Growing Ohio

GROWING OHIO • C R E AT I N G C O N N E CT I O N S T O T H E S TAT E ’ S T O P I N D U S T RY •

Rows of Progress

Founding Families

Ohio farms enjoy 200 years of same-family ownership

OHIO SEES GROWTH IN CORN AND SOYBEANS

Brought to you by the Ohio Department of Agriculture // www.Growing-Ohio.com // 2014

Family Owned Since 1958

EQUIPMENT • • • •

Livestock Feeding Manure Handling Dairy, Swine, Beef and Poultry Ventilation

CONSTRUCTION • • • • •

Livestock Facilities Feed Storage Bunkers Machinery Storage Commercial Buildings Site Layout and Design

GRAIN SYSTEMS • • • •

Farm and Commercial Storage Portable and Tower Dryers Legs and Conveyors Portable Augers 6915 Olding Rd. Maria Stein, OH 45860 419-925-4349 www.homaninc.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

7 Governor’s Welcome Letter 9 Director’s Welcome Letter 10 Ohio Agriculture Overview 13 Ohio Top Ten

Crops, Plants & Forestry 14 Rows of Progress

2014

GROWING OHIO • CREATING CONNECTIONS TO THE STATE’S TOP INDUSTRY •

Ohio sees growth in corn and soybeans

20 Building a Salad Bowl

Ohio provides artisanal produce to chefs across the nation

26 Growing Industries

Ohio’s nursery and forestry industries flourish

Animals & Livestock 34 Dairy Dynasty

Five generations of dairy famers continue family legacy

39 I Scream, You Scream

Two Ohio ice cream companies find national success

40 Taking Stock

Ohio leads the way in livestock genetics

44 Caring for the Coop

Ohio poultry farmers implement best practices to ensure healthy hens

34

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GROWING OHIO 2014

Local Food and Wine

Agriculture Education

50 Locally Proud

66 Our Farms, Our Futures

Ohio Proud program celebrates 20 years of supporting state-made products

55 Cooperation Is Key

Federal, state program helps Ohio food producers

56 The Scoop on Agritourism

Ohio farms add activities to attract visitors

60 The Next Step

Ohio food processors create unique products using agricultural ingredients

64 Teamwork: The Secret to Success Ohio comes together to create more agribusiness jobs

65 Quality Safety

Consumer Protection Laboratory keeps Ohioans safe

Agricultural youth programs open doors for young farmers

Agricultural Preservation & Innovation 72 Founding Families

Ohio Bicentennial Farms enjoy 200 years of same-family ownership

76 Big Fish

Aquaculture flourishes as freshwater farms increase production

On the Cover Brand new grain storage bins rise above the corn fields at Robinson Grain Farms in Arlington, Ohio.

PHOTO BY JEFF ADKINS

76

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

5

GOVERNOR’S WELCOME

Welcome to

GROWING OHIO

OHIO FFA ASSOCIATION 25 S. Front St. MS 603 Columbus, OH 43215 (614) 466-3076 Fax: (614) 644-6720

www.ohioffa.org

Without farming, Ohio would not be what it is

today. Our state was built on agriculture and the hard work of farmers.

Today, as always, food production and agriculture are essential to our state’s economic success, and I don’t think it’s any coincidence that many Ohio counties with the lowest unemployment rates are also leaders in agricultural production. Farming and food processing employ one in seven Ohioans and generate more than $105 billion in economic activity. With more than 73,000 farms, 900 food processors and 200 available career paths, it’s in the state’s best interest to support agriculture any way we can.

Since I took office in January of 2011, my administration has worked with farmers to embrace policies that help the food and agriculture industry. We created the Agribusiness Roundtable, which consists of 25 farmers and agribusiness leaders, to advise us on policies and development opportunities that benefit the industry as a whole.

With the help of JobsOhio – the state’s private, non-profit economic development entity – Ohio has attracted many exciting investments in the food and agriculture industry. Thanks in part to Ohio’s dairy farmers, Daisy is building a new facility in Wooster, creating 89 jobs and investing $124 million. In Orrville, Smuckers is adding 100 jobs and investing $15 million. In Minster, Dannon has expanded, adding 100 new jobs, investing $88 million. In Tipp City, Abbott Nutrition is building its first U.S. facility in nearly 30 years, injecting $270 million into the economy and creating 240 new jobs. Just outside of Cleveland, Nestlé is expanding its presence in Ohio by making a $53 million investment in a new global research and development center. The list of projects goes on and it’s great news for Ohio.

I believe that when Ohioans have jobs, our communities and our families are stronger. Over the past three years, our state has gone from being 48th in job creation to one of the top job creators in the country. We’ve done a lot of work to make Ohio a better place, but there’s more work to do. The food and agriculture industry has played a key role in the economic progress of our state, and I thank you for the work you do every day to make Ohio a better place to live and work.

God Bless,

John R. Kasich Governor of Ohio

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

7

DIRECTOR’S WELCOME

Visit us online at

GROWING-OHIO.COM AnimAls & livestock

Welcome to

Dairy Dynasty Five generations of dairy farmers continue family legacy

The Sprunger family needed to generate more income on their longtime dairy, Raygor Farms, to welcome the fifth generation. So, they added a third milking per day to increase milk production.

This proved a good move to improve profits, just as it did when the family began to sell their milk to a local processor.

In 1998, their farm in Dalton started selling milk to Smith Dairy, a processor they chose because it provided the incentives that best fit their farm.

“They offer us better bonuses for our quality milk,” says Bob Sprunger, the fourth generation at Raygor Farms. “The overall picture: It’s better financially for us.”

Opposite Page: Cows feed between milking times at Raygor Farms LLC. Above: Standing from left are, Mark and Amy Ostarchvic with their daughter Avery, Scott Sprunger, Barb Sprunger and Bob Sprunger (Amy’s parents) in front of the feeding barn at Raygor Farms LLC in Dalton, Ohio. photography by Jeff adkins

34

//

GrowinG ohio

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

35

GROWING OHIO

Digital Edition

OPTIMIZED FOR ONLINE Each article can be read online, as a web article or in our digital magazine.

SHARE THE CONTENT

Easily share an interesting article, stunning photo or useful advertisement via Facebook, Twitter or email.

HAVE A BLOG OR WEBSITE? Embed our digital magazine in your website to offer compelling information about Ohio agriculture to your site visitors.

GROW ING OH IO • Cr e

at i

ng

Con

neC

tio

ns

to

Ro s f Prow greo ss

OhiO and sees grO sOybea wth in cOr ns

n

Read on the Go Broug

ht to you by the Ohio Depar

tment

of Agric

ulture

// www .Grow

sam

ing-O

the

te’

s to p

ind

ust

ry

•

Foundi Familiesng

Ohio

e-fa

hio.co

sta

farm 200 s enjo mily year y s own ersh of ip

m // 2014

Hello and welcome to Growing Ohio,

In my travels across the state visiting large and small agribusinesses, I have learned how Ohio’s good soils, access to cutting-edge research and development, and agriculture-friendly culture has positioned the Buckeye State for continued future growth.

Agriculture is the most basic ingredient for human survival, and today it represents so much more than just food. It is a means to produce and maintain jobs, a way to advance technology, and a method for us to become a more self-sufficient nation. Whether you live in the country or the city, this is a story that binds us all together, but one that is seldom told.

Growing Ohio tells the story of the far-reaching importance of agriculture to both the daily lives of Ohioans and our state’s economy.

We all enjoy a greater quality of life because of the strength of agriculture in our state. The farmer buys seed and equipment locally.

The farmer then takes the grain to the elevator, which sells the flour to the bakery, which sells the bread at a store. Jobs, income and money from these transactions filter through the community and help support the bank, the grocery store, the local car dealer or any other number of community businesses.

Coming from a family that has been farming in Ohio for 200 years, I can tell you that agriculture in this state is constantly evolving.

As science continues to find new and unique uses for agricultural products, Ohio will continue to grow. In the following pages, I invite you to explore Ohio’s dynamic food and agriculture story. You just might be amazed at how we are Growing Ohio.

Sincerely,

The digital magazine is available for tablet and phone viewing.

2014

GROWING OHIO

David T. Daniels Director Ohio Department of Agriculture

Visit us online at

GROWING-OHIO.COM

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

9

OVERVIEW

Ohio Agriculture

Ohio forest products have an annual value of more than $15 million.

An Overview of the State’s No. 1 Industry Food and agriculture ,

the top industry in Ohio, adds $105 billion to the economy and employs one out of seven people in the state.

On-farm production alone contributes more than $6 billion annually. With jobs in horticulture, animal science, food science, forestry and more, there are more than 200 agriculturally related jobs. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics predicted this number would grow 18 percent between 2008 and 2018.

With 400 different types of soil, the Buckeye State is fully equipped to grow a wide variety of products.

The rich soil typically receives 36 inches of rain each year and experiences a range of temperatures.

Ohio’s expansive tracts of land make it one of only four states with more than 50 percent of its land classified as “prime farmland.”

Ohio ranks 11th in the nation for the number of farms, with 73,400, each averaging 184 acres.

Row crops such as soybeans and corn flourish in Ohio. As the No. 1 crop, corn brought in $3.2 billion in 2011. Ohio soybeans, valued at $2.5 billion, are the No. 2 crop in the state.

10

//

Growing Ohio

Ohio excels in dairy production of all sorts. Particularly known for its Swiss cheese production, Ohio is ranked first in the country. Sour cream production follows behind, ranking No. 4 in the nation.

In addition to top-ranking crops, Ohio has many diverse commodities such as tomatoes, cucumbers and maple syrup. Ranking No. 5 nationally, Ohio has a long history of syrup production. In 2011, the trees of Ohio yielded an impressive 125,000 tons of syrup.

Food and beverages are a large part of the agricultural related economic impact. With 900 food processing plants, Ohio ranks in the top five U.S. producers of bakery, dairy, snacks, spices and other products. Ohio alone accounts for more than 4 percent of the national production of soft drinks, beer, wine and spirits.

Preserving the agricultural way of life is a priority in Ohio. Through farmland preservation programs, community supported agriculture groups and educational events, farmers receive information and support to enable them to continue growing quality products.

– Hannah Patterson

OHIO RANKS

3rd

NATIONALLY FOR TOMATO PRODUCTION. What’s Online Access more agriculture facts at Growing-Ohio.com.

THERE ARE 4,377 BEEKEEPERS AND 37,161 BEE COLONIES IN OHIO.

Ohio is one of only four states with more than 50 percent of its land classified as “prime farmland.”

Ohio is the largest sheep-producing state east of the Mississippi. There is a sheep and wool farm in every county in the state.

CHICKENS IN OHIO TYPICALLY PRODUCE

7.1 billion EGGS ANNUALLY.

Ohio has 26.2 million acres of land, 15 million of which are used for farming.

OHIO DAIRY CATTLE PRODUCE MORE THAN 5.13 BILLION POUNDS OF MILK ANNUALLY.

growing- ohio.com

//

11

Top 10 Commodities Ohio’s top commodities, based on cash receipts 1. CORN The top commodity and No. 2 export in Ohio, corn generated $2.79 billion in 2011. The corn is used for feed, food and fuel.

2. SOYBEANS Producing 7.1 percent of the country’s soybeans, Ohio brought in $2.66 billion in 2011. Ohio ranks No. 6 nationally for soybeans.

3. DAIRY PRODUCTS As the No. 3 commodity in Ohio, dairy products earned $1.1 billion in 2011.

Ohio ranked No. 1 for Swiss cheese and No. 5 for creamed cottage cheese and cottage cheese curd production.

7. GREENHOUSE/NURSERY Ranked No. 6 in the nation for floriculture, Ohio’s greenhouse/nursery products generated $ 336.7 million in 2011.

8. WHEAT Wheat brought in $ 313.4 million in 2011. This commodity is often used in Ohio’s successful food and snack production industry.

9. BROILERS

Ohio is home to more than 4,100 hog farms and 4 million hogs. This commodity generated $714.3 million in 2011.

The No. 9 commodity, broilers (chickens raised for meat) generated $174.9 million in 2011. Ohio ranks in the top 20 nationally for broiler production.

Chickens in Ohio usually produce 7.1 billion eggs annually, or 6.7 percent of the nation’s eggs. In 2011, eggs generated $490.5 million.

The 15,000 beef farms with 292,000 head of cattle in Ohio earned $412.7 million in 2011.

4. HOGS

5. EGGS

6. CATTLE AND CALVES

10. TURKEYS Ranking in the top 10 nationally, Ohio’s turkey production earned $143.2 million in 2011.

growing- ohio.com

//

13

CROPS, PLANTS & FORESTRY

Rows of

Progress

Ohio sees growth in corn and soybeans

Farmer Paul Herringshaw stands in front of a bountiful corn crop on his farm in Bowling Green, Ohio.

14

//

Growing Ohio

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

15

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

Farmer Paul Herringshaw holds a handful of soybeans left over from last year’s crops while standing among this year’s crops on his farm in Bowling Green, Ohio.

It only takes a country

NATIONALLY, THE STATE USUALLY RANKS

6th

IN SOYBEAN PRODUCTION AND EIGHTH IN CORN PRODUCTION. 16

//

Growing Ohio

drive to notice that corn and soybeans occupy a significant part of Ohio.

And in recent years, these longtime staples of the Ohio landscape have boomed at a time when the general economy slumped in a recession.

“There has been a lot of discussion over the last five to six years about the value of the agricultural economy across the United States,” says Hal Reed, chief operating officer of The Andersons Inc., a diversified agricultural company. “It’s kind of the unsung hero holding the U.S. economy above water.”

The collective value of the Ohio corn and soybean crop increased 84 percent from 2008 to 2012, based on data from the National Agricultural Statistics Service. This era has provided some of the most profitable times

in row-crop production for Ohio farmers and agribusinesses.

The climb in agriculture has helped businesses like The Andersons grow. The Ohio-based company conducts business across North America in the grain, ethanol and plant nutrient sectors, railcar leasing and repair, turf and cob products, and consumer retailing.

The strength of the agricultural economy in the last few years prompted them to increase grain storage capacity and crop nutrient and protection services. The firm also expanded into ethanol production in the last decade.

“I still see a positive slope to Ohio and U.S. agriculture value,” Reed says. “I think it’s probably a little less of an upward slope than in the last few years, but still, nonetheless, an upward slope.”

Farmer Paul Herringshaw sells most of his corn to one of two plants that produce ethanol and livestock

In recent years, corn and soybeans have boomed, at a time when the general economy slumped in a recession. From 2008 to 2012, the value of the Ohio corn and soybean crop increased 84 percent.

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

17

feed byproducts within 20 miles of his farm near Bowling Green, Ohio.

Railcars ship some of his stored corn east and southeast for livestock feed.

On the soybean side, part of his crop enters a nearby processing plant to produce soybean meal, which is also fed to livestock. A company buys another portion of his crop to become seed soybeans to sell to farmers the next growing season.

Herringshaw grows corn, soybeans and soft red winter wheat in a rotation on about 1,500 acres. These crops fit Ohio agronomically and provide farmers a good economic return, he says.

The third-generation farmer grows corn on the same farm his grandfather did in the late 1890s.

But his ancestors would be amazed at the innovations and success today.

“In the last several years during this current boom cycle, agriculture has had a tremendous impact on the economy,” he says. “We have

expanded grain bins on our farm and put up a newer grain bin to handle and dry corn. A lot of my neighbors have done similar things.”

He sees farmers upgrading equipment and expanding their use of semi-trucks to haul crops.

Likewise, he witnesses expansion in employment and services at the agribusinesses he frequents. For example, more precision-farming specialists help farmers use technology to enhance field applications. Meanwhile, the increased use of grid soil sampling teamed with site-specific fertilizer application gives farmers the tools to boost crop production. At the same time, farmers further improve their care for the environment.

“We’re trying to figure out how to feed a growing population and do it in a way that makes economic sense and also is environmentally friendly,” Herringshaw says.

– Joanie Stiers

33% 33 percent of Ohio’s land mass grew corn and soybeans in 2013, based on data from the National Agricultural Statistics Service and U.S. Census.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PHOTO WORKS, INC., TOLEDO

The Andersons Inc. consults with farmers to sell their crops to domestic and global markets.

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

19

CROPS, PLANTS & FORESTRY

Building

a Salad Bowl

20

//

Growing Ohio

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

Bob Jones, Jr. is co-owner and chief operating officer of The Chef’s Garden, a family owned and operated vegetable farm in Huron, Ohio.

Ohio provides artisanal produce to chefs across the nation

Huron, Ohio, is the perfect place to grow produce. Just ask Bob Jones, a sixth-generation farmer and co-owner of the nation’s leading grower of artisanal produce.

“The lake bottom soil in our area is sandy and fertile, which makes it ideal,” says Jones, co-owner of The Chef’s Garden, a 300-acre operation. “Plus, we have a longer growing season here because we’re so close to the lake, which because of its shallowness gives off heat that protects us throughout the fall.

We’re actually in the same growing zone as Louisville, Ky.”

OHIO LANDSCAPE

The state’s diversity in soil types, temperatures and precipitation create a robust growing environment for produce, says Michael Geary, executive director of the Ohio

Produce Growers & Marketers Association. “But it’s more than just the environmental characteristics that make Ohio a great place for growing,” he says. “We also have a supportive state government, active trade and commodity associations, respected and influential universities, and more importantly, millions of consumers who care about the farming industry and want to eat products that are grown locally.”

The soil, the climate and the commitment to sustainable growing methods provide a recipe for success – a recipe that families like the Joneses have been refining for decades.

A FAMILY TRADITION

Bob Jones’ father began a wholesale vegetable business in the GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

21

The Chef’s Garden, one farm in the salad bowl region, grows more than 600 varieties of heirloom and specialty vegetables, micro greens, herbs and edible flowers.

22

//

Growing Ohio

1960s. Nearly 20 years later, the Joneses were in on the beginning of the farmers market movement, harvesting and packing their produce and selling it at markets in Cleveland.

The relationships they built with customers, especially local chefs, during that time spawned a new direction for their business.

Jones explains that the birth of the new business actually began with a commitment to the past.

A GROWING BUSINESS

“In talking with chefs at the farmers markets, they were unhappy with the quality and flavor of the produce they were getting from wholesalers,” he says.

“The chefs were looking for a source that would provide fresh, flavorful, nutritious produce using sustainable growing methods that emphasized quality over quantity.”

The Joneses listened and responded, and today The Chef’s Garden includes a successful produce

An employee creates a lettuce variety pack to send to customers at The Chef’s Garden in Huron, Ohio.

Our chefs have five requests: flavor, shelf life, flavor, appearance and flavor again.

– BOB JONES, THE CHEF’S GARDEN

Top Left: Colorful heirloom tomatoes are ready to be shipped at The Chef’s Garden. Top Right: Bob Jones Jr. holds some squash outdoors in the fields.

Above: An employee tends to outdoor crops.

24

//

Growing Ohio

operation, an on-site culinary vegetable institute and Veggie U., an initiative to educate children about where their food comes from.

They sell to chefs in all 50 states and 17 countries, growing more than 600 different items, including micro greens, micro herbs, heirloom vegetables, specialty lettuces and edible flowers blossomed on the farm. The Chef’s Garden also ships the produce to order, much of it on the same day as picked. “It’s definitely a farm-to-table effort,” Jones says.

There are approximately 5,000 growers of fruits, tree nuts, berries, vegetables, potatoes and melons in Ohio.

These crops value more than

$260M

.

COMMITMENT TO FLAVOR

While the business began by growing what the chefs were asking for, today it also grows the unexpected.

“We’re always searching for unusual items of the heirloom variety, where the flavor hasn’t been bred out of them in order to increase yield and consistency,” Jones says. “Our chefs have five requests: flavor, shelf life, flavor, appearance and flavor again. We focus on meeting and exceeding those expectations.”

The Chef’s Garden does just that through its on-site culinary institute. “The institute is a retreat for chefs where they come to see our operation, cook in the kitchen, and stay right here in the log cabin on the farm.

They come to learn about our sustainable methods, and we learn from them, too.”

Sustainable agriculture, Jones says, is about understanding natural processes and leveraging nature rather than fighting it.

“If you have weeds, for instance, you look at whether there are imbalances in the soil and find natural ways to provide balance,” he says. “Your produce is better because of it. These methods provide healthy soil, healthy plants and healthy people.”

– Cathy Lockman

Ohio Corn Growers are making life better by providing food, fuel and feed! http://ohiocorn.org

What’s Online Find out more about specialty crop production at GROWING-OHIO.COM

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

25

CROPS, PLANTS & FORESTRY

26

//

Growing Ohio

Growing Industries Ohio’s nursery and forestry industries flourish Your business’s breathtaking FLOWER POWER landscaping elements or your home’s new kitchen cabinets could very likely have come from the Buckeye State’s flourishing industries of floriculture and forestry.

Ohio floriculture ranks sixth and wood product manufacturing ranks 15th in employment and sales in the nation. The state’s nursery and forestry commerce are big business and are respected for their innovation and growth. As consumers’ belt-tightening forces creative ways to live more simply and embrace their home and local environments, these established enterprises provide significant economic boost and job stability.

Ohio’s 2011 national floriculture ranking includes nearly $208 million in sales. While margins are getting tighter, the quality of product is improving across the board.

Family-owned for nearly 60 years, Willoway Nurseries of Avon is considered one of the Midwest’s largest wholesale growers of quality nursery stock. It ranks within the top 40 nationwide, according to Danny Gouge, Willoway’s marketing manager.

“The Avon location started with 10 acres and has grown to 1,000 including 550 acres of field production, 450 acres of container stock and six acres of greenhouses,”

Flowers grow in the test gardens at the Willoway Nurseries headquarters in Avon, Ohio.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

27

Approximately 2,300 varieties of plants grow in the test gardens at the Willoway Nurseries headquarters in Avon, Ohio,

Gouge says. “Our diverse inventory consists of over 2,300 varieties of plant material, including trees and shrubs. We specialize in sales to independent garden centers, landscapers and re-wholesalers from Iowa to Maine and from Michigan to Kentucky, and have two wholesale distribution centers in Avon and Columbus.”

In addition to Willoway’s priorities of providing quality products and service, they relish incorporating new growing techniques and technology.

“Time is more important to today’s gardeners as many are multiple-income families, and are also younger and have less experience in gardening,” Gouge says. “We offer help, such as informative photo tags with planting instructions, and attempt to make it less intimidating because gardening brings value to them for their investment of time.

It adds beauty and value to their

homes, and provides fresh small fruits and veggies.”

FORESTRY STANDS TALL

“Tim-ber,” the cry associated with a cut tree falling, resonates with forestry’s enormous economic impact in Ohio.

Eric McConnell, assistant professor and forest products specialist with Ohio State University Extension, reports that in 2010 the state’s forest industry employed more than 118,000 people in 372 sectors of Ohio’s economy with those workers earning $5.69 billion in wages and benefits.

Converting raw materials into various forest products resulted in $9 billion in value-added goods.

Forestry generated $22 billion in total economic activity, up from $15 billion in 2005.

Forestry and logging, exports (to Europe, the Middle East, China and the Pacific Rim), wood products and furniture, and paper products are vital components of the state’s

OHIO IS IN THE TOP 10 NATIONALLY FOR FLORICULTURE.

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

29

Dried lumber is inspected for size and quality at Industrial Timber & Lumber in McArthur, Ohio.

30

//

Growing Ohio

8.5 million acres in Ohio are in tree cover.

Newly cut timber is unloaded and stacked in the yard at Superior Hardwoods in McArthur, Ohio.

economy. John Dorka, executive director of Ohio Forestry Association Inc., is confident Ohio’s forest industry is well-positioned to take advantage of the economic recovery over the next several years.

“Ohio forests are 95 percent hardwood,” Dorka says. “Such wood provides a broad array of products with special emphasis on high-quality hardwood for lumber – for furniture, cabinetry, flooring, windows, home finishing – as well as for pallets, staves, handles, paper and energy. The Amish Furniture

Cluster in northeast Ohio, known for its high-quality furniture products, produces 10 percent of the U.S. hardwood furniture market.”

Industrial Timber & Lumber Company (ITL) owns more than 50,000 acres of sustainably managed timberlands of Northern and Appalachian hardwood. One of the country’s premier manufacturers of hardwood lumber, the company processes more than 200 million board feet of hardwood annually and serves both domestic and international markets.

Harold Neuenschwander Owner

Supporter of Ohio Agriculture 2120 CR 168 • Dundee, OH 44624 • 330-893-2348

www.haroldsequipment.com

95% 95% of Ohio’s forests are hardwood trees.

There are more than 100 different hardwood tree species growing in Ohio.

OhiO hardwOOds …

FrOm OhiO sustainable FOrests

Ohio Forestry association 888-388-7337 www.OhioForest.org

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

31

31% OF OHIO IS FORESTED.

Employees move finished lumber to be shipped at Industrial Timber & Lumber in McArthur, Ohio.

Lawrence and Vinton counties are more than 70% forested.

“ITL is the third- or fourth-largest hardwood exporter in the country,” says Rob McCarthy, ITL’s sales and purchasing manager. “We have numerous sawmills and dry kiln operations. We also have a long-standing partnership with Superior Hardwoods of Ohio producing 52 million board feet per year.”

He says ITL constantly seeks better ways to conserve the natural resources it uses while improving its service and technology.

“All of our facilities are networked, we are committed to the environment and we are constantly looking for ways to upgrade the operation,” McCarthy says.

– Susan Hayhurst

What’s Online To see more photos of nursery and forestry visit GROWING-OHIO.COM

Maple Syrup On Tap

Ohio ranks fifth in the nation for maple syrup production Only 12 states produce maple syrup, and the Buckeye State is one of them. Its topography makes Ohio an ideal location for maple production. As the location of former glaciers, Ohio’s soil has the perfect mix of minerals and soil type. Maple trees are grown in both the northern and southern regions of Ohio.

The growing seasons in these regions may differ by three to four weeks, but both produce a lot of syrup.

The maple industry has had a significant impact, contributing $5 million to Ohio’s economy each year. In 2013 the state ranked in the top five nationally producing 155,000 gallons, an increase of more than 50 percent from the 100,000 gallons produced in 2012.

Not only does the sale of maple products contribute to the economy directly, but it also supports agritourism during syrup season. Pancake breakfasts and maple syrup festivals throughout the state attract tourists and encourage them to purchase products and celebrate Ohio’s maple legacy.

As the birthplace of the modern syrup evaporator, created

by D.M. Cook in the mid-1800s, Ohio has contributed significantly to the maple syrup industry throughout history.

About 600 producers across the state continue to innovate the maple production process. Sap is now filtered through a reverse osmosis machine that removes 75 percent of the water from the sap. This process cuts the boiling time and uses only a fraction of the fuel that was once required.

– Hannah Patterson

32

//

Growing Ohio

PHOTO COURTESY OF KENNETH R. LAW, USDA APHIS PPQ, BUGWOOD.ORG

Beware the Beetle Look for the telltale signs of the Asian Longhorned Beetle Trees in Ohio are under attack by foreign invaders. The Asian Longhorned Beetle was accidentally introduced to the United States from Asia in 1996 and has been wreaking havoc on trees in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Illinois and now Ohio. The Asian Longhorned Beetle was found in Clermont County in June 2011. The beetle threatens Ohio’s $2.5 billion in standing maple timber and the $5 billion nursery industry, which employs 240,000 people.

In an effort to prevent the spread of this insect, numerous restrictions regarding the transportation of branches, roots and stumps have been implemented. These efforts have successfully led to the eradication of the beetle in Illinois and New Jersey.

Citizens can assist in these efforts by checking trees for the spread of the Asian Longhorned Beetle by looking for the telltale signs of infestation.

This pest loves to munch on maple, ash, birch and elm trees. It bores into the tissue that conducts water and nutrients to the tree, causing it to starve.

Mature beetles emerge from trees in late May through October and will leave behind dime-size (a quarter of an inch or larger), perfectly round exit holes.

There will also be shallow scars in bark where the eggs are laid. Sawdust-like materials, called frass, can be seen on the ground and the branches. The branches themselves may be dead or dying. The final sign is spotting the beetle itself.

For more information about the Asian Longhorned Beetle, contact your local extension agent or visit www.AsianLonghornedBeetle.com.

Signs of Asian Longhorned Beetle infestation.

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

33

ANIMALS & LIVESTOCK

34

//

Growing Ohio

Dairy Dynasty Five generations of dairy farmers continue family legacy

The Sprunger family needed to generate more income on their longtime dairy, Raygor Farms, to welcome the fifth generation. So, they added a third milking per day to increase milk production.

This proved a good move to improve profits, just as it did when the family began to sell their milk to a local processor.

In 1998, their farm in Dalton started selling milk to Smith Dairy, a processor they chose because it provided the incentives that best fit their farm.

“They offer us better bonuses for our quality milk,” says Bob Sprunger, the fourth generation at Raygor Farms. “The overall picture: It’s better financially for us.”

Opposite Page: Cows feed between milking times at Raygor Farms LLC. Above: Standing from left are, Mark and Amy Ostarchvic with their daughter Avery, Scott Sprunger, Barb Sprunger and Bob Sprunger (Amy’s parents) in front of the feeding barn at Raygor Farms LLC in Dalton, Ohio.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

35

Milk production in Ohio is 630 million gallons per year valued at $1.03 billion.

Ohio is ranked 1st in Swiss Cheese and 4th in Sour Cream and low-fat Cottage Cheese.

THERE ARE

2,925

DAIRY FARMS IN THE STATE.

Bob Sprunger drives a small tractor through the feeding barn at Raygor Farms LLC in Dalton, Ohio.

36

//

Growing Ohio

THE AVERAGE DAIRY HERD SIZE IN OHIO IS

92 cows

WHICH TOTALS 270,000 HEAD OF COWS. The average production per cow is 2,257 gallons per year.

PHOTO COURTESY OF D. E. I.

Left: Milking equipment is cleaned between every milking session. Right: Milk being processed at Smith Dairy.

Processors provide profitable opportunities for the state’s nearly 3,000 dairy farms. In 2012, 71 dairy product plants served Ohio, placing the state fifth in the nation for dairy manufacturing, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Meanwhile, Ohio produces more Swiss cheese than any other state. The state also ranks fourth in low-fat cottage cheese production and fifth in ice cream production, according to the American Dairy Association Mideast. The Ohio dairy industry generated an economic impact of about $4.2 billion in 2007, according to the most recent data available from the association.

While a boost for farmers, dairy processors also remain a major employer in Ohio, says Brian DeFelice, vice president of sales and marketing at Smith Dairy.

“A lot of our communities depend on employment from dairy processors,” he says. “The majority of them are pretty long-term businesses that have been in business since the early 1900s.”

Smith Dairy, founded in 1909, employs about 350 people at its plant

and headquarters in Orrville.

The facility produces fluid milk, cottage cheese, sour cream, ice cream mix, half-and-half, creams, food drinks, juices and ice cream.

The Smith Dairy name is most prevalent in Ohio and parts of surrounding states. However, its products are co-packed and found in national brands throughout the country, DeFelice says.

Ohio’s location, ability to move product and access to quality milk also attract new processors. In 2013 Daisy Brand announced it will build a $116 million sour cream production facility in Wooster and employ 89 people by 2015, according to JobsOhio.

“I think our biggest challenge is a share of stomach,” DeFelice says.

“The per capita consumption of fluid milk and cottage cheese has been decreasing throughout the years.

There has been a large infiltration of other drinks in the marketplace from teas to waters to milk substitutes.”

Smith Dairy is among the milk processors who contribute to the National Milk Mustache “Got milk?” campaign through MilkPEP. Meanwhile, industry representatives

take any opportunities they can to share the story of the Ohio dairy industry. The quality of Ohio dairy farms makes the state a great place to do business, DeFelice says.

“We have great farmers to begin with that are shipping to our facility and a long-time history of that,” he says. “We have some of the best quality of milk that is available in the country from our farmers here in Ohio.”

At five generations strong, the Sprungers take great pride in excellent care of their cows and producing quality milk in order to secure a legacy for the next generation.

“We take care of our cattle,” says Barb Sprunger, Bob’s wife. “ We have vet checks twice a month.

We have a hoof trimmer come in.

We work with nutritionists to make sure we have the right balanced rations. We have an agronomist for our crops.”

The Sprungers love the farm and the life it provides. Their kids believe the same, with a son, daughter and son-in-law now joining the operation.

– Joanie Stiers GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

37

ANIMALS & LIVESTOCK

I Scream,You Scream Two Ohio ice cream companies find national success

PHOTO COURTESY OF JENI’S SPLENDID ICE CREAM

PHOTO COURTESY OF GRAETER’S ICE CREAM

PHOTO COURTESY OF JENI’S SPLENDID ICE CREAM

N

ot many states can claim that they have some of the best ice cream in the nation.

Ohio has the honor of being called “home” by, not one, but two of the most popular ice cream brands in the United States.

U.S. News & World Report and Food & Wine magazines have ranked Cincinnati and Columbus among the top ice cream cities in the country, thanks to Graeter’s and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream.

Graeter’s originated in the Cincinnati home of Louis Graeter, who began peddling his homemade delicacy as a teenager. Graeter’s wife, Regina, carried on his legacy after his death, expanding the family business and perfecting their product.

Graeter’s employs the French Pot swirling process, which gently folds cream and egg custard into a blissful blend. The company then sprinkles in generous portions of ingredients such as chocolate, fresh raspberries and more.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream is the brainchild of Jeni Britton Bauer, a former art student and ice cream prodigy. Jeni’s prides itself on fresh fair-trade and locally sourced ingredients. With tantalizing flavors such as Brambleberry Crisp, Cherry Lambic Sorbet and Askinosie Dark Milk Chocolate, Jeni’s has made a splash in the foodie community.

Jeni’s relies on local milk and cream to create the base of its ice creams, and local farms provide fresh produce. The ice cream maker strives to achieve pure flavors that you can taste in every bite.

With the delicious and varied flavors of Graeter’s and Jeni’s, Ohio is truly an ice cream lover’s dream.

– Hannah Patterson

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

39

ANIMALS & LIVESTOCK

Taking

STOCK Ohio leads the way in livestock genetics

To make sure their animals have the same desirable traits from generation to generation, farmers rely on livestock genetics companies for selective breeding. This means choosing outstanding livestock breeding stock that meet customer demands for high-quality cattle and swine.

Many of the most prestigious names in the industry are headquartered in Ohio, as is one of the nation’s premier labs, the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

“I think the reason major livestock genetics companies migrate to Ohio is due in part to our lab,” says State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Forshey. “We have a knowledgeable staff capable of getting accurate test results in a timely fashion, and we provide ready access to real-time information.”

40

//

Growing Ohio

Plain City, Ohio-based Select Sires, the largest cattle genetics company in North America, produces more genetic product at one location than any other cattle genetics company in the world.

Also using the services provided by the ADDL is Hendersonville, Tenn.-based PIC International. PIC, an international leader in providing superior swine breeding stock to the global pork chain, has several locations in Ohio. Two of the top U.S. swine artificial insemination facilities, Birchwood Genetics and Lean Value Sires, are also located in Ohio.

TOP-NOTCH LAB

“Our lab is set up so that veterinarians can go online 24/7 to access test results,” Forshey says.

“Turnaround time is a big issue,

especially in terms of exports.

There’s a limited amount of time to coordinate the testing and get the paperwork completed to meet the international health requirements.”

Ohio exported approximately 30,000 cattle in 2012 and all were tested at the ADDL. Among its North American competitors, Select Sires has a 35 percent market share domestically and 27 percent market share internationally. This market leadership is made possible by the local service to dairy and beef producers provided by the nine farmer-owned and controlled cooperative members that comprise Select Sires.

“Select Sires provides a strong sire lineup based on the untiring work of its sire analysts in procuring the best bulls from across the United States

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

41

LIVESTOCK GENETICS IN OHIO

OHIO EXPORTED APPROXIMATELY

The Ohio Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) offers

310 30,000 600,000

different diagnostic tests and completes

CATTLE IN 2012 AND ALL WERE TESTED AT THE ADDL.

analyses per year.

Using specific breed genetics allows improved production and desirable traits in animals.

LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS USE ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION TO BREED THEIR ANIMALS, MOST PREVALENT IN CATTLE AND SWINE.

OHIO IS HOME TO

1.23M HEAD OF CATTLE AND CALVES.

BULLS AND BOARS While there are differences between breeds, bulls (adult male cattle) and boars (adult male hogs) can be aggressive and potentially dangerous.

The use of artificial insemination helps eliminate some of the risks of owning these animals.

Select Sires exports more than

4 million breeding units of semen annually to 90 different countries.

PIC has been delivering pork genetic improvement year after year for more than 40 years, during which time it has expanded into 30 countries across all six continents.

42

//

Growing Ohio

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

and Canada,” says Dr. Don Monke, vice president of production operations.

Monke says Ohio is a good fit for Select Sires for several reasons.

“Central Ohio is a great location to grow the corn silage and grass hay fed to its bulls,” he says. “A specially formulated pellet that supplements the forages is prepared in central Ohio. By being located in the eastern region of the Midwest, Select Sires can transport bulls from East Coast states, the Great Plains states or states within the Great Lakes region within two days.”

The testing available through the ADDL is also an important factor.

“Select Sires exports more than 4 million breeding units of semen annually to more than 90 countries,” Monke says. “To achieve the biosecurity required for this extensive international marketing program, Select Sires must conduct thousands of health tests on its bulls annually.”

That makes the company a major customer of the lab services, and the consistent submissions of test specimens provides regular work and financial assistance to the lab, which in turn provides a basis for the lab to offer a wide array of diagnostic procedures to consumers across the state.

– Kim Madlom

What’s Online For more photos of Ohio livestock visit GROWING-OHIO.COM

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

43

ANIMALS & LIVESTOCK Rows of hen houses neatly arranged at Trillium Farms in Johnstown, Ohio.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

44

//

Growing Ohio

Caring for the

Coop

Ohio poultry farmers implement best practices to ensure healthy hens The Buckeye State’s

proximity to an abundance of corn and soybeans as well as to a huge customer base makes it an ideal location for egg production.

The Ohio egg industry ranks second in the nation and contributes 9,388 jobs annually and $255 million in earnings. However, Ohio farmers’ commitment to producing safe, wholesome eggs by ensuring excellent hen care through innovation will keep the state at the top, says Jim Chakeres, executive vice president of the Ohio Poultry Association.

“Hen care is paramount,” he says.

“Every morning, the first thing these farmers do is take care of the hens, because the hens are the ones who take care of us. Part of that is looking at optimum housing for hens.”

Many farms in Ohio, such as Trillium Farms and Weaver Brothers,

Inc., are early adopters of fully enriched cages, which will be an industry standard in Ohio in the near future.

“The new systems we’re looking at are still a caged environment, but there are these enrichments placed in cages that provide a better quality of life for the hens and allow them to represent their natural behavior,” Chakeres says. “They include features like perches, scratch pads, nest boxes and additional space. Those things all combine together and provide for a more optimal environment for the hen.”

Although these practices are not yet mandatory for farmers, Trillium Farms, which produces both shell eggs and liquid eggs, began to install fully enriched cages in 2011. Trillium populated the new cages in August 2012.

THE OHIO EGG INDUSTRY IS RANKED NO. 2 IN THE NATION.

Ohio eggs are responsible for 9,388 jobs annually and $255 million in earnings.

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

45

Top: Eggs move along a conveyor belt into the automatic egg grading machine at Trillium Farms in Johnstown, Ohio. Bottom: Bird Manager holds a hen while standing in front of some new enriched cages.

46

//

Growing Ohio

Ohio has 30 million laying chickens and 10 million pullets, which are hens less than one year old.

DARKE AND MERCER COUNTIES IN WESTERN OHIO ARE THE TOP TWO EGG-PRODUCING COUNTIES IN THE UNITED STATES.

IN 2011, OHIO CHICKENS PRODUCED MORE THAN

7.6 billion

EGGS WITH AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF MORE THAN $490 MILLION A YEAR.

“Going beyond compliance drives innovation and success in every aspect of egg farming, and it is consistent with our core values of stewardship, quality and integrity,” says Doug Mack, chief operating officer of Trillium Farms. “We want to be proactive because it makes us better, giving us the foundation to do more than what is expected, to farm responsibly at all times and to instill our values in everyone on our team.”

Trillium employs more than 400 people at two farm locations, and the company is in the process of expanding its operations, which will bring more jobs and revenue to the state’s economy. When the expansion is complete, it will have about 13 million hens.

To run a large layer operation, compliance, innovation and honesty must be priorities, says J.T. Dean, Trillium vice president.

In addition to cage enrichments, Trillium has installed belt battery systems in barns, which allow for swift drying and removal of manure, reducing odors and providing greater control of pests. The company sells its manure to area farmers as organic fertilizer.

“Our family has deep roots in egg farming, and making smart investments for the future of our Ohio farms reflects our commitment to continuing that heritage,” Dean says.

Four generations of Weavers have built a business committed to growing responsibly. Weaver Brothers supplies eggs to Eggland’s Best and also produces a variety of niche products, such as organic,

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

47

EXPERIENCE

THE

POWER

600+ Brands • 200+ Exhibitors • 275,000 sq. ft. of Indoor Exhibits

JANUARY 24•25•26 2014 JANUARY 30•31•FEB. 1 2015 Agricultural Equipment

COLUMBUS, OHIO

Construction Equipment

Outdoor Power Equipment

www.PowerShowOhio.com

grow, cook, eat, learn

Huevos Rancheros Give breakfast a south-of-the-border twist by topping fried eggs with black beans and salsa served on a warm corn tortilla.

INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons olive oil 3 cloves garlic, minced ½ cup spicy salsa 1 (14.5-ounce) can black beans 1 red bell pepper, diced 1 teaspoon ground cumin ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup green onions, chopped 6 eggs 6 corn tortillas, warmed fresh cilantro, chopped 1 avocado, sliced, optional

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Saute garlic in olive oil until fragrant. Add salsa, beans, red pepper, cumin and salt. Simmer until thickened, approximately 10 minutes.

Stir in green onions.

2. Meanwhile, fry eggs sunny side up in a large skillet. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Place one warm tortilla on each plate. Top with a spoonful of beans, fried egg, salsa, chopped cilantro and avocado slices.

For more recipes, visit FarmFlavor.com

Large grain bins store feed for the hens at Trillium Farms in Johnstown, Ohio.

cage-free eggs and brown eggs. The company markets eggs in 16 states and also grows corn and soybeans as well as its own replacement stock.

Another company embracing these new technology systems is Weaver Brothers Inc. As the business expands, all of its new houses will feature cage enrichments, says CEO Tim Weaver.

Weaver Brothers also works with smaller farms to distribute eggs.

No matter how much the company grows, Weaver says he will always stay connected with smaller farmers and hold his family-owned business to the highest standard.

“The farms in Ohio are of all different sizes,” Chakeres says. “But the primary focus for each farmer is animal care, safe, wholesome food and caring for the environment.”

– Jill Clair Gentry

What’s Online See more egg production photos at GROWING-OHIO.COM A FDA inspector inspects egg samples before they are sold for human consumption.

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

49

LOCAL FOOD & WINE

50

//

Growing Ohio

Locally

PROUD Ohio Proud program celebrates 20 years of supporting state-made products

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

51

A s a kid, Heidi M aybruck

remembers milk being delivered to the front porch of her home and a neighboring farmer dropping off the family’s eggs each week.

“We knew and respected the hardworking bunch who was growing our food,” says Maybruck, who owns and operates Celebrate Local Ohio, a Columbus retail store that specializes in locally made products. “I think we’re moving back to that.”

In 2013, Ohio Proud, the marketing program that identifies and promotes food and agricultural products that are made and grown in Ohio, celebrates 20 years.

Maybruck’s business is just one of almost 500 partners in the ever-growing program.

Ohio Proud was founded in 1993 to create awareness for consumers while increasing sales of Ohio-grown products.

“It was a way for consumers to put a face with who is growing and making their food,” says Lori Panda, Ohio Proud’s senior program manager. “People want to make that personal connection to their food.”

A LOCAL PHENOMENON

Ohio wines and beers at the Celebrate Local store in the Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio.

52

//

Growing Ohio

Maybruck’s Celebrate Local Ohio started as a holiday booth at the Easton Farmers Market in 2010. But through popularity and the support of Panda and her team at Ohio Proud, the booth soon moved to a storefront in the Easton Town Center.

“Ohio Proud gave us the marketing backing that we needed to get started,” Maybruck says.

“We had full use of the logo – which we proudly boast on our storefront now – bags, newsletters and a presence on their website.”

Maybruck credits Ohio Proud for helping grow her business into a small business incubator of its own for entrepreneurs trying to promote their locally made products.

“We represent more than 220 small businesses in our store, and we’re always growing,” Maybruck says. “That’s something we couldn’t have done without Ohio Proud’s support. They take the next step to really help businesses like mine get off their feet.”

OHIO PROUD HAS

479

PARTNERS AND IS GROWING QUICKLY.

SUPPORTING LOCAL GROWERS

To become a member of the Ohio Proud program, businesses must have a product that is at least 50 percent raised, grown or processed in the state.

For a $25 annual fee, these businesses get unlimited use of the Ohio Proud logo, mentions in quarterly program newsletters and a listing on the Ohio Proud website, www.ohioproud.org, which boasts an interactive database of local producers searchable by product category, county or business name.

“Our website creates visibility for our Ohio Proud Partners to consumers and the restaurant and retail industries,” Panda says.

Partnerships with the Ohio Growers Association, the Ohio Restaurant Association and Ohio State University Extension also help to build a network between producers and consumers.

“That’s the beauty of the whole thing,” Maybruck says, “the give and take of it all. Businesses like mine support Ohio Proud by joining and by promoting the program, and then Ohio Proud supports us by connecting us to each other and to consumers.”

You can GROW

Ohio’s elite non-GMO soybeans.

Our identity-preserved soybeans feed the world and offer farmers great premiums.

We offer premium prices to Ohio farmers who contract with us to grow pure, identity-preserved soybeans. Our 25-year history and well-established international supply chain for premium, non-GMO soybeans are great for Ohio farmers. If you’re interested in learning more, give us a call at:

855-GROW-4-US

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

Twenty years after the program’s inception, Ohio WProud continues to grow every day. Part of that growth means continuing to develop creative programming and marketing campaigns to serve “its diverse membership.

Ohio’s purest soybeans for healthy food products.

www.bluegrassfarmsohio.com

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

53

Ohio Proud partner Cajohn’s Fiery Foods offer hot sauces, salsas, BBQs, spices and rubs.

Visitors walk past the recently updated Celebrate Local storefront at the Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio.

54

//

Growing Ohio

“When you have the diversity that we have in the program, you always have to get a little creative with what services you provide,” Panda says.

“We have to be able to cater to food processors, meat processors, and fresh fruit and vegetable producers all the same.”

As the interest in eating and buying local continues to grow, Ohio Proud is growing as well.

The program now has a blog and a Pinterest page to connect consumers to local products.

With its newly revamped logo in time for the 20th anniversary, Panda says Ohio Proud will soon extend to independent restaurants to help promote those that feature locally grown ingredients.

“Local is a buzzword right now,” Maybruck says. “This generation wants to know where their food is coming from; they take pride in knowing these things. Ohio Proud helps make that connection, and then our job is to give this back to the consumer.”

– Blair Thomas

LOCAL FOOD & WINE

Cooperation Is Key Federal, state program helps Ohio food producers

PHOTO COURTESY OF ADAM CITAK

F

or Ohio grocer Heinen’s Fine Foods, moving into the Chicago market could have meant leaving behind long-time local supplier Lou’s Sausage.

However, thanks to a program created by the 2008 Farm Bill and a cooperative agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), the popular sausage brand can now be sold outside the Buckeye State.

“It was a great marriage between the state and federal government for us,” says Joe Vinciguerra, who co-owns Lou’s Sausage with his brother Frank. Their father Lou opened the business in 1954 and was serving grocery chains like Heinen’s from the beginning, but only in Ohio.

The federal government regulates interstate commerce and sausage falls into that category.

For small businesses like Lou’s, federal inspections can be arduous and time-consuming, so the ODA worked with the USDA to bring the state inspection program, already considered equal to the federal program, in-line with the same regulatory requirements as those established by USDA. The agreement specifically targets businesses with 25 or fewer employees, like Lou’s in Cleveland and five other businesses now shipping across state lines due to acceptance into the program. By the end of 2015 the ODA estimates 15 plants will be enrolled.

“These businesses have a new revenue stream they didn’t have access to in the past. It’s a good program,” says Dr. Michael Hockman, chief of ODA’s Meat

Inspection Division. “We spent a lot of time here in the office with staff jumping through the many hoops to get this up and running.

The lab component was a monumental undertaking to meet the requirements of the USDA, but it was worth it to help our small businesses.”

Three states have entered into the agreement with USDA, Ohio being the first.

Lou’s Sausage passed all the criteria set down by the state and federal government with flying colors and the plant was cleared to ship across state lines.

“We would not have had the Heinen’s account in Chicago and may have lost our Ohio account if Heinen’s wanted the same producer in all their stores,” Vinciguerra says.

Since then other doors have opened for Lou’s. Vinciguerra has received calls expressing interest in his product from Key Largo, St. Louis and elsewhere. He’s also heard from former residents of Ohio who want him to ship a taste from their home state to their residences around the country.

Meanwhile, Heinen’s is considering expanding into the Michigan area.

– Kim Madlom

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

55

LOCAL FOOD & WINE

The Scoop on

Agritourism Ohio farms add activities to attract visitors

Dan Young may be known as the Chief Ice

Cream Dipper at Young’s Dairy, but he’ll tell you it’s far from a one-man job.

With nearly 80,000 gallons of ice cream made on site every year, there’s a lot of scooping going on at the Yellow Springs operation. In fact, the dairy offers 100 different flavors over the course of the season. Top sellers range from chocolate peanut butter and Cow Patty (double dark chocolate, toffee, chocolate chips and chocolate cookies) to seasonal favorites like pumpkin and cinnamon.

That’s a lot of tasty decisions for customers to make, and ice cream is only one of the attractions at this popular Ohio agritourism destination. The third-generation farm operation is open to visitors year-round. It includes an animal visiting area with 25 goats and other farm animals and Udders & Putters, a farm-themed miniature golf course. Depending on the season, visitors can also enjoy the pick-your-own pumpkin patch, a corn maze and wagon rides.

“Our goal is to pay attention to what people want as part of the experience of visiting our farm, and to be sure they can find it here,” Young says. “We want to be true to our tradition as a family farm and still respond to what the customers want in terms of dining and family entertainment.

We also want to educate young people about growing crops and where their food comes from, so we conduct tours for 10,000 to 14,000 youngsters from pre-K through second grade every year.”

Children and families can experience sitting on different types of tractors, pet animals and enjoy homemade ice cream at Young’s Jersey Dairy in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

56

//

Growing Ohio

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

57

PLANNING TIPS For information on destinations across Ohio that feature agriculture-related activities, visit www.discoverohio.com and search for “farms” or “agriculture.” In the fall, the home page also features a direct link to Autumn Adventures, which highlights the many seasonal activities across the state.

The 1.2 million people who visit Young’s Dairy each year also enjoy its on-site restaurant with country-style dining – along with the cheese served there. Made on the farm from the milk produced by the Young’s herd of 30 Jersey cows, the cheddar, colby, baby Swiss and pepper jack varieties are restaurant staples.

Young explains that of the 44,000 pounds of cheese they make each year, half is sold as curds. The dairy’s deep-fried cheese curds are second only to french fries in popularity as a restaurant side dish.

Sweetapple Farm in Vincent has a similar mission, providing fun while educating families about agriculture.

Visitors can enjoy the farm animal center, the corn maze, hayrides, and special fall farm activities. They can also shop for beef and pork products raised on the farm and can pick berries and select pumpkins among

58

//

Growing Ohio

Opposite Top Left: Visitors feed and pet the goats at the petting barn at Young’s Jersey Dairy in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Opposite Top Right: A cow riding a bicycle decorates Young’s Jersey Dairy. Opposite Bottom Left: Children take a tour of the farm on the “Moovers and Shakers” ride. Above: A family has their photo taken with a farm cutout.

other products. Sweetapple Farm also hosts overnight farm stays so families can experience farm life firsthand. And for couples who want a country wedding, the farm can accommodate that, too.

Young’s Dairy and Sweetapple Farms are just two examples of many agritourism destinations across the state. “Agritourism meets visitors’ needs for fun, affordable, family-oriented entertainment,” says David Goodman, director of the Ohio Development Services Agency.

And those needs are growing.

Tamara Brown, public relations manager for Tourism Ohio, says there is increased interest from farm entities that are implementing activities and want to include them in the DiscoverOhio.com database.

“Like any other tourism entity in Ohio, farms and agritainment

destinations that are of interest to travelers get a free listing on the DiscoverOhio website as a way to publicize events and draw people to their attractions,” Brown says.

“Over the last five years, we’ve seen the number of these destinations increase. Visitors to our state seek them out, especially in the spring and again in the fall during harvest.

The connection to the earth, to our agricultural heritage is a part of the fabric of tourism and a great way to spend time with family and friends.”

– Cathy Lockman

What’s Online Find our more about Ohio agritourism at GROWING-OHIO.COM

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

59

LOCAL FOOD & WINE Bottles of salsa move down the production line to be labeled and packed at Robert Rothschild Farm in Urbana, Ohio.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

60

//

Growing Ohio

The

NEXT STEP Ohio food processors create unique products using agricultural ingredients

Sometimes dreams really

do come true. At least in the case of Larry Croy and the salad dressing he made for his restaurant.

Croy, of Perrysburg, Ohio, opened a Supper Club restaurant and began making a homemade salad dressing.

It just happened that officials with Kroger Corp. ate at the restaurant and loved the dressing. They asked Croy to think about making it to sell.

Croy built a plant at the back of the restaurant and within a few years outgrew the plant and built another.

He’s since sold the restaurant and is making the dressing, Garlic Expressions, as a full-time business.

“All we do is that one product,” says Barb McLaughlin, director of marketing and sales for LarMar Foods, the parent company. “We make the dressing three days a week.

I travel the country doing food shows and women shows, handing out samples coast to coast.”

The dressing recently became a best-seller for Fresh Market stores.

“It tastes, well, unique,” McLaughlin says. “It’s like an Italian dressing only better. Everything is

THE AVERAGE OUTPUT AT THE GENERAL MILLS FROZEN PIZZA MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN WELLSTON (THE WORLD’S LARGEST) IS 1 MILLION PIZZAS PER DAY.

In 2013, the value of products shipped

by Ohio’s food and beverage manufacturing industry was

$24B

.

Ohio employs more than 60,000 workers at more than 900 food and beverage production plants.

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

61

(Top) Chefs work on new sauce creations in the test kitchen and (above) finished bottles of salsa are packed to be shipped to a customer at Robert Rothschild Farm in Urbana, Ohio.

62

//

Growing Ohio

made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. He made up the recipe himself, and he kept working at having just the right mix. For the apple cider vinegar, we use a special variety of mild apples.”

Food processors, like LarMar Foods, are abundant in Ohio.

Family-owned Robert Rothschild Farm, based in Urbana, manufactures award-winning sauces, preserves, spreads, dips and more. The processor operates in a 51,000-square-foot facility, where they maintain the highest quality by producing their products in small batches.

The farm produces products based on the premise of “open and serve,” allowing consumers to enjoy delicious products with minimal effort. Some of their popular creations include spreads such as Caramelized Onion Balsamic Spread, Hot Pepper Raspberry Preserves and Red Pepper Jelly.

“Ohio is a large agricultural state.

That’s the reason we have so

many food processors,” says Terri Gerhardt, assistant chief of Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Division of Food Safety. “We produce a large range of agricultural raw materials, and we have several major highways, making it easy to get products out of Ohio. We also have a political system that is very supportive of industry.”

In addition, her office is dedicated to helping smaller, startup processors get off the ground, offering one-on-one training and information.

While Ohio grows more than its share of corn and soybeans, it is also home to acres of truck farming, from tomatoes to cucumbers, that are processed in the state.

“Northwest Ohio is home to a lot of truck farmers,” Gerhardt says.

“The soil is perfect – it’s flat and conducive to growing vegetables.

At one time, Ohio was one of the largest producers of sugar beets.

Much of that land is now devoted to vegetables, and we have processors like Campbell’s Soup.”

Some other larger, well-known processors that are headquartered in the Buckeye State include Pepperidge Farm, Dannon, Smuckers, Heinz, General Mills and Stouffers.

In Ohio, one in every seven jobs is related to the state’s $105 billion agriculture and food production industry.

For some processors, locating to Ohio was simply a family matter.

Kaiser Pickles in Cincinnati got its start as a family business in 1920.

“Ohio just happened to be where it all started,” says Kim Speed with Kaiser Pickles. “One of the benefits is that we’re right on Route I 75, and logistically, that’s a good spot.

For customers running a route, it’s easy to pick up our product.”

The cucumbers and pepper they use are actually grown locally in several different areas.

“We are quite busy for having only a 10-week season,” Speed says. “Then it depends on the pickle type. As it gets colder, we go further south to get our cucumbers. We end up processing year round. “ It was her grandfather Harry T. Kaiser who started the business in 1920 making sauerkraut and pickles and selling them as a street vendor, Speed says. The company operated as a food distributor until Harry T. Kaiser Jr. took over in 1967.

The company is now in its third generation under the direction of David M. Kaiser.

“Eventually we opened up a facility, and in 1990 purchased Farm Pack Pickle Co., moved the facilities to Cincinnati, and began processing ourselves,” Speed says.

“We’re a full-fledged manufacturer now. Honestly, I always have some on my shelves at home – my kids love them.”

You can say processing is as much a part of Ohio as its buckeyes, and large or small, it’s here to stay in this agricultural state.

– Charlyn Fargo

Products from food processors headquartered in Ohio including Smuckers, Heinz, General Mills, Stouffers, Campell’s, Pepperidge Farm and Dannon.

What’s Online Learn more about Ohio food processors at GROWING-OHIO.COM

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

63

LOCAL FOOD & WINE

Teamwork: The Secret to Success

Ohio comes together to create more agribusiness jobs

T

here are several reasons Ohio is a hub for job creation.

According to John Minor, president and chief investment officer for JobsOhio, teamwork plays a key role in retaining businesses and bringing companies into Ohio.

JobsOhio is a private, nonprofit corporation established in 2011 to drive job creation, new capital investment and economic growth in Ohio. Minor says that before JobsOhio there was no single group or entity that coordinated these kinds of efforts.

“With JobsOhio, we are able to work together and share ideas,” Minor says. It is no wonder the company has been an integral part of growing the state’s agribusiness and food processing sectors.

Companies such as Daisy Brand, the largest sour cream manufacturer in the U.S., show how working together can pay off.

In June 2013, after considering multiple locations throughout the

IN 2012 MORE THAN

1,566

JOBS WERE CREATED IN OHIO’S AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY ALONE. 64

//

Growing Ohio

Midwest for its third sour cream plant, Daisy Brand committed to Ohio; the new facility will bring89 new jobs and $116 million in capital investment. Minor attributes this success to teamwork between local and state agencies.

“We had numerous conference calls with the company that included our regional partners as well as key state officials and JobsOhio leadership,” says Minor.

He noted that through these calls, the company’s questions and needs were addressed and efficiently handled. He added that “Daisy Brand’s CEO was amazed that all of these agencies and groups actually talked to one another.”

Statistics show the teamwork approach is working. In 2012 more than 1,566 jobs were created in Ohio’s agriculture industry alone.

According to Minor, 75 percent of all the jobs created come from companies already located in the state. “We are building relationships with Ohio companies and learning

how we can help them expand and grow – now, in the next three to five years and beyond.”

Ohio’s central location, strong infrastructure and research centers make it a smart place for agriculture expansion. For companies like Daisy Brand, Ohio provides quality cream from more than 2,000 dairy farms and access to abundant clean water. Thanks to other companies such as Nestlé and General Mills, the state ranks fifth in the U.S. for food processing.

Minor encourages company decision makers to seek out JobsOhio, take the opportunity to talk with their experts who understand industry needs and can help resolve issues and make strategic decisions. “Our goal is to create an environment and landscape where companies can be successful and thrive,” Minor says.

– Laura Fernandez

75% of all the jobs created come from companies already located in the state.

LOCAL FOOD & WINE

Quality Safety

Consumer Protection Laboratory keeps Ohioans safe

S

almonella. E.coli. Listeria.

Words that make most consumers and farmers cringe are just another day of testing at Ohio’s Consumer Protection Laboratory (CPL).

Supporting the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), as well as several federal agencies, CPL tests approximately 50,000 samples for over 250,000 tests annually, working hard to keep consumers safe by identifying serious food risks and potential outbreaks.

Dr. Beverly Byrum, director of laboratories for the ODA, Dr. Mohammed Amin, assistant chief of the CPL, and Soobeng Tan, director of the Analytical Toxicology Lab head the team’s efforts to deliver quality results in a timely manner. The lab

is responsible for four critical testing areas: analytical toxicology, general chemistry, microbiological and pesticides. It analyzes a wide range of products including fruits and vegetables, dairy and meat products, and animal feeds, among others.

In the event that a food sample tests positive for a foodborne pathogen like salmonella, CPL “immediately gets in touch with the division that submitted the sample.

They follow up with the vendor to determine where the product was distributed, as well as the farm from which it came,” Byrum says.

If the food is distributed only in Ohio, the company is contacted and asked to issue a product recall.

The company is requested to respond within a three-hour time

span and generally companies are very willing to comply. If the vendor is not willing to issue a recall, the director of the ODA and the director of the Ohio Department of Health may issue a joint public health alert. For contaminated food product distributed across multiple states, the FDA is also notified.

CPL is a member of the FDA and FSIS Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) and serves as the state’s primary emergency response lab. “We are ready 24/7 for any kind of emergency,” Amin says.

Additionally, as the official drug-testing lab for the Ohio State Racing Commission for more than 40 years, the laboratories play a key role in identifying illegal substances in competitors at Ohio’s commercial racetracks and county fair livestock shows.

Because of its focus on quality assurance and testing efficiency, CPL has been awarded ISO 17025 accreditation for many of its testing programs. “Not every lab has accreditation by this international standard,” Byrum says. “We’re constantly expanding our scope of accreditation and in 2013-2014, we expect to bring more laboratory testing programs under the umbrella of accreditation.”

Driving state-of-the-art results means continuous evaluation of the technology and equipment used to ensure that the best science techniques and instruments are being utilized. It’s no easy task, but CPL is up to the challenge to ensure the safety of Ohio’s food and to protect Ohio’s citizens.

– Keri Ann Beazell

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

65

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

66

//

Growing Ohio

Our Farms, Our Futures Agricultural youth programs open doors for young farmers

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

67

When A ndy Troutman was

4-H IS A NON-FORMAL EDUCATIONAL, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OFFERED TO INDIVIDUALS AGE 5 (AND IN KINDERGARTEN) TO 19.

In Ohio, a total of

324,953

4-H projects and programs were completed in 2012.

Through 4-H young people can learn about animals, computers, public speaking, cooking, art, gardening and environmental sciences, just to name a few.

4-H’ers live in many different areas of the state.

21% FARM

68

//

Growing Ohio

45%

19%

5%

10%

TOWN

TOWN & CITIES

SUBURB

CENTRAL

>10K & Rural

10K - 50K

CITIES OVER 50K

CITIES OVER 50K

growing up, his dad, Bob, was the extension agent for Wayne County.

That meant that Andy always had a 4-H project.

“My dad would come home with the project book, and I always looked for ones that other kids weren’t doing,” Troutman says.

In 1984, at age 10, Troutman chose to grow grapes. The 4-H project lasted two years, but his interest in it has continued for decades, first as a hobby and now as a burgeoning business.

The owner of Troutman Vineyard in Wooster and The Winery at Wolf Creek in Norton, Troutman credits 4-H with opening many doors for him, both personally and professionally.

“I had the opportunity to take a lot of other projects, from pigs to rocketry to electricity, but this one really stuck with me,” he says.

And so did the 4-H experience in general. While a student at Ohio State University in the early 1990s, Troutman worked at Kelleys Island 4-H Camp in the middle of Lake Erie.

“The area had been covered by vineyards 100 years ago. It had a rich history of winemaking, and homes up there had massive wine cellars,” he says. “But all of that was abandoned by the early ’90s. When I went back to school in the fall, I realized I wanted to learn to grow grapes for winemaking.”

Troutman graduated in 1996 and was going to move to California for graduate school when the owner of The Winery at Wolf Creek offered him a summer job. Four years later he bought that winery, and a year after that he opened up Troutman Vineyards as well.

The timing couldn’t have been better for one of the youngest winery owners in the state. “In Ohio in 1996, there were 33 or 34 wineries. Now there are 186. So we got into the business in the right place at the right time,” Troutman says.

And when he says “we,” he is referring to his wife and business partner, Deanna. 4-H played a role in that, too. The Troutmans met when they were both working at Kelleys Island 4-H Camp. This year their daughter, Sophia, showed pigs

Andy Troutman, owner of The Winery at Wolf Creek, checks the progress of some grapes in the vineyard in Norton, Ohio.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

High Calcium Ag Lime 34% Calcium/1% Magnesium P.O. Box 451 • 100 Meeker St. Huron, OH 44839 chrismollison@huronlime.com

Toll-free: 800-863-4394 www.huronlime.com

Mom Wilson’s Country SauSage Mart grow, cook, eat, learn

Serving up recipes, tips and food for thought

(740) 726-2636 7720 U.S. 23 N. • Delaware, OH 43015

www.momwilsons.com

farmflavor.com

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

69

Andy Troutman, owner of The Winery at Wolf Creek stands on a hill outside of his winery overlooking grape vines and Wolf Creek in Norton, Ohio.

70

//

Growing Ohio

and a horse as part of her second year of 4-H. Their son, Asa, is likely not far behind.

A VALUABLE COMMODITY

What is it about these youth programs that make them so valuable? Keith Smith, the director of Ohio State University Extension, says the opportunity that 4-H provides for young people to develop life skills, leadership experience and citizenship makes a difference across the community.

Research from Tufts University backs that up. Their study concludes that 4-H participants are three times more likely than their peers to actively contribute to their communities. The data from this 10-year research project indicates they are also more likely to go to college, to be physically active, to get better grades and to make healthy lifestyle choices.

With more than 236,000 young people between the ages of 9 and 19 participating in 74,667 4-H chapters or clubs in Ohio, that data translates into a lot of positives.

“Through 4-H, young people have an opportunity to pursue a passion where they can be creative and entrepreneurial. They benefit personally, and the community benefits collectively,” Smith says.

Troutman agrees. “4-H gives you a chance to develop leadership skills and interpersonal skills that are extremely valuable no matter what business you go into,” he says.

“You learn to take initiative, to take responsibility, to work with other kids, and to understand what it takes to plan and execute something as big as the fair. And when you’re out in the professional world, you find that the shared experience you had in 4-H continues to provide benefits.”

– Cathy Lockman

Wine is aged in barrels in the wine cellar at Wolf Creek Winery in Norton, Ohio.

OHIO SMALL GRAINS WHEAT

BARLEY

RYE

OATS

Wheat is one of the most widely grown and most preferred whole grains available for consumption in the world. In fact, wheat is America’s most consumed grain and also the principal ingredient in flour.

Known for its nutritional value, wheat is commonplace in personal and professional kitchens as a staple ingredient in a variety of foods, but is also cultivated for its use as animal feed and as a component in biofuel.

Wheat is the fourth-leading U.S. field crop and the nation’s leading export crop.

Ohio produces more than 70 million bushels of wheat each year and is the leading producer of soft red winter wheat.

What’s Online Find out more about youth programs in Ohio at GROWING-OHIO.COM

www.ohiosmallgrains.org GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

71

AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION & INNOVATION

Founding

Families Ohio’s bicentennial farms enjoy 200 years of same-family ownership

From the front porch of

his 1830s farm house in Baltimore, Ohio, Steve Miller can see the gravesites of his ancestors Andrew and Ulrich Wagner, who grew corn and wheat two centuries ago on the same 450-acre farm he owns today.

Along with his wife, Debbie, and grown sons, Seth and Noah, Miller operates one of Ohio’s bicentennial farms, which have been owned by the same family for at least 200 years.

More than 1,000 Ohio farms are registered with the Ohio Department of Agriculture as a century farm, the designations for remaining in the same family for at least 100 years.

Only 65 have achieved biocentiennial farm status.

“I walk around some of these old buildings, and I wish they could talk,” Miller says. “I’m sure they could tell a lot of stories.”

Miller’s farm has three barns built between 1850 and 1870, a two-story log house built circa 1820, a smoke house and summer kitchen built around 1885, and the home Miller lives in, which was originally built in 1830 with additions in 1885 and 1918. Miller’s ancestors arrived in Baltimore in 1803 from Germany and purchased the farm in 1806.

“They were very resourceful with the land,” Miller says. “They grew corn, wheat and hay, and they planted fruit trees – largely apple – and that became one of the early enterprises of the farm. They made apple butter, apple cider and apple cider vinegar to sell, and they tapped maple trees for making maple syrup.”

The family also raised cattle, sheep and hogs, bred Percheron work horses to sell, and planted black locust trees, from which they sold fence posts.

Bottom Left: Steve and Diane Miller at Wagner-Miller Farm, in Baltimore, Ohio. Their farm, established in 1806, is one of the 65 bicentennial farms in Ohio. Bottom Right: The graves of the original family members to settle the farm are located on the property. One includes a grave marker from the War of 1812.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

72

//

Growing Ohio

I take our farm’s heritage seriously, because if previous generations hadn’t taken proper care of the land, it wouldn’t have sustained itself

– STEVE MILLER this long.

OHIO BICENTENNIAL FARMER

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

73

MORE THAN 1,000 OHIO FARMS HAVE BEEN IN THE SAME FAMILY FOR AT LEAST 100 YEARS AND ARE REGISTERED WITH THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

THE OLDEST REGISTERED OHIO BICENTENNIAL FARM DATES BACK TO

1772

.

There is at least one century farm located in each of Ohio’s 88 counties.

FAIRFIELD AND PREBLE COUNTIES ARE TIED FOR THE MOST REGISTERED BICENTENNIAL FARMS WITH SIX EACH.

Ohio is home to 65 bicentennial farms, which have been owned by the same family for at least 200 years.

Miller bought the farm from his great uncle in 1973 and today grows soybeans, wheat and corn on the property.

“I take our farm’s heritage seriously, because if previous generations hadn’t taken proper care of the land, it wouldn’t have sustained itself this long,” Miller says. “There’s an old saying that says, ‘If you take care of the land, it will take care of you.’ ” Cindy Shy, manager of the Century and Bicentennial Farm Program for the Ohio Department of Agriculture, says it is important to recognize century and bicentennial farm families because of their countless historic, social and economic contributions to Ohio and the agriculture industry as a whole.

“The founding families endured unimaginable hardships and risks to settle their farms,” Shy says. “Their pioneering spirit forged the strong foundation of today’s food and

agriculture industry, which not only supports our economy, but continues to provide food, clothing and shelter for everyone.”

The oldest registered Ohio bicentennial farm is located in Adams County and dates back to 1772, when King George III deeded more than 500 acres to family patriarch Alexander Smiley. It is the only Ohio bicentennial farm established prior to our nation’s independence, and it continues in the Smiley family today.

“What many people don’t realize is that these farms were also some of the first businesses in the state,” Shy says. “The crops and livestock they raised were sold or traded to sustain the state’s budding city-centers.

Two hundred years later, these same family-owned businesses are still operating and are still a vital part of the fabric of our rural communities.”

Families like the Millers have had

to adapt over the past two centuries to save their farms, keeping up with new technologies and specializing in certain areas to survive economically.

Steve and Debbie have also had to supplement their income by working off-the-farm jobs.

While agriculture continues to change, the Millers are certain of one thing – their land will forever be used for agriculture. In 2003, they placed it under a conservation easement that legally ensures it will only be used for agriculture in the future, not developed for residential or commercial use.

“I’m very mindful that we are just temporary residents of this land, so we aim to be the best stewards of it possible for the time God has allowed us to live here,” Miller says. “We will eventually pass on, but we hope to see the land’s legacy continue with future generations.”

– Jessica Mozo GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

75

AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION & INNOVATION

Dr. Dave Smith maintains the fish pools and (opposite page) holds the head of a sturgeon which is on display the “Sturgeon Petting Zoo” for visitors to view and pet at Freshwater Farms of Ohio in Urbana, Ohio.

76

//

Growing Ohio

BIG FISH

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

Aquaculture flourishes as freshwater farms increase production

The Smith family of

Urbana lures 5,000 people to their fish farm for the Ohio Fish & Shrimp Festival every September.

Certainly, it’s a novel way to spend a weekend in Ohio. More importantly, the event showcases aquaculture, which in the last decade ranks among

the fastest-growing sectors of Ohio’s agriculture industry.

In fact, aquaculture sales more than tripled in 10 years. The state recorded sales at $6.6 million in 2007, the most recent census data available. In 1997, sales reached just $1.9 million. In recent years, the

economic downturn and high feed costs have reduced profitability and decelerated growth for this industry.

A slow recovery continues, but the future offers great potential, says Dr. Tony Forshey, state veterinarian for the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

“In Ohio, we are a great state for GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

77

Fresh trout filets are for sale in the gift shop at Freshwater Farms of Ohio in Urbana, Ohio.

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH AND SUPPORT Ongoing research at Ohio State University is dedicated to reducing costs for fish farms. For example, researchers developed a strain of yellow perch that grows up to 45 percent faster than the local strain. Studies also found successful alternatives to costly fish meal through Ohio-raised black soldier fly larvae and Ohio-grown soybeans. Annually, Ohio State University offers an Aquaculture Boot Camp, which transforms civilians into fish farmers.

Source: Dr. Laura Tiu, aquaculture extension specialist, Ohio State University

Ohio’s aquaculture sales have more than tripled in the last 10 years.

ABOUT

200

FARMS HOLD AQUACULTURE PERMITS IN OHIO. 78

//

Growing Ohio

aquaculture production because of our water supply,” Forshey says. “We really have the natural resources, the labor and the markets. Ohio’s situated within 600 miles of a majority of the population of the United States, so we have a lot of market access.”

In fact, the potential for expansion abounds, says Dr. Dave Smith, a marine biologist and president of Freshwater Farms, host of the Ohio Fish & Shrimp Festival. The United States contains just 2 percent of the world’s fish farms even though the nation is quite capable of doing a lot more, he says.

Ohio’s top species of fish for production include yellow perch, largemouth bass, bluegill, tilapia and trout, says Dr. Laura Tiu, aquaculture extension specialist at Ohio State University.

About 200 farms hold aquaculture permits in Ohio, she says. The U.S. Census of Agriculture reported just 100 farms in 2002. These fish farms operate indoors and outdoors, Tiu says. Outdoor production is seasonal and includes spring-fed ponds, raceways and quarry lakes. Fish grow year round in indoor recirculating tank systems.

About 95 percent of fish sell through the live market, Forshey says.

Tiu explains the live market has two components: Some species stock ponds for recreational purposes.

Other fish enter ethnic markets, particularly in large urban areas, like Cleveland and Toledo, where customers like to buy live fish. Trucks equipped with oxygenated tanks haul the fish to their destinations.

Tiu, an aquaculture expert for 30 years, has recently witnessed a notable increase in interest in locally grown fish. Freshwater Farms can attest to that trend.

This farm, the largest indoor fish hatchery in Ohio, attracts about 60,000 people annually to buy fish for consumption or to stock ponds.

The public also can tour the facilities, feed and pet fish, and shop for yard ponds and accessories.

Freshwater Farms raises more than 20 species of fish in indoor recirculating systems and produces up to 100,000 pounds of fish per year. They recycle water and use

Families can view a variety of aquatic life in the Fish and Critter area of Freshwater Farms.

solar power to heat their buildings.

Outdoors, the farm raises freshwater shrimp in ponds in the summer.

Most of the Ohio aquaculture industry’s growth has been with small local farms, Tiu says. Both Forshey and Tiu believe the industry needs growth in large commercial, indoor farms to increase the industry’s sustainability.

“I’ve always believed there’s huge potential for this industry in the United States, but we face a lot of roadblocks,” Tiu says. “Some are public acceptance. There is limited funding for agriculture research and it’s hard to get financing if you want to put in a new operation.”

– Joanie Stiers

What’s Online See more photos of Ohio aquaculture at GROWING-OHIO.COM

Ohio recorded aquaculture sales at $6.6 million in 2007, the most recent census data available, an increase from $1.9 million in 1997.

GROWING- OHIO.COM

//

79

GROWING OHIO 2014 EDITION, VOLUME 1 JOURNAL COMMUNICATIONS INC. Project Manager LISA SCRAMLIN Agribusiness Content Team RACHEL BERTONE, HANNAH PATTERSON, JESSY YANCEY Proofreading Manager RAVEN PETTY Contributing Writers KERI ANN BEAZELL, CHARLYN FARGO, LAURA FERNANDEZ, JILL CLAIR GENTRY, SUSAN HAYHURST, CATHY LOCKMAN, KIM MADLOM, JESSICA MOZO, JOANIE STIERS, BLAIR THOMAS Senior Graphic Designers STACEY ALLIS, LAURA GALLAGHER, JAKE SHORES, KRIS SEXTON, VIKKI WILLIAMS Graphic Designers JACKIE CIULLA, KACEY PASSMORE, MATT WEST Senior Photographers JEFF ADKINS, BRIAN MCCORD Staff Photographers WENDY JO O’BARR, MICHAEL CONTI, FRANK ORDOÑEZ, MICHAEL TEDESCO Color Imaging Technician ALISON HUNTER Ad Production Manager KATIE MIDDENDORF Ad Traffic Assistants KRYSTIN LEMMON, PATRICIA MOISAN Chairman GREG THURMAN President/Publisher BOB SCHWARTZMAN Executive Vice President RAY LANGEN Senior V.P./Agribusiness Publishing KIM NEWSOM HOLMBERG Senior V.P./Agribusiness Sales RHONDA GRAHAM Senior V.P./Operations CASEY HESTER Senior V.P./Journal Digital MICHAEL BARBER V.P./External Communications TEREE CARUTHERS V.P./Sales HERB HARPER Controller CHRIS DUDLEY Senior Accountant LISA OWENS Accounts Payable Coordinator MARIA MCFARLAND Accounts Receivable Coordinator DIANA GUZMAN Sales Support Project Manager SARA QUINT Sales Support Coordinator CHRISTINA MORGAN IT Director DANIEL CANTRELL Web Creative Director ALLISON DAVIS Web Services Team DAVID DAY, NELS NOSEWORTHY, RICHARD STEVENS Photography Director JEFFREY S. OTTO Creative Services Director CHRISTINA CARDEN Creative Technology Analyst BECCA ARY Executive Secretary KRISTY GILES Human Resources Manager PEGGY BLAKE

Visit Our

advertisers

Ag Credit www.agcredit.net

Nachurs www.nachurs.com

American Dairy Association Mideast www.drink-milk.com

Ohio Agribusiness Association www.oaba.net

American Dairy Association Mideast Ohio Dairy Farmers www.ohiodairyfarmers.com Bluegrass Farms of Ohio Inc. www.bluegrassfarmsohio.com Bobcat Enterprises www.bobcat-ent.com Buckeye Power www.buckeyepower.com Evolution Ag LLC www.evolutionagllc.com Farm Credit Mid-America e-farmcredit.com Harold’s Equipment www.haroldsequipment.com Homan Inc. www.homaninc.com

Growing Ohio is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed by the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by email at info@jnlcom.com.

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: Director David T. Daniels Communication Director Erica Hawkins Special thanks to all Department staff for their support.

For more information about the Ohio Department of Agriculture, contact: Erica Hawkins, Communication Director 8995 East Main Street, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 (614) 728-6211 or by email at erica.hawkins@agri.ohio.gov No public funds were used in the publishing of this magazine. © Copyright 2013 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

Member Member

80

//

The Association of Magazine Media Custom Content Council

Growing Ohio

Huron Lime Inc. www.huronlime.com JD Equipment Inc. www.jdequipment.com Jobs Ohio www.jobs-ohio.com KG Agri Products Mom Wilson’s Country Sausage Mart Inc. www.momwilsons.com

Ohio Beef Council www.ohiobeef.org Ohio Corn Marketing Program www.ohiocornandwheat.com Ohio FFA www.ohioffa.org Ohio Poultry Association www.ohiopoultry.org Ohio Small Grains Marketing Program www.ohiosmallgrains.org Ohio Soybean Council www.soyohio.org Power Show Ohio www.powershowohio.com RCIS www.rcis.com Schlessman Seed Company www.schlessman-seed.com The Andersons www.andersonsinc.com The Ohio Forestry Association www.ohioforest.org Trupointe www.trupointe.com Wilmington College www.wilmington.edu