AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY REVIEW
SPRING 2020
INSIDE
EXPERTS DISCUSS OHIO’S 2020
CROP YIELD FACTORS AND COVID-19
FIGHTING THE FLU: HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR HERD SAFETY TIPS FOR STORING CANNED FOOD
Agriculture is the greatest and fundamentally the most important of our industries. The cities are but the branches of the tree of national life, the roots of which go deeply into the land. We all flourish or decline with the farmer. Bernard Baruch
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SPRING 2020 | Volume 07 | Issue 02
Features
06 10 12
04
THERE IS NO SHORTAGE
06
EXPERTS DISCUSS OHIO’S 2020 CROP YIELD
Of Milk In Ohio
Factors and COVID-19
10
WHAT CAN AND CANNOT
12
SAFETY TIPS FOR STORING
Be Composted
Canned Food
In Every Issue
05 14 22
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© Gannett Co. Inc., 2020 212 E. Liberty St., Wooster, OH 44691 | 330-264-1125 | 800-686-2958 | Find us on facebook.com/OhioHarvest Group Publisher – Bill Albrecht | Spectrum Director – Aaron Bass | Content Coordinator – Aaron Bass | Designer – Noel Simms HARVEST magazine is a quarterly publication centered in some of the most agriculturally rich counties in Ohio. We will bring you the latest in farming technologies, industry practices and hot topics in agriculture from industry experts in our area. If you wish to submit an article or offer a suggestion, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.
2 | SPRING 2020
Hot Topics
16
Poor forage causes concern
18
PLANNING TO PREVENT
20
FIGHTING THE FLU: HOW TO PROTECT
for Livestock Farmers
Harmful Algal Blooms
Yourself and Your Herd
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THERE IS NO SHORTAGE
By | OHIO FARM BUREAU STAFF OHIO FARM BUREAU POSTED APRIL 6, 2020
OF MILK IN OHIO
AS THE COVID-19 pandemic began to unfold produce cheese, butter and other staples of the
and Gov. Mike DeWine issued stay-at-home orders, many essential items typically easy to find at the grocery store were quickly in limited supply. It didn’t take long for retailers to place limits on many items, including milk. Some limits on milk are still being implemented across Ohio, when in fact there is a surplus of milk being produced daily on farms. This unfortunate combination has many farms across the Midwest being forced to dump milk because processing plants have no more storage room. “Dairy farmers and their employees wake up every single day to take care of the cows, make sure they’re fed and fill up that milk tank on the farm,” said Scott Higgins, CEO of the American Dairy Association Mideast. “The challenge we are dealing with is that the milk that was used to
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restaurant industry now needs to be delivered to consumers through the grocery stores and now those stores have to be able to rise to that occasion.” Ohio Farm Bureau has partnered with the American Dairy Association Mideast, along with regional dairy cooperatives as they communicate directly with retailers, expressing farmers’ serious concerns about unnecessary limitations at the milk case. “Outreach efforts with grocers and other retail outlets have been very productive,” said Adam Sharp, executive vice president of Ohio Farm Bureau. “We appreciate working with these groups to secure the removal of milk limits across the state.” If you see an Ohio store that is limiting milk purchases, take a picture, note the location, date and time, and send it to Erin.Brown@DrinkMilk.com so that specific store can be contacted directly. A letter has been sent to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue from American Farm Bureau, speaking on behalf of Ohio Farm Bureau and all state Farm Bureaus, urging USDA to examine every possible way to support the dairy sector and relaying policy suggestions that should be implemented with the $9.5 billion allocated for USDA in the recently passed CARES Act to help dairy farmers forced to dump their milk. Read more about those efforts in the coming days.
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Experts discuss 2020 crop yield
By | Jill Sell FREE LANCE WRITER KENT-RAVENNA RECORD COURIER
FACTORS AND COVID-19
IN THESE DAYS of COVID-19, this nation’s with The Ohio State University’s Department of food supply is more precious than ever before. Growers are essential workers who previously have experienced and handled crises. But of course, this year will present extra challenges for small and large growers. They may face new hurdles in addition to the expected weather complications and crop diseases.
Horticulture and Crop Science. Kleinhenz calls growers “a pretty irrepressible, determined lot, who will fight to keep their livelihood and to make sure consumers have what they want and need.”
Although it is still early in this year’s growing cycle, Kleinhenz said there is no reason to expect any significant changes in the quality or supply Professor Matthew Kleinhenz is an extension amount provided by specialty crop growers. specialist in vegetable crop physiology and management, as well as vegetable crop quality “For the most part, Ohio growers have been
6 | SPRING 2020
operating as if people will still want their products and as if those people will still have access to them,” said Kleinhenz. “But customers and growers of many specialty crops, especially in Wayne County, have a more personal relationship than places like a grocery store. They may see each other, have contact with each other at places like farmers’
markets. That may change. Growers are thinking about the ways they will be able to get that product to customers. Will it be like restaurants and go curbside or delivery access only?” Last year was “a very special, wet year,” as Kleinhenz said and as all farmers know. Growers
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CROPS continues on pg. 8
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CROPS continued from pg. 7
Still, growers must be vigilant. Sally A. Miller is a Distinguished Professor of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, specializing in vegetable pathology and vegetable disease management for The Ohio State University. Miller looks at this year’s concerns:
across the state were affected differently because of geographical location, growing methods and crop selection. Some faced devastation, some had remarkably productive yields. But as of early spring 2020, growers and consumers should expect a 2020 yield that is not too much different from 2019, if you take out the unknown COVID-19 factor. So yes, Ohio vegetables, including sweet corn, tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, peppers, squash, snapbeans, beets, lettuce, carrots, onions, asparagus, eggplant and edamame soybeans, are all on track as far as planning.
* Increased frequency and intensity of rainstorms will lead to a growing risk of bacterial diseases for tomatoes and cucumbers. Tomatoes in open fields are vulnerable to bacterial spot, bacterial speck and bacterial canker, all seedborne diseases. Miller suggests using seed lots pre-tested and determined negative for these diseases. If seeds have been saved or not tested by the seed producer, sanitizing them (hot water,
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dilute chlorine beach) should be used prior to planting. Sanitizing seed treatments should also be used to prevent angular leaf spot of cucumbers. * Growers who produce tomatoes year after year in high tunnels/hoops may see poor growth and yield reductions due to soilborne diseases, including corky root rot, black dot root rot, Fusarium wilt,
Verticillium wilt and root-knot nematode. Samples may be sent to the OSU Vegetable Pathology Lab for diagnosis at no charge for Ohio growers. * Stewart’s wilt of sweet corn is a bacterial disease transmitted by corn flea beetles. The bacteria survive in the beetle’s gut over winter so years with mild winters can mean a higher risk. Based on temperature calculations, the Wooster area could experience a moderate to severe risk. Growers should choose wiltresistant sweet corn hybrids or use insecticide-treated seeds.
disease,” said Miller. More information: Ohio Veggie Disease News (u.osu.edu/miller.769) and @Ohio Veggie Doc. * Phytophthora blight is a soilborne disease of cucurbit crops, including pumpkins, squash, peppers and cucumber fruits. It “may be widespread and damaging again in 2020” because of the high incidence of intense rainstorms and higher than average temperatures” predicted for parts of Ohio, said Miller. “OSU Extensive Service will have a coordinated response about COVID-19 to address growers and customers’ concerns,” said Kleinhenz. “But right now I am pretty optimistic growers will get through this.”
* No cucumber varieties are resistant to bacterial wilt and a mild winter will make the problem worse. Insecticide-treated seeds, foliar insecticide applications are suggested, as are row covers used until flowering to exclude beetles from young plants.
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* Cucurbit downy mildew is a “serious problem in most years and cucumbers are especially hard hit,” according to Miller. For the past decade, the disease has appeared first in northern Ohio and makes it way south. Miller said the disease did not arrive in northern Ohio last year until August, but growers should be prepared for a possible earlier arrival this growing season.
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WHAT CAN AND CANNOT
BE COMPOSTED AVID GARDENERS know that compost can add vital nutrients to soil used in gardens, container plants and lawns. The fact that compost is so versatile and nutrient-dense may not even be its most admirable quality. Made from items used in and around the house, compost costs just about nothing to produce.
Compost is relatively easy to make, and there are scores of materials that can be put into compost. But it is just as essential to know which ingredients cannot be used in compost.
Okay for compost
Most organic materials, or items that were once living, can be used in compost. Plant-based items used in cooking, such as potato peelings, carrot skins, banana peels, cocoa hulls, coffee grounds and filters, corn cobs, apple cores, egg shells, fruit peels, kelp, and nut shells, can be added to compost.
The raw materials that make up compost come from organic waste. These can be disposables from the garden and kitchen, as well as other areas around the house. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, yard trimmings and food scraps add up to 20 to 30 percent of the municipal solid waste in the United States. Turning Other items from around the house, like unused waste into compost not only helps the landscape, kitty litter, hair, shredded newspapers and but also the planet. cardboard, leaves, flowers, paper, pine needles,
10 | SPRING 2020
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, yard trimmings and food scraps add up to 20 to 30 percent of the municipal solid waste in the United States. Turning waste into compost not only helps the landscape, but also the planet.
ashes, and sawdust, can be successfully added The same can be said for tomato plants and some to compost. Stick to items that are not treated other hardy fruits and vegetables. heavily with chemicals. Compost is a winner in the garden and around the landscape. Learning which ingredients can and Should not be used in compost can’t be added to compost piles is useful for any Inorganic and non-biodegradable materials gardener. GT204796 cannot go into compost. These are items like plastic, glass, aluminum foil, and metal. Pressuretreated lumber, although a natural material, is treated with preservatives and often pesticides that can be harmful if they leech into the garden. The small-gardening resource Balcony Garden Web indicates coated or glossy printed papers, such as those from catalogs, magazines, wrapping paper, marketing materials, and business cards, should not be added to compost piles because of the chemicals and inks used in these pages.
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Planet Natural Research Center says to avoid pet droppings from dogs and cats. Animal products like bones, butter, milk, fish skins, and meat, may decompose and start to smell foul. Maggots, parasites, pathogens, and other microorganisms can form in the compost. These materials also may attract flies and scavenger animals. Plus, they decompose very slowly. Any personal hygiene products should be avoided because they are tainted by human fluids and that can pose a health risk.
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While weeds are not harmful in compost piles, there is the risk that seeds can germinate and then infiltrate garden beds when the compost is used.
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SAFETY TIPS FOR STORING
CANNED FOOD CANNED FOOD is convenient. Pantries that include a variety of canned foods make it possible to whip up last-minute meals. And because canned foods have longer shelf lives than fresh items, making them a part of your pantry can reduce food waste. That’s a significant benefit for shoppers’ bottom lines as well as the planet, as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations notes that roughly one-third of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year gets lost or wasted. Canned foods may be more convenient than fresh foods, but home cooks should still follow a few simple pointers to ensure canned items are safe to eat.
notes that there are limits to how long canned foods will remain preserved. Always adhere to the expiration date on the can. If an item has expired, do not eat it or serve it.
• Be especially careful with high-acid canned foods.
The FSIS notes that canned foods, and especially certain high-acid foods, such as tomatoes, have natural chemicals that can react with the container over time. This can cause changes in the texture and • Don’t presume that canned foods last taste of the foods, and forever. may even adversely affect their nutritional value. The Food Safety and Inspection Service, a division If the can is corroded or the foods’ appearance is of the United States Department of Agriculture, abnormal, do not eat or serve it.
12 | SPRING 2020
• Avoid storing canned foods at high temperatures.
According to the FSIS, the risk of spoilage increases sharply as the storage temperatures rise. Temperatures 100 F and above are harmful to canned goods, so do your best to keep storage conditions mild.
• Store items in dry places.
In addition to storing canned foods in cool places, make sure they’re stored in dry areas. Never keep canned foods beneath a sink or beside a stove. Extra storage in garages or basements may seem like great places to store canned items purchased in bulk, but such areas tend to be damp and often experience extreme temperature changes between seasons. Both of those conditions can compromise canned foods.
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Poor forage causes concern
By | TY HIGGINS OHIO FARM BUREAU POSTED FEBRUARY 13, 2020
for livestock farmers
THE IMPACT of an unusually wet spring last year “Even though we had an abundance of first cutting, is still being felt by Ohio’s livestock producers. the calendar did not allow us to harvest as many Rains that kept many farmers from planting corn times as we normally would.” and soybeans in a timely manner, or in some cases not planting at all, also caused headaches for The delayed start to harvest also affected the forage producers. quality of forages. The first cutting yields the “We couldn’t get started with the first cutting highest tonnage but the lowest quality. Throughout of forages until July so we gave up a significant the growing season, the crop gets better with each amount of annual tonnage right off the bat,” said cutting. In 2019, about 75% of the total forage Allen Gahler, an Ohio State Extension educator production came with the first cutting, putting the for ag and natural resources in Sandusky County. later, high quality product at a premium.
16 | SPRING 2020
whatever livestock is being fed, we don’t know if we are giving them the right amount of nutrients.” Gahler points to examples from last winter when a lack of testing forage content led to cows dying of starvation even though their stomachs were full. Farmers are going to extensive measures to find forages worth feeding, with some having hay shipped in from Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas where center pivots are used during the growing season. Gahler and his colleagues at Ohio State Extension are meeting with producers to educate them on forage testing and how to economically find the right feed for their herds. “The key is figuring out which nutrients are the most cost-effective to purchase, not just what is convenient and readily available,” Gahler said. “Maybe the answer is not just going to shelled corn or a different type of hay, but considering buying a different product than they are used to and having to find a new way of doing things in order to survive both nutritionally and economically.”
For beef, sheep and goat producers, Gahler urges a “test, don’t guess” philosophy when it comes to the 2019 forage crop.
WO-10725133
“That has presented a really big problem for dairies because what little bit of high quality hay that is out there is in high demand,” Gahler said. “Dairy farmers can’t compete with other hay dependent livestock sectors like horses to pay for that good quality hay, so they are struggling to find the right type of feed that will continue to maintain milk production.”
“If you don’t test your forages you have no idea what you are feeding and look and feel can only tell us so much,” Gahler said. “Until we have a test to match the protein, energy and mineral needs of harvest
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Fitzpatrick PLANNING TO PREVENT Completes 18 Year Tenure as Farm Bureau Director
By | Jill Sell FREE LANCE WRITER KENT-RAVENNA RECORD COURIER
HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS
A NEWLY- minted hobby farmer recently moved from an urban area to a more rural location. He was happy to own a pond on his property. But he wasn’t so thrilled when he noticed quickly growing green vegetation starting to cover the water. Fearing it was a harmful algal bloom (HAB), the man was sure the toxins would affect his skin, nervous system and liver. And, of course, he knew HABs can cause major problems with public drinking water, animal health and recreational water activities. But there is a happy ending. Not only was the green on his pond not cyanobacteria, it wasn’t even algae. The pond contained common duckweed (Lemna minor), the smallest flowering plants known. The U.S. Forest Service even reports duckweed is used for the bioremediation of waterways with excessive amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen runoff that cause HABs.
18 | SPRING 2020
“A lot of people don’t realize that 99 percent of algae is just a natural biological reaction going on,” said Michelle Wood, program administrator, Holmes Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). “But it’s good to be aware. All our water here drains to the Ohio River. If you care about water quality, you need to know what’s happening on your property.” But what’s going on in Toledo with runoff may not be the same as what is occurring in other parts of the state. “Algal blooms on the Ohio River don’t get as much attention as those on Lake Erie,” said Wood. “But we need plans to stop runoff here, too. There isn’t one plan that is one-size-fits-all plan. We are not like northwest Ohio where the land is flat. Holmes has steeper topography which can complicate runoff. And we have smaller farms here, some five or 10 acres, not 100.”
Wood admits that even though her suggestions are fairly easy, she also understands farmers’ resistance. Unusually rainy seasons make it difficult to find a window to spread manure or other nutrients. River bottom ground may be a farmer’s most fertile and hard to give up for planting setback vegetation. Also, weak-wooded trees planted there for setbacks may fall into waterways causing blockage. In addition, aerial winter cover crop planting may be expensive, but “Excess nutrients are tied to sedimentation and Wood encourages farmers to apply for assistance we are trying to keep soil from eroding into lakes, through the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District. streams and rivers,” said Wood, who suggests:
Wood anticipates the state’s H2Ohio water quality plan will eventually come to Holmes and Wayne Counties in about two years. Currently, Ohio has invested $172 million in concentrating on reducing algal blooms and phosphorous runoff in the Maumee River Watershed and Lake Erie. In the meantime, Wood wants to work with more landowners and farmers in her region concerning nutrient management efforts.
“We urge farmers to make an appointment * applying fertilizer to fields at the right time of with our office to make specific plans for their year, the right way, and not if rain is predicted in properties. We can also walk you through apps the next 24 hours you can find on your phone to help with nutrient * creating setback strips of growing vegetation management. It’s better to do things before there with trees or grasses at least 15 feet on each side is a problem,” said Wood. of a stream, which can act as nutrient filters For more information: Holmes SWCD, 330-674* planting winter cover crops, including an oats/ 2811, www.holmesswcd.com. barley mix or rye that help stop erosion, add nutrients back into the soil, and may eliminate the need for excessive future fertilizer.
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Fighting the flu: How to protect
Story by | Emily Beal Ohio State University College of Food and Environmental Sciences FEBRUARY 19, 2020
yourself and your herd WHILE MANY individuals choose to arm themselves
against the flu virus with a vaccine, it is even more important for those who work around animals to protect themselves. Influenza affects a wide range of animals, and flu among pigs poses a serious threat to people, because flu in other livestock is not as transferable to people.
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“The vast majority of influenza viruses circulating in pigs today have actually come from people,” says Andrew Bowman, associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine at Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM). This is likely because producers or farmers sometimes go into the barn while they are feeling under the weather and are infected with the influenza virus, Bowman says. Pork producers or people who deal with swine quite often are strongly advised to receive a flu vaccine. However, it is much more likely that people will pass the influenza virus to pigs, rather than pigs infecting humans. The flu kills between 290,000 and 646,000 people worldwide each year. This year’s flu vaccine only has a 58% chance of protecting people from influenza B, the most common type of flu virus found in humans.
Influenza A and influenza B are the two main types of flu virus, and the flu vaccine houses both. Humans are much more susceptible to type B, while pigs are much more vulnerable to type A and rarely get B.
“Among pigs — in general — a lot of them will get sick with influenza, but rarely die. Typically, they only die if they get a secondary bacterial infection along with the flu,” Bowman says.
Best human protection is to get flu vaccination
If there are signs that your pigs already have influenza, it is important to take the proper precautions so that you do not get it. This should include protecting your respiratory tract by wearing an N95 respirator over your nose and mouth, and communicating with your veterinarian to see which treatment plan is recommended.
Types of flu viruses circulating among pigs can cross into people. Getting vaccinated might reduce the risk of a person acquiring these viruses — and at the very least, provide some level of protection, Bowman says. “The best way to protect yourself from any virus is to get vaccinated,” says Scott Kenney, an assistant professor in Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). Kenney is a part of the Food Animal Health Research Program, a CFAES unit affiliated with the CVM.
Bowman suggests that pork producers should work with their local veterinarians to come up with a vaccination plan. That plan should include which types of vaccines to administer and how frequently the vaccines should be given to the animal itself.
Influenza in pigs looks a lot like the symptoms humans experience while they are battling the flu virus themselves. The pigs Beal is a senior in the Department of Agricultural could show signs of flu by having nasal discharge, Communication, Education, and Leadership of OSU coughing, fever, or even a lack of appetite, Bowman CFAES. says.
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| 21
SPRING & SUMMER AG EVENTS MAY Please use the contact information at the end of each event to confirm its scheduling, or any cancellations or postponements.
09 PLANT DISCOVERY DAY When: Sat., May 9, 2020; 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Where: Secrest Welcome & Education Center, Secrest Arboretum, OARDC, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH What: The annual Friends of Secrest Arboretum sale features new and unique annuals, perennials, herbs and woody plants. Vendors also offer a variety of art for the home and landscape. Free parking, no reservations required. Details: 330-263-3761.
ANTIQUE Tractor Pull When: Sat., May 9, 2020; 4 p.m.-Until (No Specific End Time) Where: Troy Community Center, Welshfield, OH Call for information: 740-244-4239 or 440-6685307. Presented by the Geauga County Antique Tractor Pullers Association.
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22 | SPRING 2020
Ashland S. Baney Rd. (419) 281.2554 Marshallville (330) 855.8234
When: Sat., 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Where: Wayne County Fairgrounds, 199 Vanover Street, Wooster, OH What: The Great Lakes Fiber Show, an annual Memorial Day Weekend event, has long brought together the Midwest fiber family for two days of sales, competitions, classes and fun. Artists and enthusiasts, teachers and hobbyists, animal owners and vendors, adults and children — everyone has a great time at the Midwest’s premier fiber event. Make plans to join us Memorial Day Weekend! For more information: 740-686-2172, www.greatlakesfibershow.com
June 12-13
July 18
KIDRON DAYS
MADE IN OHIO DAY
When: Fri. & Sat., June 12- 13, 2020; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Where: Lehman’s in Kidron; 4779 Kidron Rd., Kidron. Come to the quaint town of Kidron for Kidron Days 2020! We will be offering discounts, activites and more! For more information: 800-438-5346. Lehmans.com/storeevents
When: Sat., July 18, 2020; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Where: Lehman’s in Kidron; 4779 Kidron Rd., Kidron. What: Come and talk to the makers behind your favorite ohio made products. Throughout the store there will be demos, samples, and reps set up to talk to you about their products. For more information: 800-438-5346. Lehmans.com/storeevents
25 Pegasus Farm BLUEBERRY FUN FEST
20 Berlin Moo Fest When: Jun 20, 2020 Where: Berlin Main Street Merchants 4900 Oak Street, Berlin, OH 44610 What: Celebrate Ohio Dairy Farmers with fun activities and sales in Berlin. Email Address: visitberlinohio@gmail.com Phone: 330-893-2523 Website: http://heartofamishcountry.com
27 Secrest Arboretum Tour When: Sat., June 27, 2020; 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Where: Secrest Welcome & Education Center, Secrest Arboretum, OARDC, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH What: Did you just move to Wooster and want to know more about Secrest Arboretum, or have you lived here all your life and never visited? Whatever your story, join this guided tour to learn more about ours! Participants will hear about Edmund Secrest and the history of the arboretum, as well as, the stories behind some of our gardens and unique plants. Free parking, no reservations required. Details: 330-263-3761.
When: Sat., July 25, 2020; 11am-4pm Where: 7490 Edison St NE; Hartville, OH What: We’ve blended our annual Family Fun Day with our new, popular Blueberry Festival. Enjoy blueberry treats and gifts, barn and garden tours, interacting with our horses, balloon animals, magician, face painting, photo ops, yard games, and more! Admission is free, but there may be a cost for a couple of activities.
SEPTEMBER 19 2020 FALL FESTIVAL When: Sat., Sept. 19, 2020; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Where: Lehman’s in Kidron; 4779 Kidron Rd., Kidron. What: Kick off your fall season with the best of family fun at Lehman’s annual Fall Festival! With games, live music, make-it-and-take-it crafts, and many more activities. For more information: 800-438-5346. Lehmans.com/storeevents
harvest
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