1/copy or contact us to subscribe. Subscriptions are $19.95 per year. Please Buy Locally & Recycle.

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in bloom

Controlling the blue-green algae problem

This NOAA satellite photo from October 2011 shows the blue-green algae’s effect on Lake Erie.

BY BECKY BROOKS BVUnews@civitasmedia.com

Early Bird Special!

algae or cyanobacteria. There are six to seven types of harmful algae which fall into this group. The most harmful algae in the group is “microcystis”. The 2011 blue-green algae bloom was the worst year experts in the field have on record for Lake Erie. Thomas Bridgeman, Ph.D., associate professor Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Toledo, Lake Erie Center, said the algae bloom results from warm conditions in late summer when there is a high concentration of nutrients in the lake water. Bridgeman said the blue-green algae produces a toxin. “Toxins can be harmful to anyone,” Bridgeman stated. “The municipalities along the lake have to spend extra funds to remove the toxins from the water during blooms.” It affected communities and lake life in multiple negative ways in 2011. Besides toxins, the bloom results odor and floating blooms that are not supportive of the organisms that support fish life.

Despite the massive blue-green algae bloom in Lake Erie in 2011, Ohio experts are hopeful that voluntary efforts by those in the agricultural industry can avoid a similar situation in 2013 and future years. The algae bloom in 2012 was far smaller, but experts say that is because the region saw a drought – significantly reducing the levels of the phosphorous and nitrates applied to farmlands from entering the watersheds and rivers around the lake. While leading experts have developed a model that was accurate in predicting the small bloom in the summer of 2012 – it is still too early this year to predict what Lake Erie faces this summer. Jeffrey M. Reutter, Ph.D., the director of the Ohio Sea Grant College Program and Stone Laboratory on Lake Erie’s Gilbraltar Island, has been speaking to various groups throughout Ohio and the Lake Erie region concerning blue-green

As one example, Reutter pointed out that the City of Toledo had to spend an extra $4,000 per day during the 2011 bloom to treat water coming into its lake intake. What is more - the size of the algae bloom is directly connected to Ohio agriculture. The reason 2011 saw a record bloom was there were record rains in the spring resulting a massive runoff of farm fertilizers into rivers and tributaries to Lake Erie, he reported. In a recent program on the impact of algae on wildlife, Reutter noted that two-thirds of the phosphorus going into Lake Erie is coming from agriculture today. The other one-third is coming from several sources: Sewage treatment plants, lawn fertilizer runoff, water treatment plants and septic tanks. Reutter said the load of phosphorous that went into Lake Erie during four months in 2011 was a record load. “The bloom we got that year

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100 years after the great flood BY JANE BEATHARD For ACRES

trees to escape rising water. Some held on for hours until rescuers arrived by boat. Many were swept away. The rains came The rain began to fall on Easter Sunday, March 23, 1913, as three large storm systems — one each from the Gulf of Mexico, Canada and the Great Plains — converged on the state. Ohio ground was already frozen hard from the preceding cold winter, creating 90 percent runoff, Silverio said. Between March 23 and 25, nine to 11 inches of rainfall turned meandering rivers into torrents of

COURTESY MADISON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The rain began to fall on Easter Sunday, March 23, 1913, as three great storm systems converged on the state.

death, wiping out bridges, levees, highways and whole neighborhoods. “Densely populated river towns like Dayton and Columbus were hardest hit,” Silverio said. According to the Ohio Historical Society, the Great Miami River flooded 14 square miles of downtown Dayton and submerged streets in 10 feet of water. Downstream in Hamilton, 100 people died as water rose to 18 feet in residential areas. An equal number died in the west Columbus “bottoms” when levees broke and the Scioto River poured 17 feet of water through low-lying neighborhoods. Nineteen people died in Tiffin when their homes slid into the Sandusky River. The Maumee River crested at 10 feet above flood stage at Defiance where 268 homes were under water. Twenty-three people died as a result. The Ohio River at Cincinnati rose 21 feet in 24 hours. The Muskingum River at Zanesville crested at 27 feet above flood stage, submerging the famous Y- Bridge. It was a time of outhouses, horse liveries and no antibiotics. Water contaminated by raw sewage caused disease outbreaks

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The Great Flood of 1913 left 467 people dead and more than 60,000 homes destroyed or damaged statewide.

long after the flood subsided. End of the canals Ohio’s historic canal system, an engineering marvel of the early 1800s, suffered its final, fatal blow in the flood. Little used since the railroad era, canals and associated locks across the state were already in disrepair by 1913. Local leaders dynamited seven locks on the Ohio Canal at Akron to release flood waters. A wall of water then swept down the Cuyahoga River, washing away docks, trains and rail yards in Cleveland.

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Late March marked the 100th anniversary of Ohio’s greatest natural disaster. The Great Flood of 1913 left 467 people dead and more than 60,000 homes destroyed or damaged statewide. It also shaped the way governments prevent and control floods, according to Alicia Silverio of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Floodplain Management Program. It was Ohio’s equivalent of Hurricane Katrina with stories of miraculous survival and heroic rescue filling the pages of newspapers across the country. As in Katrina, victims fled to attics, roofs and tall

467 PEOPLE DIED, 60,000 HOMES DESTROYED

Feeder lakes and reservoirs in western Ohio poured excess water into the Miami-Erie Canal, washing away locks and whole sections of the 249mile channel between Toledo and Cincinnati. Telephone and telegraph service stopped across the state for days, as did mail delivery. Loss of communication added to the disaster as those spared desperately sought news of friends and family caught in the deluge. Helping hands As with Hurricane Katrina, help poured into Ohio’s ravaged communities from all directions.

Gov. James Cox called up the National Guard and declared marshal law in Dayton and Zanesville for three weeks. Churches and fraternal organizations in towns away from the water opened their doors to the homeless and raised money for victims. President Woodrow Wilson, inaugurated only two weeks earlier, sent federal troops to the state. The 1914 Conservancy Act of Ohio The Great Flood of 1913 was literally a highwater mark in Ohio histoCONTINUED ON PAGE 7

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Alfalfa continued from Page 5 “We would grow it, dry it, press it (process it), place it in containers and ship it to China,: Dr. Lines said. Why Ohio? Dr. Lines said it can now be done more cheaply in Ohio because of the drop in price and ease of availability of natural gas needed to fuel a processing plant to dry the alfalfa. So, for the uninitiated just what is alfalfa? Alfalfa is a flowering plant widely grown throughout the world as forage for cattle, and is most often harvested as hay, but can also be made into silage, grazed, or fed greenchop. Alfalfa usually has the highest feeding value of all common hay crops. It is used less frequently as pasture. When grown on soils where it is welladapted, alfalfa is often the highest yielding forage plant, but its primary benefit is the combination of high yield per hectare and high nutritional quality. Its primary use is as feed for high producing dairy cows — because of its high protein content and highly digestible fiber—and secondarily for beef cattle, horses, sheep, and goats. Like other legumes, its root nodules contain bacteria, with the ability to soil. Its nitrogen-fixing abilities (which increases soil nitrogen) and its use as an animal feed greatly improve agricultural efficiency. Alfalfa can be sown in spring or fall, and does best on well-drained soils with a neutral pH of 6.8 – 7.5. Alfalfa requires sustained levels of potassium and phosphorus to grow well. It is moderately sensitive to salt levels in both the soil and irrigation water, although it continues to be grown in the arid southwestern United States, where salinity is an emerging issue. Soils low in fertility should be fertilized with manure or a chemical fertilizer, but correction of pH is particularly important. In most climates, alfalfa is cut three to four times a year. Total yields are typically around 4 short tons per acre in temperate environments, but yields have been recorded up to 16 short tons per acre. Yields vary with region, weather, and the crop’s stage of maturity when cut. Later cuttings improve yield, but with reduced nutritional content. “It is a premium market,” said Dr. Lines. “They (the Chinese) want the best possible quality of alfalfa possible, and they are willing to pay for it.” But growing it is just half the job. The most important part is the actual processing of the alfalfa. The main job of a processing plant is to dehydrate, or dry, the alfalfa. Once dried, it can be turned into pellets, wafers or powder and then shipped. “A community could set up a facility - a processing plant - to dehydrate the alfalfa, process it, then ship it.” However, before Ohio farmers starts searching for an entrepreneur to bankroll at processing plant, they need to be aware of a few additional facts: in the last decade of the 20th century, more than 200 such processing plants closed their doors, according to information from several alfalfa associations across the U.S. And while times may be changing and the market might be right for investing in such a facility, there are still an estimated 200 plants in the U.S. already, many on the west coast, with more still in Canada. But Dr. Lines says Ohio is still in a unique position to start such an operation efficiently, and at less cost, than many other states.

The photo above shows where the levy broke, compromising much of Columbus in the 1913 great flood.

ry. It led to passage of The Conservancy Act of Ohio in 1914. “It focused attention on structural flood control and keeping flood water away from people,” Silverio said. The legislation allowed local governments to levy taxes and issue bonds for the construction of flood-control dams. It was the first legislation of its kind in the country and served as a model for other states. Subsequent amendments to the act met changing community needs and widened its scope to include water resource management on many levels. Today, 20 locally funded conservancy districts are active in Ohio, according to ODNR records. The Upper Scioto Drainage & Conservancy is the oldest, dating from February 1915. The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy is the largest, operating 10 lakes and four dry dams in eastern Ohio in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Miami Conservancy, based in Dayton, is among the most prominent. It not only oversees a system of dry and low dams, but also promotes outdoor recreation and water sports throughout the Miami Valley. A shift in philosophy Silverio said floods are a part of nature and are bound to occur. Lessons learned in 1913 lessened the effects of the 1937 flood and turned the nation’s attention to floodplain management. “Floods are truly problematic when people are in the way,” she said. Beginning in the 1960s and ’70s, flood management moved away from structural control (dams and levees) to focus on regulating development in smarter, safer ways. “We used to focus on keeping flood water away from people,” Silverio said. “Now we try to keep people away from flood-prone areas.”

The great flood of 1913 destroyed more than 60,000 homes.

(Gary Brock is editor of ACRES of Southwest Ohio.)

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ACRES of North Central Ohio,

Monday, April 1, 2013

in bloom Continued from Page 4

WE SIMPLIFY FLOORING!

was a record bloom. It was 2.5 times larger than we had ever seen. “It covered water basins between Sandusky and Fairport,” he added, noting it cover a region affecting the communities of 2.5

Hours: Tues. to Friday 9:30-5:30; Sat. 9-1 Closed Sun. & Mon.

million people. “We had tremendous rainfall and runoff in 2011,” Bridgeman pointed out. It is the rain and runoff from April through part of June that results in the blue-green algae bloom

growing in mid-July or August depending on the heat. “2012 was much better,” he stressed. “The algae was much smaller, and we think that is a result of a lower rain fall

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the 2011 bloom. A total economical impact study has not been completed - the men said. Since 2011, efforts were made to create a model to predict the next massive bloom and to educate farmers about fertilizer applications. In 2012, Reutter said data was collected by the Ohio State Stone Lab, University of Toledo, and Heidelberg College of Tiffin. With the efforts of those groups and Richard Stumpf, Ph.D. of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, experts were able to predict a smaller bloom in 2012. “We did that in July 2012,” he said, nothing a public prediction was made so that tourists could be encouraged to return to the Lake Erie last summer. Reutter, like Bridgeman, explained that how Lake Erie would be impacted this year cannot yet be predicted until July 2013. It will depend on the rain levels this spring as well as how effective education of the Ohio agriculture industry has been. “If we have a wet year, if a lot of phosphorous goes in, we would have a bad bloom,” he said. But both Reutter and Bridgeman are optimistic about progress being made with Ohio farmers. “There has been a lot of work done with the Ag community, urging them to modify their fertilizing and modifying their practices,” Reutter commented. “I expect to start seeing some results from those education efforts probably this year,” he added. “That will also help this bloom to be smaller than past blooms.” Reutter said the state seems to be going in the right direction. “We have to do more,” he added. “We have to get more farmers to adopt best management practices.” Those BMP include nutrient management, crop rotations, cover crops, 2368437

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during those critical spring months.” Reutter said the phosphorous runoff last spring was less than 10 percent of what researchers had seen in 2011. “There was very little runoff, because there was never any rain,” he commented. “In 2012, we had the drought in the spring. It was like the complete reverse of 2011.” The drought showed experts that a massive reduction in phosphorus runoff would result in little to no algae bloom in the late summer. “All the things we had been predicting came true,” Reutter said. Although the lake seemed to recover in a year’s time – Bridgeman commented that is a false security. “Lake Erie is in trouble that is for sure,” he said. Bridgeman warned that due to global warming – scientists believe that years like 2011 with higher spring rain levels could become more common and without changes in agriculture so massive algae blooms also will be common. “These large algae blooms may become the rule rather than exception if nothing else is done to curb runoff.” He pointed out that the State of Ohio has a $10 billion tourist industry associated with Lake Erie and of that $1.5 billion is related to sports fishing in the great lake on the north end of the state. Reutter saw up close the results of the algae bloom in 2011 – photographs of the Sea Grant boats show a wake of bubbling blue-green algae. Tourists who came to Lake Erie for the summer were disappointed with what they found in the water and on the beaches. Both men said that the charter boat organizations reported drops in business. Reutter said he has been told that 100 charter services closed as a result of

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conservation tillage, filter and buffer strips, controlled drainage and wetland restoration. He commented that efforts to educate and to change phosphorus and nutrient levels flowing into farm runoff are being supported by the farm bureau, The Ohio State University Extension, NRCS, Sea Grant and even some of the certified crop advisory groups - plus the Andersons in Northwest Ohio. Reutter said he is chairman of a subcommittee of the Ohio Phosphorus Task Force that is building target load limits that would solve the problem facing Lake Erie. In March, proposed limits were presented and supported by members. Reutter pointed out that algae can be a deadly problem and that bluegreen algae blooms have resulted in deaths in South America. “We are among the leaders in trying to solve the problem and do it in a way that does not harm Ag production,” he added. “This is not just an Ohio problem or Lake Erie problem,” he stressed. “It is really a national problem and really a global problem.” Bridgeman pointed out similar blooms have not only been found in Ohio’s Grand Lake St. Mary’s, but in some of the shallower bodies of water in other Great Lakes such as Green Bay and Saginaw Bay. Mindy Bankey, with the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Columbus, noted that efforts are being made toward change - voluntary and legislative. “Ohio’s 88 Soil and Water Conservation Districts, especially those in the Western Lake Erie Basin and Grand Lake St. Marys’ area have been diligently working with the farming community, landowners (rural and urban), commodity groups, associations and many more to educate the importance of nutrient stewardship through utilizing the 4R Nutrient Standards (Right Source, Right Time, Right Rate and Right Place) and promote the use of various conservation practices like covered crops, controlled drainage devices, grassed waterways, soil testing, backyard conservation, and much more,” she noted in an email response. “Ohio has experienced great successes and much progress in improved soil productivity and water quality through voluntary efforts.,” she added. “We are committed to promoting conservation stewardship, and it is our goal to leave the land better for future generations. That is one of the reasons we have named our program efforts 4R Tomorrow.” As for legislation, she noted the Directors of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency have released a draft bill that makes some changes to nutrient standards. The draft is being reviewed and can be viewed at www.oaba.net.

ACRES of North Central Ohio,

Monday, April 1, 2013

TheChinaconnection continuedfromPage5

When China looks abroad for produce, it is looking for high quality.

low cost producer of soybeans and corn; 3. Farmers must make sure they lay the plans for efficient farm management so that the crops are produced with no waste of energy, time or money; 4. Farmers need to spend more time developing systems to produce low cost and high quality meat products - with an emphasis on dairy, pork and chicken; 5. When China looks abroad for produce, it is looking for high quality. “Get the food to them in the manner they want,” said Dr. Lines; 6. Remember that people are people, and the Chinese people are like everyone else - they like meat; 7. Americans, Ohio farmers, need to “get into China with a strong marketing program” to push our agriculture products; 8. Provide a high-quality resource the Chinese cannot produce, but need. For Ohio farmers, that could be alfalfa. It is high-quality alfalfa that the Chinese will need more of in the future for their livestock (See related story.) For Dr. Lines, what is the bottom line for Ohio farmers as they look to provide more exports of produce to China? “The over-arching story is - the largest agricultural producer world’s Here is what he suggests: incomes and increased rising with 1. Ohio farmers need to keep proanimal protein consumption cannot ducing more and more soybeans and now and will not be able to feed itself corn; in the future.” 2. They must continue to be the

For example, soybeans. Ironically, soybeans come from China, but they have essentially given up growing it in favor of importing it from other countries. But America has no monopoly on soybean production. If we don’t keep costs low and quality high, China can go to Brazil, Argentina, eastern Europe or Africa. The same applies to cotton. And wheat. However, at present, the United States does have a monopoly on corn production worldwide. Dr. Lines says that is why China is emphasizing corn production in its own country to fight the American monopoly. He said at present China produced about twothirds of the U.S.’s 165 bushels of corn per acre average. Dr. Lines said the other big change taking place in Chinese agriculture is the shift from backyard livestock production (animals subsisting on farm and household waste) to intensified “western-style” animal production. These modern systems will require immense amounts grains, grain products, soybeans and soy products – amounts beyond China’s capacity to produce. This includes beef, pork, dairy and poultry production. So, with all the growing needs from a hungry world, especially China, what advice does Dr. Lines give Ohio farmers to take advantage of this growing need?

today, Chinese children consume as much milk and dairy products as American children - unheard of 20 years ago. But China does not have the capability of providing the cattle, hogs and chicken with the roughage - the quality feed needed to produce quality meat protein. China cannot produce enough corn to feed its livestock. And consider this: China produces 53,747 thousand metric tons of meat each year. That ranks it number one in the world, and that still is not enough to satisfy its citizens’ desires for meat protein. Dr. Lines said the Chinese government has now done something very smart - it has decided that there are some things easier to buy abroad than to try to produce itself. But also, the Chinese government picked farm produce that no one country has a monopoly in. That way, no foreign country can hold supply and prices over their heads.

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ACRES of North Central Ohio,

Monday, April 1, 2013

HOW TO:

CLEAN EXPOSED BRICK BY TRESA ERICKSON For ACRES

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Whether a backsplash or a fireplace surround, brick can make a lovely feature in any home. It can get dirty, however, and may require a good cleaning from time to time. There are many products available for cleaning brick. You should use the gentlest one possible to retain the integrity of the brick. Here are some common cleaning solutions for brick, from mild to not so mild. Dish soap and salt â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Combine one part dish soap and one part salt in a bucket and add a little water to make a paste. Scrub the paste into the brick, let it sit for 10 minutes and wipe it off with a warm rag. Ammonia, dish soap and pumice â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Mix one part ammonia, two parts dish soap and one part pumice in a bucket and add hot water to make a paste. Using rubber gloves, spread the paste onto the brick and let it sit for 10 minutes. Scrub and wipe off the paste with a warm rag. Naptha soap, ammonia and pumice â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Bring a large pot of water to a boil,

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shave some of the Naptha soap into the water and continue to heat it until the soap is dissolved. Add one cup of ammonia and a pound of pumice. Using rubber gloves, paint the mixture onto the brick and let it sit for an hour. Scrub and wipe it off with a warm rag. Rinse the brick with clean water. TSP â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Mix 1/2 cup of TSP with a gallon of hot water. Scrub the mixture onto the brick and rinse it off with hot water. TSP is abrasive, so make sure you wear rubber gloves and safety glasses. These solutions work for the general cleaning of interior brick. You may need to look for a different solution for issues like mold and mildew, soot or smoke. Bleach works best for mold and mildew, vinegar or clay for soot, and scouring powder for smoke. You may find a number of other products available for cleaning brick. Do your homework and select the right product for your situation. Wear protective gear, work in a well-ventilated area and follow the instructions given.

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Now it is time to cut up the pork BY LOVINA EICHER For ACRES

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Lovina Eicher

A nice sunny day in March although the thermometer shows 25 degrees this a.m. We have all the meat from our beef either in cans or in the freezer. My husband Joe was home several days last week. On Thursday night and Friday he made more than 400 hamburger patties to put in the freezer. We put freezer paper between each hamburger so they will pull apart easier. Now they can go from the freezer to the grill without needing time to unthaw first. I cooked the meat off from the beef bones and made 28 quarts of vegetable soup. That will be an easy meal on a busy day. I made this soup thick enough with vegetables and meat so I can add tomato juice and it will make twice the amount when I open a quart. Kevin, 7, told me he really loves that soup. One day when he came home from school he asked me if he could heat up some of that really good soup in jars. A year ago we put up solar panels to run a freezer from the sunlight with back-up batteries. We are still glad we invested in that. Since then we have not paid anything for running the freezer. All winter it has charged really well with maybe one or two days when the battery light has shown low. After a few days of having a break from the beef we will dress two hogs tomorrow night. Plans are to cut up the pork on Saturday. The lard will be rendered and the meat will be cooked from the bones in the big black kettle outside. We will also make our pon hoss in one of the big black kettles. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think we will make liver pudding this

year. Joe is the only one that eats it around here and I still have some canned from other years. It will be so good to have sausage again. We have been out of sausage in the freezer. I still have some canned but for sausage gravy we like it fresh or from the freezer. Spring is almost here which we will look forward to. I am glad it stayed cold so far as it makes it easier to get the meat done. It would have been nice to get the beef and pork done earlier this year but moneywise it was not possible. Tonight we will attend the eighth grade portfolio presentation which includes daughter Verena, 15, and niece Emma, 15. The eighth graders are preparing a dinner for all of their families tonight. Verena mentioned that some of the things on the menu are mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, and turkey. This will be the second night this week that I did not have to prepare supper. Tuesday evening we attended family fun night at the school. A lot of activities going on but the highlight of the night was the wildlife presentation. The children could see and touch insects from the rain forest in Africa, the scariest thing there was a python snake. Lovina, 8, does not take after me as she petted the snake while I went as far away from it as possible. We enjoyed pizza, chips, and punch in the cafeteria furnished by the school. Monday we take daughter Loretta, 12, to the childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hospital to have some heart tests done. I have been taking son

Kevin, 7, to therapy twice a week. As much as we would like to deny the symptoms he has also been diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. With Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s help we want to accept this as his plan for us. Prayers are greatly appreciated. May God bless each of you richly. Try this recipe, which is enjoyed around here. WET BURRITO CASSEROLE 1 1/2 pounds hamburger 1 package taco seasoning 1 small onion, diced 1/2 cup green peppers, diced 16 ounces of sour cream 2 cans cream of mushroom soup 2 cups cheese of your choice 8 small flour tortillas Brown hamburger, onion, and green peppers. Add taco seasoning. Cut tortillas in small bite sized pieces. Mix sour cream and cream of mushroom soup together. In a 9 by 13 inch pan layer hamburger mixture, tortillas and sour cream mixture and layers. Top with the cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Toppings can be chopped tomatoes, lettuce, salsa, and ranch dressing. Readers with culinary or cultural questions or to share recipes write Lovina at: Lovina Eicher, c/o Oasis Newsfeatures, P.O. Box 157, Middletown, OH 45042. To learn more about Amish culture and the Amish Cook column and to sign up for the twice weekly newsletter, visit www.amishcookonline.com.

ACRES of North Central Ohio,

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS IN YOUR BACK YARD

BY DORIS A. BLACK For ACRES

grown in containers for year-round fruit. Here are some tips.

If you are a hot pepper lover, nothing is better than growing your own. Filling your garden with green, orange, yellow, red or purple peppers makes a spectacular display and guarantees you’ll have just the right touch of “hot” when you need it. Peppers have long been relished for their flavorful properties. Originally from Brazil, pepper seeds were spread north by birds as they traveled their migratory paths. Spanish settlers and explorers of Mexico took hot pepper seeds to Europe and Asia, where they became a hot commodity in the spice trade. The first bottled cayenne sauce appeared on American soil in 1808 in Massachusetts. The first successful grower/producer of hot sauce was Edmund McIlhenney of Louisiana. In 1863, he recycled 350 cologne bottles and filled them with his own hot sauce. He sent these samples to a number of wholesalers and orders for more came pouring in by the thousands. This became Tabasco Sauce. In 1947, David Pace sold his sauce to grocery stores across the country only to have containers explode all over grocery shelves because he couldn’t get the formula right. This disaster became Pace Picante Sauce. Whether you grow Anaheim or Serrano peppers, a little knowledge and practice will go a long way. Many of the varieties of peppers come from tropical regions of the world and perform best under hot, humid conditions, while others originate in hot, dry climates. Some hot pepper aficionados collect and plant peppers according to their color, hotness or country of origin, seeking out new varieties to try each year. Hot peppers can be grown in the garden from transplants or seeds or they can be

Growing from transplants The highest-quality plants produce the highest yield of fruit. Hybrids are the best performers, but all hot pepper plants need to be “hardened off” before being placed in the garden by setting them outside one to two weeks. Keep them in the shade protected from harsh, drying winds and water them consistently. Be prepared to bring these tender plants indoors if temperatures are predicted to dip below 50 degrees. After the last frost date, they can be put in the garden — keep in mind they are heat lovers. Growing from Seeds When starting indoors, seeds perform best when planted in a seed starting mix versus potting soil, in either individual plastic pots or cell packs. Jiffy pots are not recommended because they can become sodden. Choose one with a slow release fertilizer to get your seedlings off to a good start. Seeds should be planted shallowly, as deep as the size of the seed. Be sure to label each variety as you plant them. All peppers can germinate in the darkness, but they need a warm environment. Ideally, any location that produces a steady 85 degrees will work, but most growers use heat mats or heat cables so the temperature can be monitored. According to the experts, covering the pots to retain moisture can backfire, providing too much humidity and smothering the seeds. Pepper seeds need plenty of moving air to germinate. Placing a fan in the room for adequate ventilation is recommended. Young plant care Once seeds germinate, reduce the temperature to 72 degrees and place seedlings under fluorescent lights. While young, the seedlings will require 12 to 16 hours of light per day.

Monday, April 1, 2013

Experts recommend watering young plants from the bottom without letting them stand in water for extended periods. Hot pepper plants cannot survive if waterlogged. Thin plants if necessary to one per pot. Fertilize with liquid fertilizer after peppers reach three to four inches in height. Plants are ready for the garden at any height, but planting them outdoors before the last frost date can be risky business. Protect your seedlings from frost at all costs. Mulch around each plant with black plastic, straw, wood chips, newspapers or any other mulching material to keep weeds at bay and to prevent disease. Mulch also helps to retain heat and moisture vital to healthy plants. Place tomato cages around the pepper plants while still young to help support the branches as the plant grows.

Growing mature plants All pepper plants do best in a rich, loamy soil high in nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus and full sun. Well-drained raised beds and planter boxes are perfect for peppers if the size is adequate. The minimum size for planter box or container growth should be five gallons to allow for deep root growth. Keeping ventilation adequate throughout the growing cycle is vital to having healthy plants, so don’t space them too close together — follow the recommended guidelines. Days to maturity vary, but you can tell the fruit is mature when it reaches its intended color. Gloves are a good idea when cutting peppers from the plant as the oil in the pepper skins can be very irritating to the skin. The more you harvest, the more the plants will produce. Freeze peppers throughout the growing season for later canning or drying. They will keep for about 10 days in the refrigerator. Whether you grow habaneros or jalapeños, fresh peppers from the garden are terrific.

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Surgaring season has arrived in Ohio’s Clear Fork Valley BY DIANA SHARP

PHOTO BY DIANA SHARP

Steve Shasky standing in his sugar palace checking the grade on his latest batch of syrup earlier this month.

effort that goes into producing quality maple syrup, then and now. In fact, it is a tricky crop dependent on weather and the relative short season in which one must collect the sap. The sugaring season begins in late winter or early spring, Presidents’ day till the end of March according to Shasky. Optimal conditions occur when the temperature is below freezing at night and above freezing during the day, creating internal pressure that causes the sap to flow through the tree. Sugar season is over when the buds begin to swell and the sap develops an off flavor. “Prime syrup weather is 20s

and 40s. In the 20s and night and in the 40s during the days,” explained Shasky, who owns Steve’s Ski Shop, 2583 Possum Run Rd., near Snow Trails. These temperatures are ideal for the sap to run. It is a clear liquid that is two percent sugar and 98 percent water. Producers boil 60 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of syrup. A grove of sugar trees is called a “sugarbush.” Shasky taps around 700 trees and boils for himself and a friend who taps around 400 trees. He considers himself a commercial producer who sells bulk syrup and some retail. This is compared with commercial pro-

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Spring means many things to many people … budding flowers, the return of migratory birds, and for a few dedicated, hard-working individuals, like Steve Shasky, it means the flow of sweet sap from Ohio’s maple trees. The popularity of real maple syrup during early American history centered around the demand for sugar. Back then, sap was boiled down to make a sugar loaf that was easily shipped on boats to meet the demand. “It was called loaf sugar. You boiled almost all the water out. The idea was … (in the colonies) you had honey sorghum or molasses and maple sugar. Those were the three sweeteners until the slave trade kicked in and the sugar started coming from the Indies. If you were on the frontier – envision the great lakes – all the production for maple syrup is around the great lakes,” explained Shasky as he was preparing to boil. He added, at that time, there was always a demand for sugar, so it was a profitable venture for a frontiersman or early settlers. It’s not as easy as tapping a tree and hanging a bucket. There is a lot of care and

“Prime syrup weather is in the 20s and night and in the 40s during the days.” — Steve Shasky on the ideal sugar season

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ducers in New England who average around 50,000 trees. Any sizable sugaring operation occurs in a sugar-house, a building designed to vent the enormous amount of steam that is produced by the condensing syrup. Shasky says he calls his shack a palace.”You won’t find most shacks with drywall,” laughed Shasky. He went on to describe that most sugar shacks can be very “rustic.” Sugaring is the process in which the sap is boiled down and converted to syrup, at which point it’s about 67 percent sugar and 33 percent water. “To me syrup-ing is a logistics issue. Everybody’s woods is different nothing is steady state. This year is different from this year … It’s farming,” explained Shasky. He went on to describe the intricacies of sugaring. It’s a race against bacteria from tree to evaporator. One doesn’t want to let the sugar water sit too long for fear the growth of bacteria will eat the sugar your trying to syrup. Likewise once the water makes it’s way to an evaporator there is the temperature and flow to maintain as the water is evaporated. After boiling, the syrup is filtered, graded, and bottled. Shasky prefers fancy grade syrup

which has understated maple notes and a rich flavor unlike any dark or amber syrup. Shasky’s says his wife Cindy prefers the darker syrup. Regardless of the grade, taste is in the preparation, how quickly the water makes its way to the evaporator and the regulation of temperature in the sugaring process. The Shaskys sell their syrup which is available now at the Ski Shop and at the Village of Bellville’s Farmers’ Market. Shasky hopes to grow his operation; he admittedly has the sugar bug. He is a member of the Ohio Maple Producers Association (OMPA). The OMPA sponsors The Ohio Maple Madness driving tour that was held March 16 through 17. While the Shaskys are not taking part in the driving tour, he encourages people to learn more and try different syrups. “Everyone’s syrup is different. It’s in how each one boils their water,” said Shasky. He welcomes anyone to stop out to try his product. It’s an expensive passion and he takes pride in his syrup that he and his wife produce. For more information concerning the entire driving tour visit www.ohiomaple.org/maplemadness.html

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Monday, April 1, 2013

Seedlings sales allows nut farmers to see the forest for the trees BY DIANA SHARP Most people are familiar with the idiom, “You can’t see the forest for the trees.” Well, it’s spring and one could declare a similar statement, “You can’t see the forest for the seedlings.” With the approach of Arbor Day, slated for the last Friday in April, tree sales are in fullswing. Spring is a busy time for farmers. As we near the end of sugaring season and the production of maple syrup draws to a close, another group of Ohio’s niche farmers is busy thinking ahead. The Ohio Nut Growers Association (ONGA) spring meeting and scion swap will be held Sunday, April 14, at the Kingwood Center, 900 Park Ave. W., in Mansfield. This is a time for area growers to come together to learn about scientific advancements in grafting, marketing and promotion of nuts, to buy seedlings for their operations and to enter their nuts in the Ohio State Fair. More importantly, this time of year is the best to consider planting trees after a cold winter. The Clear Fork Valley will be represented at this meeting by local grower Bud Leurs of the Village of Butler. He owns a nut farm that specializes in Black Walnuts. He currently serves as a trustee on the ONGA board and was featured farmer in the 2007 book entitled Farms and

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The Ohio Nut Grower’s Association collects nuts for entry in the upcoming 2013 Ohio State Fair.

Foods of Ohio from Garden Gate to Dinner Plate written by Marilou Suszko from Hippocrene Books. Nuts are one of nature’s super foods. While readers may be most familiar with English Walnuts, which are known for their mild flavor and a shell that is easier to crack, harder shell nuts like Hickory or Black Walnut have gained tremendous popularity among foodies in recent years. The slow food movement has created a market for these nuts that larger food processes just didn’t want to deal with, hard shells and messiness. That is black walnuts stain ones hands. Leurs’ nut farm located in Richland County on Opposum Run Road, just North of the Village of Bellville has grafted trees bearing nut fruits, including delicate butternut, the Chinese Chestnut, hazelnuts, hickories,hicans, heartnuts, Japanese butternut, in addition to his main crop the black walnut.

The black Walnut is native to Ohio, once a staple in Native American’s diets. While it has the buttery, nutty flavors of the English Walnut, the black is favored because of it’s richness in flavor, it’s earthiness and it’s bitter undertones. “I have good success selling at the farmers’ market in Bellville,” says Leurs. “It is a hobby that has gotten out of control. I have planted over 2000 black walnut trees over the years.” According to Ohio.org, it is common for farmers and other smallscale growers to sell black walnuts locally for anywhere between $8 and $10 a pound for black walnut meats.

begins at 9 a.m. of Friday Leurs’ 26 acre farm that Nature Park. Available and ends at 6 p.m. On species will include eversurrounds his home conSaturday, April 13, the greens, such as, Colorado tains over 100 grafted sale will be held from 8 blue spruce, Norway Black Walnut Trees and spruce, white pine, canaan a.m. until 1 p.m. over 600 seedlings. It is Call your local county fir, Canadian hemlock, important during harvest soil and water conservaand arborvitae. In additime to collect the nuts as tion department to learn tion large trees will be they fall. If they are to sit of similar sales in your offered: white oak, red too long, the shells may area. get too hard. This isn’t the oak, sugar maple, persimBud, a retired General mon, black walnut and only challenge to growing tulip tree. Threebroad-leaf Motors worker runs his nuts. The Clear Fork farm with his wife shrubs will also be sold, Valley is often 12 degrees the common paw paw and Marilyn; together they are cooler then neighboring very active in the OGNA. Ohio buckeye. New this counties. While this is For more information conyear will be a wildlife good news for the area ski cerning the upcoming packet. Birdhouses made resorts, it leaves Leurs’ by the FFA will also be for meeting, visit trees vulnerable to frost. www.onga.org sale for $10. The sale Disease is also a threat. “There is a black walnut disease going around called thousand canker disease. It is coming in from the west coast and killing all the walnuts there. It has been found in southwest Ohio in some wood found there,” according to Leurs. At this time of year there are typically a number of sources for seedlings. In Richland County, the Clear Fork FFFA is teaming up with the Soil and Water Conservation Department on Friday, April 12 and Saturday WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES April 13, to sell tree The Thousand Cankers Disease is creeping into the seedlings at the Richland midwest, affecting black walnut trees. County Fairgrounds Farm Bureau Discounts

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Are you flood-smart? work to prevent flooding, since it is so prevalent and costly. In Ohio, conservancy districts were established to do just that, along with a variety of other tasks such as regulating stream channels and stream flow, reclaiming wetlands and managing irrigation. Many conservancy districts also provide recreational opportunities in connection with their water management facilities. The Ohio Department of Resources website (www.dnr.state.oh.us) explains that conservancy districts “are political subdivisions of the State of

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Pop quiz: What is the most common natural disaster in the United States? Some might answer tornadoes or forest fires, but statistically flooding takes the winning slot as the most common. According to www.floodsmart.gov, from 2002 to 2011 flood insurance claims averaged more than $2.9 billion per year across the country. In 2011, Ohio ranked 10th in the nation for amount of flood damage claims. A curious reader might ask what organizations

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Ohio, provided for in the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) under Chapter 6101. They are formed at the initiative of local landowners or political subdivisions to solve water management problems, most frequently flooding. “ The state’s first district was established in 1915: The Miami Conservancy District, after a catastrophic flood hit Dayton and surrounding communities. One-hundred years ago, the waters of the Great Miami River in southwest Ohio and its tributary streams overflowed. A website dedicated to the history of the flood, www.1913flood.com, details the event. Beginning on March 23, 1913, 9-11 inches of rain hit the Miami Valley within a three-day period, creating “a natural disaster unparalleled in the region’s history.” Water reached as high as 20 feet in some areas, according to some accounts; 300-400 people died and estimated property damage was reported to be over $100 million (more than $2 billion in today’s currency). Citizens rallied for the prevention of future flooding. As a result, the Conservancy Act was passed by the Ohio General Assembly in 1914,

which permitted the creation of regional flood protection agencies. The Miami Conservancy District was created four months later, and has been one of the most effective and successful conservancy districts created. Both of their flood control programs have been financed entirely with local funding. According to the MCD website (www.miamiconservancy.org), today it protects tens of thousands of people in 40 municipalities, more than 48,000 properties in five counties, and more than $5.1 billion worth of buildings and land. Since 1915, 57 conservancy districts in total have been created. Today, 20 of them are still active after some were dissolved or merged. The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District is the largest in Ohio and the next largest is the Maumee Watershed Conservancy District. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Soil & Water Resources assists conservancy districts in an advisory capacity, and serves as a point of contact for conservancy districts seeking state and federal assistance.

ACTIVE CONSERVANCY DISTRICTS Black Brook Conservancy District 11968 Mantua Center Road Mantua, Ohio 44255-9303 phone: 330-562-9010

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Celeryville Conservancy District 111 Myrtle Avenue Willard, Ohio 44890 phone: 419-935-0171

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Rush Creek Conservancy District P.O. Box 56 Bremen, Ohio 43107 phone: 740-569-4500

East Fork Buck Creek Conservancy District 6874 State Route 54 Mechanicsburg, Ohio 43044 phone: 937-828-1004 Hocking Conservancy District 560 West Union Street Athens, Ohio 45701-2331 phone: 740-592-1792 Hunter’s Run Conservancy District P.O. Box 2268 Lancaster, Ohio 43130 phone: 740-569-4593 Leading Creek Conservancy District 34481 Corn Hollow Road Rutland, Ohio 45775 phone: 740-742-2411 Maumee Watershed Conservancy District 1464 Pinehurst Drive Defiance, Ohio 43512 phone: 419-782-8746 Miami Conservancy District 38 East Monument Avenue Dayton, Ohio 45402-1265 phone: 937-223-1271

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Millcreek Valley Conservancy District c/o MCWCoC, 1 North Commerce Park Dr., Ste. 124 Cincinnati, Ohio 45215 phone: 513-563-0198

Sand Beach Conservancy District 6292 Fifth Street Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449 phone: 419-898-6906 Scioto Conservancy District P.O. Box 325 LaRue, Ohio 43332 phone: 740-499-2565 South Licking Watershed Conservancy District 771 East Main Street Newark, Ohio 43055 phone: 740-587-1177 Springfield Conservancy District 515 North Fountain Avenue Springfield, Ohio 45504 phone: 937-323-0488 Upper Scioto Drainage and Conservancy District One Courthouse Square Kenton, Ohio 43326 phone: 419-674-2259 Wabash River Conservancy District 871 Meiring Road Fort Recovery, Ohio 45846 phone: 419-375-2588 Wightman’s Grove Conservancy District 2102 County Road 259 Fremont, Ohio 43420 phone: 419-332-0147

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Monday, April 1, 2013

Bonhomie Acres’ sweet production

By ZAK GRIMM Knox County Citizen

or four generations beginning with his grandfather, Dan and Kathie Brown of Waterford have been producing maple syrup on their farm, Bonhomie Acres. Interestingly, the name comes from the French word of the same, which means “good-natured.” According to the Browns, the process of sugarmaking from the sap of sugar maple trees began with many dairy farmers needing something else to occupy their time on their small farms. “It also grew into a way for communities to gather together,” Kathie says. In the past, maple sugar was used as a sweetener in foods, and also helped keep people from starvation when times were very tough. In later years, the idea of maple syrup being a viable alternative to more refined sugars took stronger root. “We’ve heard people who choose not to eat honey will eat maple syrup, because it comes from trees and not bees. That’s very interesting to us,” say the Browns. For the Browns, making “pure” maple syrup means that throughout the entire process, nothing is added to the product to make it taste or look different. Since they began generations ago, they’ve successfully managed to create not only award-winning syrup products, but also popular maple sugar, as well as their newest venture, maple cream. During the typical six-week season of sugarmaking for the Brown family, they constantly have

to adapt to the weather conditions, which are never the same from season to season. There are things they do to help ensure their sugarmaking process runs as efficiently as possible despite the changing weather conditions, such as routinely checking their tubing from tree to tree. The overall process of sugar-making has definitely changed since the Browns began their business. What was once a process involving horses to gather buckets on the property now included much more high-tech equipment like hundreds of feet of plastic tubing, a reverse osmosis machine, fuel oil, and an evaporator called a “piggy back.” The end result, however, as it has always been, is delicious, pure maple syrup. As for the trees themselves, Kathie says, tapping can only be successful when the sugar maples are at least 30 years old. Dan and Kathie and their family try very hard to boil the sap every day, making sure to do so as quickly as possible so that bacteria doesn’t grow inside the sap or the tubing, which can definitely compromise the final product. Cleanliness of the entire operation each season is paramount to big successes when it’s complete. “It’s also very important that we produce as much syrup and sugar as we can before the sugar maple trees begin budding. After that happens, the quality of the sap is not good at all, and that’s not what we want for our customers,” say the Browns. Constantly focused on the image their products create, the Browns rely heavily on word-of-mouth among their most loyal customers, as well as keeping those long-standing relationships solid so that new relationships can be made and kept. “It’s also helped tremendously when people actually try our product and tell others what they think,” Kathie adds. “Our Facebook page has become a huge asset to us, especially recently,” Kathie says. “We’ve got people all over the country who have shared our page with their friends on Facebook, or have seen our pictures and shown their support for us.” More and more local farmers bring their maplesugar products to farmers markets, which also helps the whole idea of sugar-making grow, the Browns

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

PHOTO BY ZAK GRIMM

The pumphouse, a maple sap collection bucket and a portion of the main tube lines which snake through the property at Bonhomie Acres, home farm of Dan and Kathie Brown, producers of pure maple syrup.

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605 Auction

# BEN HIGGINS AUCTION # BEN HIGGINS AUCTION #

Selling due to the passing of my son & late husband who operated an auto repair shop for 30 plus years. Many nice quality shop & service tools. JOHN DEERE GATOR-COMPACT LOADER/TRACTOR-ZERO TURN MOWER-IMPLEMENTS: JD 4x4 Gator, elect. dump bed, cab, heat, 6’ snowplow, 376 hrs., v.g.c; JD 650 dsl. compact, newer woods LS84 quick tach loader w/54” bkt., turf tires, 1151 hrs., v.g.c.; 3 pt. JD I-Match ballast weight box. JD 757 Z-Trak w/60” deck, 963 hrs., v.g.c.; Roto Mec 5’ 3 pt. pto rototiller; 6’ 3 pt. blade; Frontier GM1060R 3 pt. 60” finish mower; 46” yard roller; Solar 25 gal., 3 pt. sprayer; 200 gal. pull type fuel tank; 2 wheel yard trailer. LARGE SNAP ON & MAC TOOL CHEST: 8’ wide x 6’ high Black 30 drw. roll around tool chest w/side locker & Special Ed. decals “Intimidator 11” Dale Earnhardt; Mac Tools roll around 1 drw. mech. chest/cart. CAR LIFT: ‘01 Bend Pak BP-12 (12,000 lb.) 4 post drive on high auto lift w/rolling bridge, 235” overall length. MANY MECHANIC & SPECIALTY SERVICE TOOLS-LOTS OF QUALITY WRENCHESSOCKETS-RATCHETS-HANDTOOLS-FORKLIFT-SHOP EQUIP-OLD SERVICE SHOP COLLECTIBLES & CABINETSAUTO SUPPLIES-PARTS-OFFICE-SHOP MANUALS-FOOT BALL MEMORABILIA - WOOD SHOP TOOLS - GUN SAFE-MISCANVIL-MISC. POLE BARN ITEMS-LUMBER: several hundred board feet of asst. new shop lumber. Please see www.higginsauctions.com for details

OWNER: Mrs. Mildred L. Parthemore

BEN HIGGINS REALTY & AUCTION CO., LLC.

Ben A. Higgins, Broker & Auctioneer

Ben F. Higgins, Auctioneer/Brad Higgins, Auctioneer

740-387-5111 / 740-389-6202

Contact Roy Slater for details (419) 295-1009 2378266

Visit us online at

Saturday, April 20, 2013 • 10:00 A.M.

Located: Hardin Co @ 328 E. Taylor St. Mt. Victory, Ohio 43340, 9 mi. S. of Kenton.

BEN HIGGINS AUCTION # BEN HIGGINS AUCTION # BEN HIGGINS AUCTION

LARGE PARTHEMORE AUCTION

2377251

BEN HIGGINS AUCTION # BEN HIGGINS AUCTION # BEN HIGGINS AUCTION

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8-5

Civitas Media

592 Wanted to Buy Old Harley Davidson motorcycle. ANY CONDITION. 419-619-0824

GENERAL INFORMATION

Liner deadline: 3rd Thursday each month Display Deadline: July Edition: June 20 Aug. Edition: July 18 Sept. Edition: Aug 22 Oct. Edition: Sept 19 Nov. Edition: Oct 24 Dec. Edition: Nov 19 Jan. Edition: Dec 19

Serving Hardin,Wyandot, Crawford, Richland, Morrow,Delaware, Marion, Union and Knox counties

rslater@civitasmedia.com rwslater711@sbcglobal.net

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LG QGMJ F=O @GE= AK L@JGM?@

Classifieds that Work 7KH 0DGLVRQ 3UHVV

2378274

Get On The Road To Savings By Cruising Through Our Service Directory! We're Ready To Serve You...With Our Telephone Numbers At Your Fingertips.

# BEN HIGGINS AUCTION # BEN HIGGINS AUCTION #

Custom Baling

Farm Repair Parts • Custom Hydraulic Hose • Tillage Wear Parts • Wheel Bearings • Combine Cutter Bars • DMI Truck Hitches • All Makes & Systems

We Sell Hay & Straw • Hay and Straw • We Do Complete Custom Baling, Cutting & Raking For You.

• J & M • KILBROS • YETTER • UNVERFERTH • REMLINGER, ETC.

J.E. Forry Forry Custom CustomBaling, Baling,LLC LLC 327 S. Hazel StAda, • Upper OhioSandusky, OH 567-230-0031 567-230-0031//740-225-1502 740-225-1502

Seed Co. “HIGH QUALITY SEEDS”

WALTON

Hybrids 2351926

6655 St. Hwy. 67 N. P.O. Box 440 Upper Sandusky, OH (OFC) 419-927-5222 (FAX) 419-927-5232

,W·V DERXW KDYLQJ

Jeff Burgan, Sales

PROPANE FKRLFHV!

Fill: Summer, Automatic or Will Call Payment: Fixed Pricing, Pre-Pay, Level Billing, or 30-Day Charge Account

SEAMLESS GUTTERS

2351940

B. F. WALTON & SON SEED CO.

Seamless Gutters

Propane

Mike Gattshall Owner

1-800-424-2584 ZZZ KHULWDJHFRRSHUDWLYH FRP 5HVLGHQWLDO $JULFXOWXUH &RPPHUFLDO HQHUJ\#KHULWDJHFRRSHUDWLYH FRP

Redwing Shoes

* 5” + 6” Aluminum Gutters * Screened + Solid Leaf Guards * Soffit + Fascia Trim

Office 740-387-1888 Toll Free 877-223-0923

1143 N. Main St. • Marion, Ohio 43302

“When It Rains, We Shine”

2374947

• 419-757-5012 • 800-499-8494 ONE MILE E. OF ALGER • CO. RD. 90 Visit us @ brenemanequipment.com

00185384 2351869

2351917

BRENEMAN EQUIPMENT

2377775

Quality Fuels & Lubricants

Services Matt Roberts Service Technician

Rick McWaters Owner

Cycle Tech

Ph: 419-562-4866

“One Stop Center for Parts-Service-Accessories-Salvage”

MARION OIL CO. Quality Fuels & Lubricants

Mobile Shoe Store & Shoe Repair 230 South Sandusky Ave. Bucyrus, OH 44820 E-mail: shoe@wavelinc.com

2351925

DICK HULSMEYER, Owner

1775 S. CR 1 Tiffin, Oh 44883 (419) 448-9850

Roofing & Lumber

2351918

Metal Lumber Plywood Shingles

Frey

Doors Windows Insulation Cabinets

Roofing & Lumber, Inc. P.O. Box 1, Kirby, OH 43330

419-273-2584

Phone: (419) 562-6931 Fax: (419) 562-6268 Web: www.cycletech.net

Drag Race, Road Race, Street, MX, ATV

Logging with Horses tive selecesting harv com pe ratestitive

Owners 300 N. Warpole St. 14889 St. Hwy. 31 Kenton, Oh 43326 Upper Sandusky, Oh 43351 (419) 674-4715 (419) 294-4981

Metal & Lumber Products

2351882

2351937 00186135

Scott Weininger • Steve Howard 2351909

2351903

00186824

# Butler Steel *Design BuildBuildings # Post Frame *Butler Steel Buildings # Site Development *Concrete Work *Site Development # Concrete Work

clouse@acctiffin.com www.clouseconstruction.com www.clouseconstruction.com

950 W. Mansfield St. Bucyrus, OH 44820

Passenger & Farm Tires

Agri-Commercial-Residential

CALL (419) 448-1365

517 PARK BLVD. MARION, OHIO 43302 E-mail:marion_oil@yahoo.com http://www.centraloilfarm.com

Save your woods. Log with horses.

WEAVER LOGGING Custom Logging with Horses 2351908 00178679

SAVE 10% WITH AD

JIM BOWMAN, MANAGER CELL PHONE: (740) 225-3190 BUS. PHONE: (740) 382-9610 TOLL FREE: 1-888-498-9880 FAX: (740) 387-8863

New and Used Motorcycles and ATVs “DYNOJET DYNO TUNING CENTER” Mon./Tue./Thu./Fri./ 10-7 Wed./Sat. 10-4 ECHO POWER EQUIPMENT DEALER

2351858

AMERICAN SHOE SERVICE

Send name and number to: Vernon Weaver 8488 Ridge Road • Fredericktown, Ohio 43019

Rhonda Molton

President’s Conference All Star Team Associate Agent Chris Schiefer Insurance & Financial Services Nationwide Insurance and Financial Services 805 Harding Way West Galion, OH 44833 Tel 419-525-2111 Fax 419-462-5301 Tel 800-589-6230 moltonr@nationwide.com

Securities offered through Nationwide Securities, LLC., member FINRA, SIPC. DBA Nationwide Advisory Services, LLC. in AR, FL, IL, NY, TX and WY. Representative of Nationwide Life Insurance Company, affiliated companies and other companies.

See us for all your building needs from start to finish. 2358924

ACRES of North Central Ohio,

Monday, April 1, 2013

Bonhomie Acres’ sweet production continued from Page 15

PHOTO BY PENNY SMITH

The sugarhouse at Bonhomie Acres, where the boiling of the collected maple sap occurs daily, a process which yields light, medium or dark maple syrup, depending on the particular point in the season when the sap was harvested from the thousands of sugar maple trees on the property owned by Dan and Kathie Brown.

“Dee-Jays even uses our maple syrup in their bacon,” Kathie adds. “We want as many people as possible to realize that maple syrup is more than just something to put on your pancakes or waffles at breakfast. We always make sure we tell people you can cook with it, put it on ice cream, use it in your coffee or tea, and so many other foods.” “The maple sugar-making community is a very close-knit group,” Kathie says. “We rely on each other a lot to be successful in our own individual operations. As a whole, the community of producers like us is very good at adapting to whatever conditions we’re presented with each season, and we’re very creative in how we solve problems that continuously arise. It also is very helpful to us personally that Dan is the President of the Ohio Maple Producer’s Association, because he is always talking to other producers, both local and not, and is always learning new things to help improve what we do with our own operation.” “We started with the small woods behind our house on the farm, and

have since added four more wooded areas to tap for sap. It wasn’t long after we got started that we learned, in Vermont’s Maple-Rama event a while ago, how valuable the process of tubing from tree to tree is. The process very much lends itself to expansion. Right now, though, we’re set with the help we have and the equipment we’ve got. We hope that our children will continue the sugar-making business in the future, but that’s ultimately their choice.” More information about the history and more current goings-on of the Brown family’s maple sugarmaking business can be found on Facebook by searching for “Bonhomie Acres Maple Syrup.” Readers can also help get the word out to their own Facebook friends by sharing the page. Kathie and Dan and family were part of Maple Madness in March, an opportunity for the community to visit Bonhomie Acres and others around the state to see first-hand the inner workings of a pure maple syrup-producing operation.

Get On The Road To Savings By Cruising Through Our Service Directory! We're Ready To Serve You...With Our Telephone Numbers At Your Fingertips. 670 Miscellaneous

670 Miscellaneous

BUZZ’S SAW AND TOOL SHARPENING

670 Miscellaneous

Pole Barns

535 BUNTY STATION ROAD DELAWARE, OHIO 43015 Phone: 740-369-5886 E-mail: cherring5@frontier.com

COMPLETE SHARPENING SERVICE

2351790

2377711

2369469

Shellhorn’s

Dick and Wanda Hancock have their NEW LOG CABIN OPEN for your shopping experience. Area artisans and crafters have your needs in mind for decorating your home inside and out for Spring and Summer.

Solar Water Heaters Indoor Pellet Stoves Outdoor Boilers

Bob Shellhorn

2378056

Mt. Gilead 90 E. Marion 419-946-4055

Marengo 4520 SR 229 419-253-2202

4093 CH16 Sycamore OH 44882

567-207-4874

Buildings Quality & Service Competitive Prices

greenusasolar.com

Solar works great on outdoor boilers - two sizes to chose from

2377779

Welding Gas/Supplies

2376344

Spring Hours: March 14-May 25 • 10am-6pm • Thursday-Saturday Other times by appointment 5183 Stetzer Road, Bucyrus • 419-562-9117

Satellite T.V. & Internet Serv.

419-895-0040 ROOFING • SIDING • LUMBER • HARDWARE

Welding gasses and supplies 45 Year Paint Warranty Perma-Columns Available

Building Materials

Central Ohio Farmers Co-op, Inc.

Your Source for ALL Building Materials! • Metal Roofing & Siding • Agriculture & Pole Barn Packages • Local Eden Pure Heater Dealer 419-294-1508 410 N. Warpole St., • Simonton Replacement Windows Upper Sandusky See Us Now For A Start On Your Spring Projects

FARMERS CO-OP

Scott ʹ Reinhard Precision, Seed Sales and Service Donovan Scott 419-562-1110 Steve Reinhard 419-834-0398 reinhardfarms@embarqmail.com

Green Camp Branch 604 Elevator Rd. Green Camp, OH 43322

•Residential, Commercial & Agriculture

Propane Customers Welcome 2351863

00183655

00185802 2351942

New AttiCat® FEATURING BLOWN-IN PINK FIBERGLASTM INSULATION Insulation System. Insulate attics and walls with our new blown-in insulation System!

Custom Modular Homes

740-528-2211 800-432-8427

New Company

Commodity Haulers

“New Homes On Your Lot”

Custom Agri Systems, Inc Keaton Welding 2351933

4950 Marion Marysville Rd., Prospect (Former Max Carey Construction Location)

Specialty Welding

2351907

1-800-UNIBILT (864-2458)

Aluminum - Stainless - Mildsteel Magnesium - Mig - Tig

Mon.12-5, Fri. 12-4, Wed. & Sat. 10-3, or by appointment 2351939

Dish Network, Wild Blue Internet, RCA & Toshiba TVs

Dekalb/Asgrow

Propane Service

Cut your heating bills!

EXPANDING BLOWN-IN INSULATION SYSTEM

419-895-0040

M-F - 7AM to 6PM • Sat - 8AM to 2PM • 19 Free Road Shiloh, OH

00185801 2351943

800-910-7338 An Employee Owned Company 7-5 Weekdays 8-12 Saturday

2351934

Give Us The Opportunity To Design & Supply Your Next Building

LOCAL: 468-5441 FAX: 419-468-1033 2351921

2351922

304 SIXTH AVENUE (S.R. 19) GALION, OHIO 44833

10193 ST. HWY. 53 WEST UPPER SANDUSKY, OHIO 43351 419-294-4781 JOHN J. LOVERICH

• Garages • Horse Barns • Machinery Sheds • Custom Designed Pole Buildings • Production Livestock Buildings

100% Employee Owned

Dream...Design...Build

Fabrication Breakpress - Shears - Rolls - Iron Worker

Looking For Drivers & Owner Operators • Local and Long Haul

Advertise!

A sampling of processed pure maple syrup stored inside the sugarhouse at Bonhomie Acres in Waterford, owned and operated by Dan and Kathie Brown.

believe. The Brown family’s maple sugar and syrup products, as so many Fredericktown and Knox County residents know, are a big hit every September at the Tomato Show. Furthermore, they also get recognition through local chefs who have visited the Owl Creek Produce Auction in Waterford, who then use the Browns maple syrup in their restaurants.

•On-Site Millwright Work •Portable Welding Truck •Variety of Steel Stocked •Plasma Cutting CNC Milling Machine

419-209-0940 • 1289 N. Warpole St., Upper Sandusky, Oh 43351

ACRES of North Central Ohio,

Monday, April 1, 2013

SPRING IS IN THE AIR ... TIME TO GO TO WORK! INTRODUCING THE INDUSTRY’S BEST PICKUP COVERAGE.

WE ARE PROFESSIONAL GRADE

PRO GRADE PROTECTION

% FOR

Here’s a private offer 1 for Farm Bureau members.

60 MONTHS

NOW WITH EVERY 2013 GMC SIERRA 1500:

for qualified buyers

• 2 year/24,000-MILE MAINTENANCE • 3-YEAR/36,000-MILE BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY • 5-YEAR/100,000-MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY

Member benefits keep growing. Chevrolet presents this exclusive $500 1 private offer toward the purchase or lease of a 2013 Chevy Silverado. Recognized by Vincentric for lowest total cost of ownership of any full-size pickup,2 Silverado means you’ll save more money over time. And that means a lot. With the best full-size pickup coverage in America, rest assured your Silverado will keep you working without skipping a beat. Visit fbverify.com/gm for your authorization number.

1 Offer available through 4/1/14. Available on all 2012 and 2013 Chevrolet vehicles (excluding Volt). This offer is not available with some other offers, including private offers. Only customers who have been active members of an eligible Farm Bureau for a minimum of 60 days will be eligible to receive a certificate. Customers can obtain certificates at www.fbverify.com/gm. Farm Bureau and the FB logo are registered service marks of the American Farm Bureau Federation and are used herein under license by General Motors. 2 Based on Vincentric 2012 Model Level Analysis of 1/2-ton, 3/4-ton and 1-ton pickups in the U.S. retail market.

2013 SILVERADO 1500 ALL-STAR 1,000 LOYALTY CASH + 1,000 TRADE ASSISTANCE + 2,000 OPTION PACKAGE DISCOUNT $ 4,000 TOTAL VALUE FOR GMC OWNERS WHEN YOU $ $ $

TRADE UB AB EKUGUVKE VEHICLE

1,000 LOYALTY CASH + 1,000 TRADE ASSISTANCE + 2,000 OPTION PACKAGE DISCOUNT + 4,000 ALLOWANCE $ 8,000 TOTAL VALUE FOR GMC OWNERS WHEN YOU $ $ $ $

8,000

$38,595

STK.#T13007 6.0L V-8

$55,990

$62,584

2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD

4X4 Longbed 360 HP

$21,995

Duramax Turbo Diesel 4X4

$25,995 6.6L , UNDER 90K. MILES STK. #N5219A

2013 UD SHADOW 3 HRSE. LQ

4X4 Towhaul mode

$24,495 VORTEC 6.0 L V-8 107 K. MILES STK. # T12196

Vortec 6.0L V-8, under 39K. Miles - STK. # T13150A

2005CHEVROLETSILVERADO3500DRWLT

$44,710

STK. #G13056 Vortec 6.0L V-8

Vortec 6.0L, under 76K. Miles STK. #T13120A

2010 FORD SUPER DUTY F-350 DRW

4WD Turbo Diesel King Ranch

$38,995

$22,995

$43,910

Platinum w/ Tonneau cover 4X4 controls

6.8 L 30 VALVE, V-10 ONLY 37 K. MILES STK.# T13035A

2013 SHADOW 4 HRSE. GOOSE NECK PLUS

$31,495

$41,495

4X4

2013 Ud Shadow 2 Hrse GN

$33,895

$20,495

$29,995

STK.#S1407

STK.# S1375

STK. # S1482

$25,795

$33,895 5.3L V-8, ONLY 30K. MI. STK# T12153A

STK. # T13128 6.6L V-8

$26,895 2012 RAM 3500 ST

4X4 Crew Cab Gooseneck hitch

$59,040

2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Extended Cab Z-71 Off Road 4X4 Pkg.

$28,995 Vortec 5.3 L , under 15 K. miles STK. #G13060A

5.3L V-8, undr 35K. miles STK# T13112A

2011 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE LT

5.0L V-8 , UNDER 57K. MILES STK. # T13172A

STK.# T13032 4.3 L V-6

2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

6.7L V-8 FLEX FUEL ENGINE 57K MILES STK. #N5204A

4WD Automatic

2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

2013 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD LTZ

$40,150

2011 FORD F 350 SD DRW

2011 FORD F-150 LARIAT

Expires 4/30/13

4X4 Crew, Duramax Turbo Diesel

STK. # G13042 5.3 L V-8 , 6 SPD automatic

Power Stroke Disel King Ranch

# Heavy Duty Cooling # On Star

Rear Differential

4X4 Crew Cab SLE Power Tech PKG

2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD

Duramax Turbo diesel 4X4

For more info, go to chevy.com

2013 GMC Sierra 1500

2013 GMC Sierra 2500 HD

SLE

STK. G13049 Vortec 6.0 L, 6 SPD Automatic w/ overdrive

# Pwr. Rear Sliding Window

Reg. CabWork Truck

STK.#G13026 6.0L V-8

4X4 Extended Cab

4 WD Duramax Turbo Diesel

# All Star Purchase # 5.3 V-8 Vortec

4X4 extended Cab, SLE Trim

STK.# T13165 6.0L V-8 Variable Valve

2013 GMC Sierra 3500 HD

2 Yr. 24,000 Maintenance Program! Available on all 2013 Silverado 1500s

2013 GMC Sierra 2500 HD

Custom Sport Truck PKG.

Extended Cab

TRADE UB AB EKUGUVKE VEHICLE

2013 Chevrolet Silverdo 3500 HD LT

FOR MONTHS APR Financing for Qualified Buyers

OR CHOOSE ALL-STAR EDITION DISCOUNT OF $1,500 PLUS TOTAL CASH ALLOWANCE OF $6,500 FOR A TOTAL VALUE OF

Expiration date 04/30/13 Covers only scheduled oil changes with filter and tire rotations according to your new vehicles recommended maintenance schedule for up to 2 years or 24.000 miles which ever comes first. Must take delivery by 4/30/13. Excludes Sierra 2500 & 3500 vehicles. See dealer for restrictions and details.

2013 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD LT

2010 FORD SUPER DUTY F250 SRW

4 WD w/ XLT Pkg.

$35,495 6.7 L ONLY 36 K. MILES STK. #N5107A

4X4 w/ FX 4 off Rd. Suspension

$28,995 6.6L SOHC 30 VALVE, UNDER 28K. MILES STK. #N5212