Standard Wilmington News Journal Permit No. 10 Wilmington, Ohio Post Office
of Southwest Ohio Serving The Community Since 1960
Issue 3
May 2012
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Dairy Farming
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 2 Ohio Farmers 4 Ohio Mills 10 Wind Power 12 Recognizing
Utterly Challenging By Maribeth Uralrith maribeth2@hotmail.com Dairy cows have been an important part of life in America since the first English settlers arrived in Jamestown in the early 1600s. As pioneers and settlers continued to move west along with them went their cattle. Each family kept two or more cows with their "dry" times staggered, so that they would have milk year round. As towns grew, farmers kept more animals and sold any surplus milk they had. Because milk was highly perishable, farmers could not live very far away from consumers. When pasteurization was developed by Louis Pasteur in France in the 1860s, the process kept milk safe
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longer and enabled it to be shipped farther. Later, with further development of refrigerated transportation and methods to ward off spoilage dairy farming began to increase. Today in the United States there are over more than 60,000 U.S. dairy farms that provide milk, cheese, and yogurt to U.S. consumers. Ohio’s Dairy Farmers do more to contribute to the economy of the state of Ohio and the country than just produce milk. Along with providing safe, high quality milk and dairy products, milk producers, create jobs, help to protect the environment, and contribute to the wellbeing of their communities. The dairies in the U.S. is an effective blend of small and large
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producers both of which reinforce their communities by contributing to the local economy though support of businesses and the community tax base. America’s dairies, Ohio’s included, are important contributors to the nation’s overall economy. Each dollar the producer receives in milk sales, in turn, generates more money going back into the community. American dairies’ contribution to the economy and significance is monumental by being one of the leading agriculture activities in the U.S. On dairy farms, the average herd size is 115 cows with seventy-seven percent of dairy farms having fewer than 100
cows. U.S. dairy farms produce almost 177 billion pounds of milk annually with includes all 50 states and Puerto Rico; however, most milk only travels about 100 miles to get from the dairy to the local grocery. Dairy is the number one agricultural business in California, Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, Vermont, and Maine and in California alone; dairy is a $31 billion industry employing 400,000-plus people. American dairies create a ripple effect on both the agricultural economy and the economic well-being of rural America. When a dairy farmer spends money continued on page 3A
16 Beef Prices Up 1B Alpacas 2B Livestock in Crisis
3B Rockhold a
First Generation Farmer
4B Atley Brothers 5B Swearingen Family Farm
6B Getting the most out of Corn
Some HOT Tomato! By STEVE TRIPLETT striplett@newsdemocrat.com After shivering through a cold winter here in southern Ohio, people would line up for a job where the temperature in January and February is always in the 80s and the sun tan is free. Such are the working conditions at LH Sundance on Evans Road south of Georgetown. Owner Larry Hall grows hydroponic tomatoes in three large greenhouses on his farm. Hall has a degree in chemistry that has come in very handy for the operation he created. In 1993 Hall started a new chapter in his life after raising the normal local crops, tobacco, corn and soybeans, for a number of
years. "I believe the first tomatoes were sold in 1993. We started erecting (three greenhouses) before that," said Hall recalling the beginning of his venture away from tobacco. The only type of tomato Hall grows is the Beefstake variety. These tomatoes fit nicely on a juicy cheeseburger or smaller ones go well sliced up in salads. He gets a nice variety to market to local grocery stores where consumers find a tempting array in packaging. Hall is considering doing lettuces and greens in the future. But make no mistake about it; tomatoes are king on the Hall Farm. If things go well Hall will start to sell tomatoes
from his greenhouse the first of April and produce them until Thanksgiving. "We think by doing lettuces we could run throughout the winter. They are a little more cold tolerant," said Hall. It's important to keep heat in the greenhouses during the winter. The price of fuel has a big effect on his bottom line. Hall has several heat sources available. He was running propane gas the day The News Democrat was there with a temperature outside
running in the 20s. His other furnace, which runs on any kind of pelletized fuel, was on the fritz. "We were burning corn, but the price of corn has caught up and it is more efficient to burn propane. We also tried coal but found we had some problems with it," said Hall. The fuel of choice for Hall right now is wood pellets. A silo stands beside the greenhouses and is kept full of fuel. "We try to keep it between 72-77
degrees as the seed comes up. After that we will lower that to about 68," said Hall. "At no time while the tomato is growing do we want it to be below 64 degrees." Of course bright sunshiny days are appreciated. Daytime temps in the greenhouses go into the
80s from the heat produced by the sun. Nighttime is when it can get a little tricky. During all those years he has had some close calls like running out of gas at night, but never has he had any damage. "A few years ago when we had the ice storm, we almost lost the whole greenhouse," said Hall. "I had two small generators. I had one and we rented one because they were continued on page 6A
“These tomatoes are not actually grown in water. They are watered but they are grown in Perlite for a rooting media. Hydroponic simply means it is not grown in soil. It's a soil-less media."
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2A
May 2012
ACRES of Southwest Ohio
Ohio Farmers
of Southwest Ohio May 2012
by the numbers
Publisher — Pamela Stricker Editor — Gary Brock Layout — Tina Murdock
Sales Adams County (937) 544-2391 Lee Huffman, Publisher lhuffman@peoplesdefender.com
Ohio farmers today are better educated, more experienced on the farm and overall, actually earning more income than they have in previous years. Those are just some of the findings in the new U.S. Department of Agriculture fact sheet for Ohio agriculture. I saw these numbers a week or so ago, and found manyof the statistics very telling about the way farming and agriculture has changed in many years in the last decade. Prepared by the USDA’s Economic Research Service, the farm and agriculture statistics offer a new snapshot on Ohio’s farm community and its changes in the last decade - and even just the last few years. According to the study, people living in rural, agricultural communities
Brown County (937) 378-6161 Steve Triplett, Publisher striplett@newsdemocrat.com Clinton County (937) 382-2574 Sharon Kersey, Ad Director skersey@wnewsj.com Fayette County (740) 335-3611 Sherri Sattler, Ad Director ssattler@recordherald.com Highland County (937) 393-3456 Mickey Parrott, Ad Director mparrott@timesgazette.com Subscriptions Lori Holcomb, Circulation Director (937) 382-2574 lholcomb@wnewsj.com Contact ACRES of Southwest Ohio: 761 S. Nelson Ave. | Wilmington, OH 45177 | (937) 382-2574
ACRES of Southwest Ohio is published monthly by Ohio Community Media, LLC and is available through the Georgetown News-Democrat, Hillsboro Times-Gazette, Ripley Bee, Washington CH Record-Herald, West Union People’s Defender and Wilmington News Journal. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue in whole or in part is prohibited. ACRES of Southwest Ohio is available for purchase at each of the newspaper offices for $1/copy or contact us to subscribe. Subscriptions $19.95 per year.
are better education than at any time in the past. The number of adults not finishing high school fell from 20 to 15.3 percent between 2000 and 2010. That number was 36.7 percent in 1980. The percent completing high school only - 45.5 percent in 2010, is almost the same as a decade before. However, the number of people in agricultural communities attend college and completing college increased between 2 and 3 percent over the last decade. Also, the average age in Ohio of the farm owner has increased in the last 10 years. In 1997, the average age 52.5, and in 2007, it had increased to 55.7. In addition, the percentage of farms fully owned by a person or family jumped from 62.2 percent to 67.5 percent.
Gary Brock, Editor I don't think this should be any surprise. In recent years, more "city folks" have taken to rural life, and purchased farms (or divided up farms) to change their way of life to something more "simple." The irony may be that while farming is certainly different that urban living and working, it is anything but "simple." In the new study, the number of farms of 100 acres and less has grown from 54 to 61 percent of Ohio's farms between 1997 and 2007. The decline in farm size has
been in the 100 to 500 acres category, going from 36 percent of Ohio farms in 1997 to 29 percent in 2007. And what do Ohio farmers export as their major crops? It comes as no surprise that in 2010, soybeans ruled the land, with 28.8 percent of all Ohio farm receipts. By the way, that yield places Ohio sixth in the nation for soybeans. Soybeans are followed by corn, 24.2 percent; dairy products, 11.8 percent; hogs, 7.4 percent; and chicken eggs, 5.4 percent. And which five counties in Ohio lead the state in agriculture sales according to the USDA. Can you guess? I will save that answer for next month.
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3A
Gary Quallen and grandaughters Sarah and Emily Quallen; the fourth generation Quallen family dairy farmers. continued from page 1A
locally, it creates a multiplier effect of more than two and a half times the original dollar spent. Unfortunately, dairy farmers face obstacles that can hinder not only their own personal success but also the advantages they bring to their local communities and to the over well-being of the nation’s economy. It is vital that support of the rural dairy farmer
continues not only locally, but in the state of Ohio and throughout the nation. Challenges facing today’s dairy farmer include price margins, the cost of corn, the current economical downturn, changing government regulations, environmental issues, and basic misconceptions. Although all areas have some effect on the Ohio dairy farmers, high cost of production and low prices of milk provides Ohio dairy farmers with their biggest challenge. Farmers are currently dealing with their biggest challenge - price margins that bring down their profits due to high corn costs and low prices of milk. Prices for feed corn are currently on
the rise resulting in a lower profit margin for the smaller dairy farmer. Each farmer has a different level at which they can afford to buy their feed. When they reach that cut off point, then it makes it difficult for the producer to maintain a profit. Along with high corn prices due to the scarcity of corn, Ohio dairy farmers as well as farmers on the national level face lower milk prices at the grocery. A decline in prices farmers pay for their milk is forcing them to send herds to slaughter, use their land for crops, or put up equipment as collateral to hang on in a business that is fighting to keep their heads above water. Even as farmers are getting less for their milk than it costs to produce it, consumers aren't seeing the full benefits of lower prices. The overall prices for dairy products increased 9 percent in the past year, and the average price nationally for a gallon of milk at grocery stores last month was down 19 percent from its peak last July. The world-wide economic crunch has cut prices for the U.S. dairy
farmer 50 % since last summer eliminating farmer’s profits. Gary Quallen, a thirdgeneration, Clinton County dairy farmer, also has felt the pains of lower milk prices. “Dairy farming is hard work,” says Quallen. “365 days a year, 7 days a week and twice day, dairy farmers have to work and there are no holidays. You know where you’re going to be every morning and every evening. Dairy farming is a dying breed in Clinton County. In 1984 there were 54 dairies here, now there are only 5. It is hard work, low pay and now with the economy it makes it hard to have hired help. Consumers get a great product for a very low price but I don’t think they understand what it takes to produce a gallon of milk. Many dairy farmers go bankrupted because of the low milk prices and higher corn feed prices. It would really help us if the industry could figure out how to keep the smaller dairy farmer from being squashed and how get a decent price for all the work we put into dairy farming.”
Scott Higgins of the Ohio Dairy Producers Association backs up the concerns felt by Quallen. “Ohio has over 3,200 dairy farms that averages out to 85 cows per farm. Today nation-wide, the challenge is huge for the dairy farmer. Farmers need to get the price that will enable them to make a profit. They are working very hard to produce a high quality and safe product for consumers. The milk that leaves the farm is the highest quality. It takes farmers a great deal of time and effort to produce that high-quality product and keep it safe also. Consumers don’t realize the efforts producers put into this product. A fair price margin allows producers to pay for their feed, operate their farm and help with their own cost of living that supports them and their family.” The prices dairy farmers are paid for their milk is set by the United States Department of Agriculture and is based on world markets that rise and fall with the world-wide demand for milk. Some of the national dairy farmers are lobbying for a bill that
would change the milk pricing system so that it reflect the prices farmers have to pay for feed, operation costs ect. Overall, producers nationally need to cut milk production 5% to bring supplies in balance with demand. Higgins of the Ohio Dairy Producers Association chon believes there is a solution to the challenges the Ohio dairy farmers sees each day. “Ohio is a milk deficient region; we don’t produce the amount of milk that consumers demand. It takes all sizes of farms to meet the needs of the state, small and larger dairy farms. The need for milk is here in the state. I think if we work together to produce new milk products, work on helping consumers to find the product they want, we can find a solution to the challenges Ohio dairy farmers have. I know this for sure; Ohio Dairy farmers work very hard and take great care in keeping their cows healthy. They have a high quality product that is nutritious, safe, that comes off an Ohio farm, and is a product they can trust.”
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4A
May 2012
ACRES of Southwest Ohio
Ohio’s mills were once centers of commerce Once numbering 1,800, the few that remain hold history, memories By Gary Abernathy gabernathy@timesgazette.com For decades, McCoppin’s Mill was a local Highland County landmark. Long after it was no longer a functioning mill, it remained a picturesque part of the Rocky Fork Lake region, a location for picnics and relaxed gatherings, and a favorite subject of photographers and painters. At one time, grain and grist mills like the one built along what is now McCoppin’s Mill Road near Hillsboro were so important to the agriculture community of Ohio that nearly 2,000 of them dotted the Buckeye State in the 1800s. They were gathering points for local farmers to share the latest news. Because they were the center of activity for the local community, other shops and businesses would be established near the mill sites, and covered bridges were often constructed so farmers could bring their grain even when the rivers or streams were swollen. According to Brenda C. Krekeler, who more than 20 years ago traveled across Ohio visiting old mills and eventually compiled an online book on the subject, the history of McCoppin’s Mill was like that of many others when it was first built. “David Reece established this mill site in 1829,” writes Krekeler. In 1848, David Reece’s son, James Reece, “sold the mill to Henry Stacy Foraker who was married to Margaret Reece, daughter of David Reece. When Joseph Benson Foraker, son of Henry, was two years old, his family moved near the mill and lived there for 13 years. Joseph would become a United States Senator and Governor of Ohio twice.” John Allen McCoppin, a hardware store proprietor in Hillsboro, purchased the mill in 1906. “McCoppin remodeled the mill with $12,000 and installed the most modern equipment,” writes Krekeler, including “a Millwood Roller Mill
was destroyed by fire at Jack Hope, owner of McCoppin's Mill near Hillsboro, poses in front of the mill, which later the hands of an arsonist. (Photo courtesy Jack Hope) manufactured by Allis-Chalmers Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Lynn A. Sydenstricker purchased the mill in 1952 after working for the McCoppin family for three years. Sydenstricker and his son John operated the mill until February 9, 1979, ending a long milling history.” In 1980, Highland County resident Jack Hope bought the mill, and for years it remained a favorite stopping point for county visitors. Hope says he bought the mill – along with another Highland County landmark, Barrett’s Mill – with hopes of creating a Knott’s Berry Farm-type experience, with visitors able to take “river voyages” and covered wagon trips “back up the trail.” “As a boy, I always visited Fort Hill (a nearby historic landmark) and always said to myself that someday I was going to build a recreation area like that.” In fact, Hope says it was his fourth-generation grandfather, Joseph W. Spargur, who built McCoppin’s Mill. But the old mill burned down in 1998 at the hands of an arsonist, and Hope’s plans were never fulfilled At one time, in the early to mid-1800s, more
than 1,800 grain mills were in operation in Ohio, including more than 500 flour mills and over 1,300 grist mills, according to “Waterwheels and Millstones: A History of Ohio Gristmills and Milling.” Most mills in the early days were multi-purpose mills, grinding cornmeal and wheat for flour, and needing at least three levels. Cleaning, scrubbing, storing grain, grinding, sifting and storing the bagged flour required a multi-level complex to accomplish the various stages of processing wheat into flour. Waterwheel mills took advantage of the best source of power at the time, and an “overshot waterwheel” was the most efficient method of powering a mill when there is a limited amount of water. In the early 1900's steam engines became popular and more widely used. The steam engine could be connected to the power train of a waterwheel and, even without water, the mill could operate. By the 1920s, that number of Ohio mills had fallen to only about 90, and today only about 50 mills still exist, many of them used for other purposes, such as tourist attractions and even
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McCoppin’s Mill in the Rocky Fork Lake region of Highland County. and is used solely for family use. The Joe Beam Mill is owned by the same family that built it. The mill was built in 1912 by William Oscar Beam, grandfather of Maynard and Malcolm Beam, who are the present owners of the mill.” Malcolm Beam says today that he believes the stone dam was actually built around 1904, based on a date engraved into the dam. One of the best known mills in the region is the Clifton Mill in Greene County, which was originally built in 1803 by Owen Davis. But the Davis Mill burned in the 1840s. “Within a year, John Patterson built another mill at the same location,” writes Krekler. “The Patterson Mill provided cornmeal and flour to soldiers during the Civil War. Unfortunately, this building was destroyed by fire in the late 1860s. The present building was built by the Armstrong Family in 1869.” Later, Issac Preston bought the mill and three generations of his family operated it until 1948. Robert Heller “discovered the vacant mill while hiking through Clifton in 1962. Heller was an engineer and was intrigued by the mill's deteriorated condition and the prospect of restoring it to function on waterpower. Heller and his wife purchased and restored the mill. Clifton Mill has been a functioning mill ever since.” The mill operates 7 days a week from 8-5 on weekends and 8-4 on weekdays, and breakfast and
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restaurants. Southern Ohio is blessed by the presence of many old mills, some of them still in operation, some of them dormant but still impressive, and some in a sad state of disrepair. Krekeler began chronicling the status of existing mills after researching covered bridges in almost every state east of the Mississippi River. In many cases, the covered bridges had been built to accommodate travel to the local mills. “The mills were on the river and farmers needed transportation to get to the mills in the fall, at harvest time,” says Krekeler, who has also built a website devoted to Cape Cod windmills. Krekeler, an adjunct professor who has taught at many of the colleges throughout southwest Ohio, is currently in the process of revisiting many of the mills she first visited and wrote about a quarter of a century ago, and in some cases she is disappointed with what she has found. According to Krekeler, Shuster's Mill in Brown County was another longtime center of commerce. The mill “carries the name of Frederick Shuster, who owned the mill in the late 1800's,” according to Krekeler. “This large stone and brick structure was built in 1843 by Edward Thompson. He employed Chinese labor to construct the 3 1/2 stories and to build the tunnels. One tunnel supplied the water to the mill from White Oak Creek and another tunnel carried the water from the waterwheel to the tailrace. Edward Thompson built his mill for $2,500.” Years ago, “a large waterwheel located in an exterior wheelpit powered the gristmill.” The mill had the ability to “grind fifty barrels of flour a day and the building had the storage capacity for twelve thousand bushels of grain.” In 1883, “Frederick Shuster bought the mill and installed a steam engine as an alternative power supply. When the quantity of water was not sufficient to drive the mill stones, he would switch over to steam power.” Today, the mill is abandoned and in disrepair, but according to Krekeler, still has a strong exterior and would be a candidate for reconstruction. In Clinton County, near Port William, stands Joe Beam and Sons Mill, first established in 1816. “A gristmill was built and then roads were built to reach the mill,” recounts Krekeler. “The location is a natural site for a water-powered mill. Anderson's Fork River has a natural waterfall at the mill. The original wooden dam incorporated the natural waterfall into the dam and created an eight to nine foot head of water. Today, silt has filled up the stream's bed so that the millpond is only two or three feet deep. The wooden dam was replaced in the early 1900's with a stone dam capped with concrete.” Today, “the mill has developed into a feed mill
5A
lunch are served at Clifton Mill's Restaurant. Just a couple of miles down the road from Clifton Mill stands Grinnell Mill, which has been turned into a bed and breakfast, says Krekeler. Its four levels comprise an impressive structure – modernized by a $500,000 investment by its owner - and even more impressive is the old mill stones and milling equipment that is still located on the structure’s first floor. Brenda Krekeler’s impressive research on Ohio’s old mills can be found online at www.oldmills.scificincinnati.com/ohio. Chances are, a mill existed in the general vicinity of just about every older community in Ohio. The importance and history of Ohio’s old mills are appreciated by a growing number of aficionados. One of the biggest organizations focusing on mill history is the Society for the Preservation of Old Mills (SPOOM), which includes chapters across the country, including a Great Lakes chapter that encompasses Ohio. Its members include “mill owners, old mill buffs, museum curators, conservators, writers, teachers, artists, photographers, equipment supply firms, and institutions such as libraries.” More information can be found at www.spoom.org. Gary Abernathy is Publisher and Editor of the Times-Gazette in Highland County.
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May 2012
continued from page 1A
calling for an ice storm." As the power crisis wore on, one of the generators burned up. "We almost gave up. While I was standing there thinking about it you could hear one of the water pipes freeze and break. I decided, well I have come this far, I am not going to go down without a fight. So we drug a small generator back and forth running it 20 minutes at each station the rest of the night. I knew if I could get through the night it was going to be sunny that day and we would be alright until nightfall." He contacted his nephew who brought a large generator from Cincinnati the next day. "Other than the first pipe that broke, we saved everything that night," said Hall. Water is a big part of production. It is piped to every growing plant through tiny hoses. The seeds are planted in a product called Rockwool. Rockwool is like a volcanic ash. "It will hold about four or five times its weight in water, but at the same time it allows a lot of air into it. We germinate in about an inch Rockwool cube," said Hall. When the plant is about two inches tall and sets out its first leaves it will be moved to a four inch Rockwool cube.
ACRES of Southwest Ohio "We may let the plant get a foot tall to 16 inches tall and then transfer them over into a Perlite. That's the medium we grow in," said Hall. The Perlite is put into a Dutch bucket which looks like a plastic wastepaper basket people would see in their bathroom. The white Perlite material can be spotted in potting soil. Some of the plants are placed in grow bags. Either way plants are kept in water and fertilizer. "The cost of water and fertilizer is so high, one of our steps this year will be to recycle that runoff," said Hall. "It's a misnomer - in this area we have the flow plants (tobacco) which grow floating on water. These tomatoes are not actually grown in water. They are watered but they are grown in Perlite for a rooting media. "Hydroponic simply means it is not grown in soil. It's a soil-less media." The Perlite wicks water well and allows air in around the rooting system. The watering system is controlled by computer which controls timing and amounts. "We monitor very carefully every day what we feed the plant and what the plant doesn't use," said Hall. "The advantage to this type of system is if a plant picks up some sort of a disease, the water is not transferred to any other plant." With all this water
LH Sundance owner, Larry Hall.
floating around and intense heat, the greenhouse can become a humid place, especially when summer arrives. The houses have to be ventilated. In the past few years, Hall said his business has been hit with rising costs, like everywhere else. "We've been having a hard time keeping up with the rising cost of water, energy and fertilizer," Hall said. "This year we made the decision to plant a little later. We usually plant right after Christmas, but we decided to wait for 30 days to bypass most of January to keep down on our heating costs." "A large part of it is staying competitive with the bigger companies that have massive greenhouses," Hall said. "Last year was the best year we had out of the past three or four. The demand was up some, though we
did have some production problems." Hall sells wholesale to groceries like Walmart, Kroger, Goessling's Market, IGA and SuperValu. It was a little slow in the beginning selling hydroponic tomatoes. "People in the city are a little more familiar with it than in rural areas," said Hall. "It's not the case anymore." It hasn't always been smooth sailing with the large retailers. "Because of folks (customers) demanding they want a more local product. They (stores) are looking for a marriage with a local grower and what they can provide. They are willing now to change some of their systems," said Hall. An example was some of the chains want the tomatoes taken to a central distribution and processing location. It's
much easier for Hall to deal directly with the store. "Where I can help them the most is (by them) giving me some stores where I can market in and enough product where people will recognize it as local and you can get a following," said Hall. The trend to more local or even organic growers has helped Hall market his products. His prices may not be equitable to Canadian hydroponic tomatoes, but if you consider flavor and freshness the local tomato man has an edge. Ashley Ring has been helping Hall for more than 14 years. Ring said it can get really hot inside the greenhouses in the summertime. "If it is 80 outside then it is 90 inside," said Ring. "I definitely get my exercise. There's a lot of stooping and climbing up and down." Instead of wood stakes the tomato plants are attached to a twine that is connected to a cable far above the plant. The twine is used to raise or lower the vine. The tomatoes are picked by hand. Hall's parents also help, plus other family members. Hall has two full-time employees to help with suckering, trimming and picking the tomatoes. When it comes time to replace the plastic over
the greenhouse every so many years - it becomes a family affair. "It can take about all day. I know the last time Larry and I did it by ourselves and it took pretty much all day," said Ring. The enormous pieces of plastic can be difficult to handle in the wind. The type of plastic used also is a big deal. Hall is testing plastic that doesn't create as much heat by diffusing the sunlight somewhat. Another concern is pollination. Hall purchases hives of bumble bees to do the job. He can hand pollinate, but he said the bumble bees know what they are doing and when to do it. He uses bumble bees because they don't want to wander off like honey bees do. Hall's major role once the tomatoes ripen is to keep the equipment running and make deliveries. The tomatoes, after being picked, are boxed up and labeled for delivery. You can still find corn, soybeans and even tobacco on the Hall farm. Growing hydroponic tomatoes has allowed him to expand his growing season and keeps him plenty busy. Interested in purchasing tomatoes wholesale? Hall can be reached at (937) 213-3255. Steve Triplett is publisher of the News Democrat in Brown County
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ACRES of Southwest Ohio
What do we think about when we hear the word ‘farmer’?
Ag Women of the Year nominations sought
This or This? By Tony Nye nye.1@osu.edu
figure and probably does not know “Agriculture” inside and out, but what he said on his web page hit a nerve. One thing he learned at the National FFA Convention, was that the FFA faces an identity crisis. In Mike Rowe’s words, “The FFA faces a continuing battle to redefine itself against narrow perceptions of “agriculture,” “vocational” and “farmers.” The name “FFA” is now used instead of “Future Farmers of America.” Does agriculture have a true identity problem? On Rowe’s web page he asked the simple question, “Have we really become so disconnected from our food that farmers no longer wish to be called farmers? …Over and over I hear the same thing from farmers I’ve met on ‘Dirty Jobs.’ Technical advances in modern agriculture now rival those of Silicon Valley, and today’s farms are more efficient than ever, but no one seems to have gotten the memo. No one seems to care. Why?” He goes on to tell in his webpage that as he spoke with various folks at the convention he had asked the wrong question. “‘Why’ is too easy. The better question is ‘How.’ How is it that 300 million Americans - all addicted to eating - have become disconnected from people
I always like tooting my own horn as a farmer (and I am a farmer not just a desk dweller - no offense) and while trying to decide what to write this month for Acres, I went back to an older piece I did I do not think this ever goes out of style as many of us are one to four generations removed from the farm. I want you to close your eyes and think about the word “farmer”. With eyes closed, what do you see? Is it a guy in a hat with dirty bib-overalls on? Is it your neighbor? Is it big equipment? Is it the old equipment you see at the annual Corn Festival or Tired Iron displays? Not once did I ask if you thought of agriculture, growing crops, or food when you had your eyes closed. Did you think of these things? At the 2009 National FFA (Future Farmers of America) Convention, Mike Rowe, TV personality from “Dirty Jobs” was asked to be the keynote speaker. I learned this was an eye opening experience for him. On his web page (www.mikeroweworks.com) he describes his experience at the convention and he discuses in his words, “The Future of Farming.” Now, I realize he is a TV
who grow our food?” Rowe asked. The part of his comments that really struck a nerve with me was the Willow Smith following comment and I quote, “On ‘Dirty Jobs,’ I’m no expert, and I’m even less of one here. But I have a theory, and it goes like this - all jobs rely on one of two industries - mining and agriculture. Every tangible thing our society needs is either pulled from the ground, or grown from the ground. Without these fundamental industries there would be no jobs of any kind. There would be no economy. Civilization begins with miners and farmers and polite society is only possible when skilled workers transform those raw materials into something useful or edible.” Rowe goes on to say he had auditioned for a TV commercial voiceover for the “American Farmer” and the content of his voice over went something like this: “Every year we demand more and more from our farmers. More food from less land. More food from less energy. More food from less labor. And every year our farmers deliver.” He believes those words. To quote Rowe, “I also believe that as a country, we haven’t made it easy for them. Two percent of our population provides the rest of us with all the food we
7A
need, and we behave as though it is our birthright. Like nothing we do can threaten the abundance. It seems to me as a country, we could start by acknowledging the incredible challenges facing the American farmer.” He has other thought provoking statements and ideas on his web page you as individuals can discuss around the water cooler next week. The fact he is not a farmer, but a consumer and he gets it! Agriculture is very important to our daily lives and I want to celebrate every day rather than some given week in March every year. Embrace agriculture. You all have farmer in your blood some where. Don’t take your food supply for granted. Think about your food sources. If it is not grown locally, meaning in the U.S., where will it come from and what will you have to say about it then? If you think growing food is easy, grow a garden. It can be very rewarding, but it can have many challenges as well. Email me your thoughts at nye.1@osu.edu.
Tony Nye Clinton County OSU Extension Services
Tony is the OSU Extention Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator for Clinton County.
Applications for Ohio Agriculture Women of the Year Awards are being accepted now through May 31. According to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the applicants must be at least 25 years of age; Must be a current Ohio resident and have resided in the state of
Ohio for a minimum of 10 cumulative years; Must be active in the agriculture industry with a minimum of five years’ experience; Must have served her community in some professional and or civic capacity; and Must have made some unique or outstanding contribution to the agriculture industry.
The nomination form may be typed, hand written or filled out online and printed. For more information, to obtain a nomination form, and to mail a completed and signed application form, send to: Ohio Department of Agriculture 8995 East Main Street Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068 Telephone: (614) 728-6200 Toll Free: (800) 282-1955 To access this form online, go to: www.agri.ohio.gov For questions, please contact: Janelle Mead at (614) 387-0911.
Buckeye Harvesting east of Sabina received a commendation
Buckeye Harvesting offers custom grain Buckeye Harvesting east harvesting from Texas of Sabina received a to Canada throughout commendation recently the summer, and farms from Ohio Secretary of more than 6,000 acres State Jon Husted. in Clinton and Fayette He toured operations counties in Ohio. and presented the Services include custom company with an Ohio combining, grain hauling Business Profile Commendation. Buckeye and farming. There are Harvesting was featured eight employees. Buckeye Harvesting as part of the April 2012 is connected with Ohio Business Profiles Woodruff Farms, which is on the Secretary of a family business started State’s website, where several Ohio agricultural back in the early 1950s by Darrell Woodruff. enterprises were recognized.
ACRES staff report
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8A
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SAVE $75 - $150 PER YEAR ON BAGS OF SALT ALONE B5 I?E D9B54 ?6 81B4 G1D5B @B?2<5=C <9;5 K +>C978D<I C31<5 ?> 69H DEB5C D?9<5D 2?G<C 1>4 C8?G5B8514C K )31<5 2E9<4 E@ 9> @9@5C K &??B <1D85B 6B?= 45D5B 75>DC 1>4 C81=@??C EC9>7 D9=5C D85 CE775CD54 1=?E>DC K <?D85C D81D <??; 49>7I 1>4655<81BC816D5BG1C89>7 K 1B4 D? B5=?F5 69<= ?> 7<1CC C8?G5B 4??BC G1<<C 1>4 21D8DE2C K 19B D81D 655<C CD93;I 1>4 <??;C 4E<< K BI 9D38I C;9> 31EC54 2I G1D5B C?6D5>5BC K )?1@ C3E= ?> C9>;C 1>4 1@@<91>35C K ?D G1D5B 851D5B D81D 851DC E@ =?B5 1>4 =?B5 C<?G<I 4E5 D? C31<5 2E9<4 E@ 6 I?E 1>CG5B54 MI5CN D? 1>I ?6 D85C5 AE5CD9?>C I?E 1B5 D85 @5B653D 31>4941D5 D? DBI D85 )31<5( <53DB?>93 1B4 -1D5B *B51D=5>D )ICD5= 9> I?EB 8?=5 6?B D85 >5HD
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ScaleRID vs. Salt-Based Water Softener Comparison
The Green Alternative ScaleRID is environmentally friendly 3 ! * "+ &' "+ ! * ' ! *% -$ ,'0" !$'*" +
Cost
ScaleRID
Salt-Based Water Softener
under $150
$400 - $1,800.00
none
constant maintenance
electrical field
salt-based ion exchange
10 minute do-it-yourself
professional
3 ' / +, ' !-& * + ' $$'&+ ' / , * ,! , 1'- , /",! + $, + / , * ,* ,% &, * & * ,"'&
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Scale Removal
YES
NO
Scale Prevention
YES
NO
Back Flush
NO
YES 80-100 gallons per week
Skin Test
makes skin softer
makes skin dry
Soap Test
soap suds wash away
soap suds difficult to remove
leaves in essential minerals
exchanges minerals with sodium
3 ' %'* -+," $ & *+ ,' , *" ' $"% + $
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Mail the attached Discount Coupon below, call 1-800-555-1659 or go to www.usascalerid.com NOW
Pipe Before ScaleRID
Treatment Method
Health Benefits
Testimonials from Satisfied ScaleRID Users The ScaleRID has helped my plumbing tremendously. It has cleaned out the build-up on all my faucets. There is no more residue on my sink in my home and most importantly, not in my coffee pots. I am a very satisfied customer. Mrs. Wagner, WY The product is very wonderful. There is no more build-up on my shower heads. They are no longer plugging up like they did in the past from all the years of build-up. I have only had the product for several months, however I am very satisfied with the results so far and canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to see what the future brings with this product. Mr. Finch, WA
Pipe 4-5 weeks of ScaleRID use Our water is much cleaner and we get more suds when we do laundry and dishes. Also, the unit
was very easy to install. I would recommend this unit to many more friends since I already had 2 more people call in and order this product on my recommendation. M. Sousoures, NV
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ACRES of Southwest Ohio
May 2012
CLINTON COUNTY AGRICULTURE SNAPSHOP
FAY
REN
9A
N CLINTO AN HIGHL
2007 CENSUS OF
Look for ulture more Agric in snapshots ns future editio! of Acres
MONT
Ranked items among the 88 state counties and 3,079 U.S. counties, 2007 State Quantity Rank
Item
AGRICULTURE County Profile
MARKET VALUE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS SOLD ($1,000) Total value of agricultural products sold Value of crops including nursery and greenhouse Value of livestock, poultry, and their products
% 2007 2002 change Number of Farms ..............................................799......................811.............-1 Land in Farms...................................218,493 acres .....238,805 acres.............-9 Average Size of Farm ..............................273 acres ............294 acres.............-7 Market Value of Products Sold ...........$85,594,000........$52,864,000 ..........+62 Crop Sales $78,735,000 (92 percent) Livestock Sales $6,859,000 (8 percent) Average Per Farm..................................$107,126...............$65,183 ..........+64 Government Payments..........................$4,231,000..........$4,404,000.............-4 Average Per Farm Receiving Payments..........$7,637.................$9,657...........-21
Economic Characteristics
Clinton County – Ohio
Quantity
Farms by value of sales: Less than $1,000 ...............................................................178 $1,000 to $2,499 .................................................................51 $2,500 to $4,999 .................................................................67 $5,000 to $9,999 .................................................................66 $10,000 to $19,999 .............................................................42 $20,000 to $24,999 .............................................................13 $25,000 to $39,999 .............................................................61 $40,000 to $49,999 .............................................................31 $50,000 to $99,999 .............................................................84 $100,000 to $249,999 ........................................................115 $250,000 to $499,999 .........................................................48 $500,000 or more ................................................................43 Total farm production expenses ($1,000) ...........................65,331 Average per farm ($) .........................................................81,766
Universe
U.S. Rank
Universe
85,594 78,735 6,859
36 21 67
88 88 88
1,035 526 2,278
3,076 3,072 3,069
VALUE OF SALES BY COMMODITY GROUP ($1,000) Grains, oilseeds, dry beans, and dry peas 76,838 Tobacco Cotton and cottonseed Vegetables, melons, potatoes, and sweet potatoes (D) Fruits, tree nuts, and berries 243 Nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod 865 (D) Cut Christmas trees and short rotation woody crops Other crops and hay 561 Poultry and eggs 110 Cattle and calves 1,528 Milk and other dairy products from cows 421 Hogs and pigs 4,421 Sheep, goats, and their products 202 Horses, ponies, mules, burros, and donkeys 159 6 Aquaculture Other animals and other animal products 13
15 69 47 49 71 73 44 74 81 31 21 55 40 77
88 12 88 88 87 84 88 88 88 86 88 88 88 53 88
353 1,454 993 1,148 (D) 2,064 1,394 2,450 1,671 551 623 1,301 1,077 1.944
2,933 437 626 2,796 2,659 2,703 1,710 3,054 3,020 3,054 2,493 2,922 2,998 3,024 1,498 2,875
98,543 81,489
12 13
87 88
177 365
2,039 2,634
4,782 4,238 304
71 47 75
88 87 86
2,328 1,042 1,548
3,060 2,481 2,263
18,376 3,914 3,150 1,281 1,110
28 75 4 29 65
88 88 48 88 88
543 2,565 229 732 1,535
2,958 3,060 1,386 2,891 3,024
TOP CROP ITEMS (acres) Soybeans for beans Corn for grain Forage - land used for all hay and haylage, grass silage, and greenchop Wheat for grain, all Corn for silage TOP LIVESTOCK INVENTORY ITEMS (number) Cattle and calves Hogs and pigs Horses and ponies Layers Goats, all
Net cash farm income of operation ($1,000) ......................27,799 Average per farm ($) .........................................................34,793
Operator Characteristics
Quantity
Principal operators by primary occupation: Farming ..........................................................................................412 Other...............................................................................................387 Principal operators by sex: Male................................................................................................699 Female ............................................................................................100 Average age of principal operator (years).......................................56.6 All operators by race: American Indian or Alaska Native .....................................................Asian .................................................................................................Black or African American.................................................................6 Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander..........................................White.............................................................................................1,156 More than one race...........................................................................1 All operators of Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino Origin .........................1
Land in Farms by Type of Land
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Farms by Size 300
Farms
200
100
0 10 – 49
50 – 179
180 – 499
500 – 999
1,000+
Acres/Farm
Information from www.agcensus.usda
2274029
1–9
10A
May 2012
ACRES of Southwest Ohio
Wind POWER Ohio farms with wind energy growing in numbers; Companies are going where the wind is VAN WERT — For many years, Glenn McClure has grown corn and soybeans on his 850acre farm 10 miles northwest of Van Wert. Now, he’s added a new crop to his rotation: wind energy. The same way it helps farmers like McClure grow traditional crops more abundantly and sustainably, Ohio State University Extension is now putting its economic and community development expertise to work in the emerging field of renewable energy — helping communities throughout Ohio capitalize on a growing number of alternative energy projects that bring much-needed investment and jobs to the state. In only a few years, Van Wert and Paulding counties, near the Indiana border, have become the wind energy mecca of Ohio. In this flat,
windswept farming region, the state’s first utility-scale wind energy-generation projects —Iberdrola Renewables ’ Blue Creek Wind Farm and Horizon Wind Energy’s Timber Road II Wind Farm — have recently been completed, dotting the landscape with 207 large turbines that can produce more than 450 MW of electricity. That’s enough renewable energy to power 107,000 Ohio homes. In Van Wert County, OSU Extension economic development educator Nancy Bowen has been a strategic partner, working with both elected officials and Iberdrola Renewables representatives to facilitate development of the 152turbine Blue Creek Wind Farm project — the largest of its kind in Ohio. “The research, expertise and resources available through OSU Extension have been very advantageous to us,
especially in a sector so new as wind energy,” said Van Wert County Commissioner Clair Dudgeon. “Nancy’s office was one of the first contacts with the developers, helping with things such as finding office space and temporary accommodations in town, how they could go about leasing land, what would be the best way to contact farmers, and also how we could get people together to show them what we were looking at with development of our systems for renewable energy.” Dan Litchfield, project developer for the Blue Creek Wind Farm, started working with Bowen in 2009. “She was really helpful for us to make connections locally, giving us some local credibility, and to educate community members and decision makers about the benefits to them from this project,
and now we are proving it,” he said. Legislation Leads to Investment, New Local Revenue Bowen has also advocated on behalf of alternative energy legislation that has made Ohio an attractive location for wind energy developers to invest. “Nancy came with me to the Statehouse to testify on behalf of State Bill 232, whose approval allowed us to create an alternative energy zone in the county and establish a fixed, known tax rate for the wind energy company,” Dudgeon said. “Without it, I don’t think we could have enticed these energy folks.” Litchfield agrees. He said that while northwest Ohio meets all the requirements for wind energy generation — compatible land use, interested landowners,
good wind resource and electrical transmission capacity — it was the state’s favorable alternative energy legislation that helped VanWert County land the Blue Creek project. In addition to SB 232, enacted in 2010, the Ohio legislature had previously passed, in 2008, the landmark Senate Bill 221, which requires 12.5 percent of the state’s electricity demand to come from renewable sources by 2025. “Having a stable, longterm policy is really important for a company like us that’s considering where to invest, for example, $600 million in this project here,” said Litchfield, an Ohio native who grew up some 55 miles south of Van Wert. “In 2008, when this project was still very loosely defined, it was originally conceived of being in Indiana. But I
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ACRES of Southwest Ohio
May 2012
made the decision to move it into Ohio, and one of the reasons was (the state’s) advanced energy portfolio standard. We knew there would be a market for wind energy that we could compete for. “Senate Bill 232 has also been very important. Before that, the property tax rate was uncertain but very high, higher than all the other neighboring states. That legislation lowered the rate, allowed us to go forward, and created this enormous new source of local revenue that wouldn’t have been possible without it.” According to project developers, the Blue Creek and Timber Road II wind farms created 495 construction jobs and will generate 30 permanent new jobs. The projects will also pay $2.6 million annually to property owners for leasing their land, and will generate $3.6 million a year in local taxes. “Under SB 232’s property tax rates, we’ll pay $2.7 million a year in local property taxes,” Litchfield said. “We’ll become the largest single taxpayer in Van Wert County, equal to the top 14 taxpayers combined. During the construction phase, we spent about $25 million locally with hotels, restaurants and local contractors who did a lot of the work.”
A Good Fit with Agriculture McClure is one of the 250 landowners, most of them farmers, who leased portions of their land to Iberdrola Renewables for the Blue Creek Wind Farm — which are spread out over 27,000 acres, 75 percent in Van Wert County and the rest in Paulding County. The Timber Road II Wind Farm’s 55 turbines, meanwhile, are all located in Paulding County, near the town of Payne. “You can’t miss them, that’s for sure,” said McClure of the 328foot-tall towers, each crowned with three 145-foot-long blades, which now stand on his farm and neighboring properties. “To this farming community right here, it’s meant a lot because of the income that would be coming off of them in the future. I see this as a good thing for the community and the neighborhood. Wind energy is just another form of income for us, it’s no different than renting the ground to somebody else to farm it.” Wind turbines According to Litchfield, local landowners will receive about $2 million every year in lease payments. He said wind energy projects are particularly well suited to open
farmland regions like northwest Ohio. “It’s a good fit with agriculture because our wind turbines, including gravel access roads, occupy on average less than three-fourths of an acre each, so it really adds to farm incomes without taking away from their main use of the land,” he said. “We like to think of wind as a new crop, especially in the winter when nothing is growing in the fields, but the wind is howling above; it’s a winter crop the farmers can harvest. For them it’s guaranteed revenue and, on a per-acre basis, it’s a lot more than they can get from their traditional farming.” More Investment to Come Ohio’s alternative energy-friendly legislation and the success of the first two utility-scale wind farms have spurred plans for further investments in northwest Ohio by both Horizon andIberdrola Renewables, which are among the largest operators of wind power in the U.S. The second phase of Horizon’s Timber Road II Wind Farm will consist of 28 turbines, generating 50 MW. Other projects planned by this company in the region include Timber Road I (48.6 MW) and Timber Road III (up to 200 MW). Meanwhile, Iberdrola
11A
Renewables has other projects in development nearby, including Dog Creek Wind Farm, which according to Litchfield could be built in the next three to five years and will feature 150 turbines; and Prairie Creek Wind Farm, which could consist of 100 turbines. Other projects are being considered in Putnam County as well. “Northwestern Ohio is the windiest part of the state, it’s got the transmission capacity, and as long as policies remain intact this could be a tremendous growth industry for this part of the state,”Litchfield pointed out. Bowen said OSU Extension will continue to assist communities seeking to capitalize on the green energy boom. She and other educators have come together to create educational materials regarding renewable energy development and offer training sessions to those interested in exploring this new sector. “Our goal is really to try to educate people about renewable energy, what the impact both positive and potentially negative could be,” Bowen said. “Extension brings university-based research to projects to determine cost-benefit to the community. It also brings a neutral stance to issues; we are apolitical in that way.”
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12A
May 2012
ACRES of Southwest Ohio
Recognizing
Ephemerals By Faye Mahaffey fhmgarden@gmail.com Ephemerals? Have you heard someone speak about spring ephemerals and wonder what they were referring to? Welcome to the club! Ephemerals last for only a short time each spring. I used to refer to the wildflowers that appear each spring as simply that - wildflowers. Now I realize that I need to be more specific and describe these wildflowers as springtime ephemerals! We have a favorite trail that we hike close to Cowan Lake each spring that bursts with blooms of my favorite spring wildflowers. My husband has finally learned that he needs to slow down for this hike so that I can enjoy the scenery and take photographs. This year I neglected to refresh my
memory by looking through the pages of my favorite reference book, Wildflowers of Ohio, authored by Stan Tekiela. This book is handy to carry and groups wildflowers by color and then within each color section, the flowers are arranged by the size of the flower, or flower cluster from small to large. As we headed down the trail, I realized that my book was at home on the counter, but at least we had a camera! To my surprise, the first wildflowers that we spotted were Mayapples! Most of the leaves were up and uncurled, but there were no flowers blooming. Some people use the blooming of Mayapples as an indicator of when to start looking for the elusive Morel mushroom. As we walked we spotted masses of Yellow Trout
Larkspur
Lilies. The common name “Trout” comes from its mottled leaves, which resemble the coloring of a Brown Trout. The Yellow Trout Lily reproduces mostly by underground bulbs. It may take up to seven years for a plant to be mature enough to flower. Further up the trail we discovered LargeFlowered Bellwort. This 10 - 20 inch singlestemmed plant has one to three drooping yellow flowers per stem. When the flowers are mature, they look wrinkled and droopy. Tucked under these larger plants were Toadshade Trilliums! The single maroon red flower poised directly on top of the whorl of leaves makes this an easy trillium to identify. This is only one of the eight species of trillium in Ohio. Then we came upon a mystery! I couldn’t decide whether we had
discovered Dutchman’s Breeches or Squirrelcorn! I’m sure that you are all thinking…”well that isn’t a mystery…one bloom resembles upsidedown pants”. The mystery was…what does the Squirrel-corn flower resemble? When I looked both wildflowers up in my reference book, I was relieved to find that Squirrel-corn is often confused with Dutchman’s Breeches, which grows in a similar habitat and often sideby-side. The leaves of the two plants are nearly identical, but Squirrelcorn’s flowers are heartshaped. With the strange heat wave that we experienced in March, we found that most of the Bloodroot flowers were fading. One of the earliest plants, it emerges from nearly frozen soil, flowering well before trees leaf out. Its flowers open on sunny days,
Mayapple
closing tightly at night. Leaves unroll in full sun, curling up around the flower stalk at night and on cloudy days. These flowers lack nectar, quickly dropping petals after pollination, leaving a large, pointed, pod-like capsule that splits to reveal many brown seeds. As we admired these early spring ephemerals, I realized that the Buckeye trees close by were blooming! What a strange spring we have had so far. The one springtime ephemeral on my “wish” list that we didn’t see? Jack-in-the-Pulpit! I did get to see them emerging this week at the Governor’s Residence, along with Pawpaw trees in full bloom. Our Helpline is open on Tuesdays from 10:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. A Master Gardener will be at the Brown County OSUE office to answer
gardening questions. You can also submit your Helpline questions to Master Gardener Mike Hannah at mhannah2@msn.com. Mark your calendars for the one remaining workshop being presented at the Fincastle campus of Southern State College. The May 17 session will be “Planting in Containers”. All workshops are free to the public and are held in the library starting at 6:00 p.m. Have you planted your cabbage, lettuce, Swiss Chard, and other cool weather crops? The rabbits haven’t figured out a way to get inside the cabbage patch yet. Keep your fingers crossed for me! Faye Mahaffey is the Ohio State University Cooperative Extension, Brown County Master Gardener volunteer.
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ACRES of Southwest Ohio
May 2012
DIGGING THE DIRT
13A
By Dave Dugan
Estate Planning Program Dates Set
Last week I had some information about estate planning and the article from the Ohio Farm Manager Newsletter. I discussed that I was working toward putting
together a program to help get you started toward the process. The process includes things like your Will or a Trust. There are different kinds of Trusts, which one might be right for your situation? What is an LLC? How do I know what to do? You will most likely need an attorney to help you through this process. Financial planners and/or your tax professionals may also be part of the process. OK, so if you have an attorney and financial planner they should have all of the answers, right? As good as some of these people are, the answer is NO! Let’s think about this for a minute. How well do these
people know your family, or in a farm or business situation, how well do they know the operation? Even close family friends may not have an understanding of how things would best fit your situation. The plan is to offer a program that will get you started. This is an opportunity for families to attend and hear about the foundations for an Estate Plan. Yes, I said families. If everyone hears about it, they can better share their ideas about what might work best for everyone involved. Regardless if you are dealing with an estate that consists of a home and assets, a family business with assets, or a
possibly a family farm that includes land, livestock, equipment, and so on, this program is designed to help you better understand the different options. If you have not started, trust me when I tell you that this can be complicated. So the more you know when you start the process the better prepared you will be to make decisions that will best fit your situation. Plus, the more you know, the less time it will take. Time is money. This program is designed to help you be better prepared and save you time and money in developing your Estate Plan. The dates for the program
Taking Care of the Cows As we hit the end of April, many cow/calf operations are nearly done calving, and some may be done. On the other hand, some past years of dealing with mud in March has pushed some operators to think April may be better, so these producers may just starting their calving season. In either of the above cases some extra management might be necessary in 2012. The grass growth started earlier than normal, and in some cases the hay supply was running thin. The need to keep cows in the right direction, managing the feed supply and eventual intake is very important. This time of year for fall calving cows is the time
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that they need the fewest nutrients. They are at mid gestation and their nutrient demands are at the lowest. For those cows that have a 2 to 3 month old calf at their side are also getting close to breeding season. The cows in this group, as well as cows with younger calves or about ready to give birth are all at a time when they need more high quality feed. If the cows have not been put out on pasture, the hope is that they are now receiving your best quality hay and maybe some supplemental grain. The cow’s ability to have enough milk for a growing calf and be in good body condition at breeding time is critical for a successful breeding season. Conception rates will be much higher if the cow is given the nutrients she needs to do the job you want her to do. Feed costs this spring are not cheap. Before you cut too many corners trying to save some money, consider 10 percent less calves at market time next year. How much feed
savings is worth that? Feeding just 3 pounds of a concentrate will do wonders. The amount of energy and protein in that feed may be enough to increase your calf crop. Ten percent was just a number. If you have 20 cows and 2 more cows conceive and produce a calf that more than pays for the feed. Just think it might be 3 more calves out of 20 cows. Don’t forget the other things, like a good mineral program. This is also a critical part in the cow nutrition program and essential for peak performance. The conditions for Grass Tetany are in the forecast. We have had rapid growth and the forecast calls for cooler temperatures. Also, be cautious about turning out on forages when they are wet. The risk for bloat is higher. Frosted forages are also risky at times. We will be talking about minerals at the upcoming cattle program next Monday about Anaplasmosis. Details are listed below.
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have been confirmed. The program will start on June 28, at 6 p.m. The program will be three successive sessions all starting at 6 p.m. at the Southern State Community College in Fincastle. The classes are spread out over 2 to 3 months so you can have some time to get some things started and then come back to the next session with questions. The second session will be on July 26, and the third will be Sept. 13. The registration information will be in next week’s article. This information will include the cost and other information about the class.
Dates to Remember Gardening Educational Classes May 17 Container Gardening. Classes taught by OSU Extension Master Gardeners. This is at SSCC Fincastle and starts at 6 p.m.
Pesticide Testing May 14 Noon until 4 p.m. at the Old Y Restaurant. You must register with ODA at pested.osu.edu or call (800) 282-1955.
Estate Planning Workshop June 28, July 26, and Sept. 13 at Southern State Comm College in Fincastle.
Safe Disposal of Pesticide Containers This second week of April has seen a long run of weather that has been tempting to get started planting. Several acres have been planted and things are getting busy around many farms in Southern Ohio. As we are busy with planting and applying pesticides, keep in mind that you need to dispose of all containers safely. The first thing that you need to do is read the directions on the pesticide label. The label will include directions on how to safely dispose of the
containers once empty. If you have a large number of containers and would like to recycle them, there is an organization that does just that. This is a free program for farmers. The web address is acrecycle.org. If you do not have web access, the phone number is a toll free number, 877-952-2272. David Dugan is Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources Ohio Valley Extension Education Research Area.
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14A
May 2012
ACRES of Southwest Ohio
A Sweet Business Full of Sap in Sabina is farm family’s fun enterprise By PAT LAWRENCE patlawrence@cinci.rr.com Five generations of Beams have farmed the fields of their family’s Clinton County acreage, but the youngest family member, Brooke, focuses her attention on 110 acres of wooded property not far from the house. As a high school freshman, she chose the production of maple syrup as her four-year FFA Supervised Agricultural Experience. Seven years later, the project has blossomed into a small but full scale operation. The business, Full of Sap, involves the production, marketing and distribution of a diverse selection of products related to the maple syrup that has been collected, reduced and refined from the family’s stand of sugar maples. Brook says, “I put out 185 taps in 2004, the first year; 600 taps the next year. Now it’s a thousand taps. I tapped about 400 trees last year,
using from 1-4 taps per tree depending on the size of the tree.” She uses an extensive, gravity-driven tubing collection system, collecting sap in 300-gallon tanks. The collected sap can’t be held more than a day or so. The sap is then pumped to a larger 800-gallon tank where it flows into an evaporator housed in the ‘sugar house’. She says, “The evaporator is a basically a chambered, covered pan over a wood-fired stove. It takes about a cord of wood to make 20 gallons of syrup. The evaporator boils and reduces the sap into the proper consistency. It’s a tightly controlled process to ensure appropriate sugar content. It takes about seven hours to go from sap to syrup, and it takes 43 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup.” Last year, Full of Sap produced about 150 gallons of syrup. But making maple syrup is only part of the
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business. Brooke has found that marketing maple syrup is a critical element of the venture. Full of Sap offers pure maple syrup in plain, fancy, and fashionably attired bottles. They sell caramelized popcorn, pancake mixes, barbecue sauces, maple sugar and maple candies. The Full of Sap gift baskets may include maple leaf-shaped pieces of soft maple candy, sweet chipotle barbecue sauce, chocolate chip pancake mix, jars of maple cream, maple lollipops and the choice of a variety of decorative containers like a traditional maple leaf, the customized Ohio jugs, or the 16-ounce glass Statue of Liberty bottle. Brooke says, “We have fifty different products and 20 different kinds of bottles. The snow men and bears have hand-knitted scarves and hats with
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ACRES of Southwest Ohio just about any color combination for every season. We make Grade A maple syrup, including Light Amber, Medium Amber and Dark Amber. The lighter the color, the more subtle the flavor. “ According to the Ohio Maple Producers Association, 500 taps or more usually is necessary to generate significant supplemental income and at least 70% of Ohio’s annual production is sold right where it is produced. The remainder is packed in small containers and sold at craft shows, gift shops, local farmers markets or sometimes, sold wholesale to retail packers. Brook has opted for craft show sales rather than on site distribution, and like many producers, has found that specialty container packaging plus conversion to maple spread or sugar adds significantly to profits. Traditional maple syrup costs significantly more than commercially produced, high-fructose, artificially flavored syrups-16 ounces sells for about $16, a quart sells for $29. Fortunately, its rich, distinctive flavor and all-natural ingredients appeal to a growing niche market. Brooke and her mother, Susan, work together, and dad, David, gets involved as well, in production, cutting wood and
helping with transportation. Susan arranges gift baskets, handles inventory, and with her degree in fashion merchandising, contributes to the engaging presentation of their products. One part of their presentation is especially memorable-the log cabin sugar house replica, complete with a smokestack, that acts as a portable storefront. Brooke says, “Initially, we went to multiple fairs and festivals, then we developed a feel for the type of customers that would appreciate our products. Certain fairs, like Winterfair in Columbus, have the high traffic and attendees that are best for us. We give syrup samples in little communion glasses. Little kids are our best customers. It gets so busy, some days everyone gets roped in, Mom, Dad and Grandma!” With no family history in maple syrup production, Brooke says, “Learning the process was a challenge. The first year a local producer taught me the production methods that have been streamlined since colonial days, yet remain basically unchanged, how sap production is triggered by temperatures above freezing in the daytime and below freezing again at night and that the volume of sap
produced during a single season can vary from 10 to 20 gallons of sap. The volume depends on the tree, weather conditions, length of the sap season, and the collection method. The Ohio season is short, just three to five weeks, usually in February to early March. He took half my syrup in exchange for the learning experience.” When another producer was retiring from the business, she bought all his equipment and reassembled it on the Sabina farm property. Canada produces 10-12 million gallons of maple syrup each year, more than 80 percent of the world’s supply and Vermont is the biggest US producer, with over a million gallons last season, but Ohio ranks 4th or 5th each year among the twelve maple product producing states in the US. The Beams were one of about 900 Ohio families contributing to the production of 120,00 gallons of maple syrup in 2011. Now a senior at Ohio State, Brooke’s major is Agricultural Communications with a minor in Agricultural Business, which includes
May 2012 15A marketing and economic strategies. She plans to continue running Full of Sap after graduation, adding an additional revenue-producing dimension to the family business. She and Susan are already preparing for the first fair of the year, the Clinton County Corn Festival, ordering bottles, packaging pancake mixes, coordinating specialty items with the maple cooperative. “It is a labor intensive business,” Brooke says, “but there’s a growing market. We have plenty of trees and maples can be tapped until they’re over 100 years old.” According to the Ohio Maple Producers Association, current Ohio demand for maple products exceeds the annual production. That bodes well for Brooke’s business plan, which calls for more trees being tapped, the development of a retail website, an increased focus on out-ofseason sales, and, perhaps, even more stylish outfits for the bottles.
At right, Brooke and Susan Beam on their Clinton County farm. Below, some of the sweet maple products they sell.
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16A
May 2012
ACRES of Southwest Ohio
BEEF PRICES UP
By Tracy Turner OSU Extension Service PIKETON - Interest in beef production is high right now in part because of record high prices farmers have been fetching recently, but some producers still have concerns about rising feed and gas prices, which could hit consumers’ wallets and make them less likely to buy pricey cuts, an Ohio State University Extension expert said. “Prices for cattle recently reached record highs,” said John Grimes, beef coordinator for OSU Extension. “So, there’s a lot of enthusiasm (among beef producers right now) because of what animals are worth at the market, but input prices such as fuel, feed and fertilizer are still an issue.” Part of the issue is that the country’s beef supply is tight right now, with U.S. producers having the smallest cow herds nationwide since the
1950s, Grimes said. That’s due in part to drought in the southwest and higher than average export sales, he said. With 1.27 million head of cattle, of which some 25 percent are dairy cows, Ohio ranks 16th nationwide in beef operations, according to the Ohio Beef Council. The state’s beef industry is valued at some $1.3 billion and produces nearly 500 million pounds of beef each year, the industry trade group said. “Looking from the outside in, sale prices are very good, which is very much a function of supply and demand,” Grimes said. “We have fewer cows, export sales have been record high and domestic demand has been solid.” As a result, producers are trying to get as many live calves out of cows now as they can, he said. This has led producers to place more emphasis on fertility, calving ease and watching feed costs.
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Grimes works on beef cattle research, including beef reproduction, new synchronization systems, artificial insemination, alternative forages, and ways to supplement production shortcomings for the year. “One way producers are trimming feed costs is by trying to do as much with grazing as we can to minimize the use of harvested forages,” he said. “Anytime you let the cow do the harvesting, it’s more economical. “The equipment costs associated with hay production can result in higher priced forages for a small producer.” Demand for corn has also increased significantly, as 2011 was the first year the amount of corn used for ethanol production basically equaled the amount used for feed production, Grimes said. “That is an interesting dynamic which helped to drive up prices for feedstuffs,” he said.
An issue that has recently impacted beef prices negatively is the publicity surrounding lean finely textured beef (LFTB), also known as “pink slime.” While the process used to produce LFTB has been around for years to safely remove fat from beef trimmings, Grimes said, recent adverse publicity has resulted in prices for 50 percent lean trimmings plummeting to nearly half the value seen in early March. The issue has also contributed to a recent decline in fed cattle prices. Grimes spoke recently at the Ohio Beef Expo, which was sponsored by the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association. The event, which is in its 25th year and included a trade show and a steer and heifer show, is the single largest event in the state devoted to cattle producers. He said that the overall outlook for U.S. beef is good for the next few years, noting that trade
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of Southwest Ohio Issue 3
May 2012
1B
Shear Magic 1
Greg Gaskill holds Crema, a Huacaya alpaca, prior to shearing.
Chris Blair shears the blanket fiber from Crema the alpaca.
By Debra Gaskill dgaskill@recordherald.com Steve and Chris Blair, of London, want you to know they only shear beautiful alpacas. To alpaca and llama farmers, like other fiber producers who raise sheep and mohair goats, spring means shearing day. And shearing day is a big deal. It’s bringing in your ‘crop’ of fiber, whether you ship it off to the co-op or process it into yarn yourself, it’s still harvest day. You’ve fed your animals well, taken care of the herd health details, like parasite control, and it should be reflected in the quality of your fiber. Your fiber should be beautiful. Blair has raised sheep at his London farm “Little Rest Farm” for more than 35 years. “I have shorn a variety of sheep breeds over the past 40 years, and have shown my sheep at local and regional fairs from Missouri to Massachusetts, winning many top awards,” he said. “I know what a top-notch shearing job can do for an animal in competition, and I know how proud you can be
to see that beautiful animal in your pasture.” Blair began shearing alpacas in 1995 years ago when his veterinarian asked him to do work for him, following his retirement from AT&T. “I hooked up with my friend Jim Petkosek in northeast Ohio for that
London home. He also requires that the animals be clean and dry before shearing. A quick search of “alpaca shearing” on the Internet reveals a number of traveling teams based throughout the world. For the uninitiated, llamas and alpacas belong
The Blairs are part of a unique workforce which travels from farm to farm in the spring shearing alpacas. job, as Jim had been shearing alpacas for a few years prior to that. We became partners and the rest is history. We shear separately for local jobs, and travel together when we can,” Blair said. Often times, Steve travels with his son Chris, an expert shearer as well. The Blairs are part of a unique workforce which travels from farm to farm in the spring shearing alpacas. His shearing fee includes complete shearing and trimming, cutting toenails and checking front teeth. There is also a mileage charge if he travels more than 50 miles from his
Juvenile male alpaca Boogity prior to shearing.
to the camelid family — yes, they are related to camels— and require shearing each year. Both hail from South America and came to North America in the 1980s. Alpacas are primarily fiber animals and come in two breeds — Huacaya (wha-ki-yuh) and Suri, as well as more than 20 different colors. Huacayas produce a very crimpy fiber which is extremely soft and, for those who are allergic to wool, does not produce lanolin. Suris produce a long twisted lock, similar to a dreadlock, which has a unique luster or shine. Alpacas ar sheared from just belong their jaw line to about halfway down the legs. Like llamas, the best fiber comes from around the barrel. Alpacas can produce between can produce upwards of five to 10 pounds, more or less, depending on the animals. Leg and neck fiber can more slightly coarser and shorter and while a
number of alpaca breeders will discard this fiber, it makes wonderful rug yarn for weaving. Shearing alpacas requires that the animals’ legs be restrained using a pulley system. The pulley system can be attached to a shearing table, onto which the animal is lifted, or the shearing can be done on the floor. While it may seem harsh to restrain the animal, it allows the shearer to work more efficiently and quickly, reducing the stress on the alpaca. Shearing begins on the belly, where the dirtiest fiber is often found (and discarded). Using standard sheep shears, the shearer then moves to the barrel, keeping the blade close to the skin. The barrel cut is folded away from the animal and gathered into a bag. The shearer then removes the leg and neck fiber, separating it from the barrel cutting. The pulley restraints are then slightly relaxed and the alpaca is turned over to the other side for the process to begin again. While the alpaca is on the shearing table, this is also a good time for the topknot to be trimmed, as well as toenails and, for males, the fighting teeth to be trimmed. It’s also a good time for annual inoculations or monthly worming. Shearing is hot dirty work — it can be stressful for the animal and just plain hard work for the shearing team. But once the animal is released back to the pasture, you know it can cope with the upcoming hot weather and you have the beginnings of fabulous yarn or fabric. Debra Gaskill is the managing editor of the Record-Herald in Fayette County. She and her husband Greg raise llamas and alpacas at their farm Checkered Flag Fibers in Clark County.
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Shearing day also means toenails get trimmed.
3
Chris Blair trims off Crema's leg fiber, which will be used for rug yarn.
4
Steve Blair trims Crema's topknot.
5
Crema after shearing.
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2B
May 2012
ACRES of Southwest Ohio
Livestock in Crisis First responders get training to deal effectively with farm animals
A panel featuring the Animal Agriculture 202 speakers provided an open forum for first responders to gain clarification on proper livestock handling techniques. Seated left to right are Tracy Busch, director, Henry County Emergency Management; Dr. Steven Moeller, swine extension specialist, OSU Animal Sciences; Dr. Stephen Boyles, beef extension specialist, OSU Animal Sciences; Dr. Kimberly Cole, equine extension specialist, OSU Animal Sciences; and Dr. Michael Barrie, senior veterinarian, Columbus Zoo & Aquarium.
COLUMBUS – Thanks to a grant from the Animals for Life Foundation, more than 150 first responders were trained recently on the proper handling of large animals in times of crisis. Animal Agriculture 202, which was held by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and the Ohio State University Extension, included a series of eight presentations that included proper ways to plan for and respond to farm animal incidents and how to interact with those animals effectively. The workshop drew a crowd that included
emergency response personnel, law enforcement, veterinarians and technicians, dog wardens, firemen and humane society agents. Attendees were given guidelines to protect humans in the crisis while keeping the best interest of the animal in mind. The workshop had great importance because of Ohio’s need to have well-trained first responders reacting properly and effectively to protect not only the public but also the animals. Allyss Strogin, cofounder of County Animals Rescue and Evacuation (C.A.R.E.) in Medina County, brought her team to the workshop to stay aligned with resources available. “This is about being prepared, being certified and staying up-to-date on the best training,” Strogin explains. “In our field, there is nothing more rewarding than returning a scared, lost animal to the people who are searching for it.” The day’s speakers included veterinarians, Ohio State animal science faculty, zoo employees and emergency management personnel who work with large animals consistently. Presentations included horse handling and safety, proper human safety precautions to use while handling large animals, how to respond
to roadway accidents involving livestock, the importance of handling animals and humans properly in times of distress, the difficult but important subject of animal euthanasia, how to handle escaped animals and finally the importance of preplanning for farm animal incidents. “We are here today to strengthen the connection between animals and humans. Many first responders are familiar with pets but not livestock; this education allows everyone to keep the public safe during stressful times,” said Dr. Leah Dorman, Director of Food Programs, Center for Food & Animal Issues, Ohio Farm Bureau. The Animals for Life Foundation is a nonprofit organization that celebrates the humananimal bond and the many ways animals bring quality to human life. It was established in 2009 and has granted more than $50,000 to programs like these that aim to improve the human-animal bond, including supporting a classroom therapy dog, a therapy dog program for children with autism, a local foods event and a career program for students interested in animal professions. For more information on the Foundation, go to www.aflfoundation.org or www.facebook.com/anim alsforlifefoundation.
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ACRES of Southwest Ohio
May 2012
Meet Ronald
Born January 7, 1941, Ron Rockhold is known throughout Ohio for his dedicated service to many agricultural and public organizations. Ron is the 2nd child of William and Elizabeth Rockhold. He was born on January 7, 1941 in the family home near New Vienna in Clinton County three years later they moved to Greene twp in Fayette county. Ron's farming career began as a hired man on the farm of Jed Stuckey. As Ron gained experience he began share cropping with Jed Stuckey's and eventually began to farm on his own
in 1962 where they live now. As technology became available to the public, Ron was quick to apply its use in the home and on the farm. Ron owned one of the first personal computers in the county and was also one of the first to put one in the combine. Ron's career has been defined by his public service. In 1958, Ron joined the Concord/Green Township volunteer fire department. This began a career that would span 49 years. He retired from the department as a captain with 49 years of service. He joined the Ohio Army
National Guard and served from 1966 to 1972. He has also served on the Fayette County Zoning board appeals for many years. Ron's greatest effort for the farming community has been through his involvement with the Ohio Corn Grower's Association. He has been on the board of directors for the last 20 years. He has participated in legislative trips to both the Ohio State House and the U.S. congress promoting issue important to Ohio Corn Growers. Ron helped establish the only county affiliate of the
OCGA in the Southwest Ohio Corn Growers Association, where he has served on the board of directors and as the computing secretary responsible for group correspondence. Ron has served on the National Corn Growers Service Action Team, the OSU Extension (Fayette Co) advisory board, Farm Credit board candidate selection committee, Extension Agent selection committee, Fayette County Agronomy Committee and was Chairman for several years, Fayette county Pork Producers when he was
3B
raising hogs, he was cochairman of the pork food stand at the fair, Chairman of the Fayette county Marketing Club until it was disbanded when Larry Lotz retired, Dekalb seed salesmen for 26 years, Farm Bureau board chairman for marketing for several years. Sever as Concord township ASCS committeeman until it was discontinue. In 1962, Ron married Susan Granger. The couple has one son, William. Ron's has one brother, John, and two sisters, Willeen Stackhouse and Nancy Roberts.
Rockhold A First Generation Farmer By Ryan Carter rcarter@recordherald.com Unlike many farmers in Fayette County, Ronald Rockhold isn’t the third or fourth generation of a local family steeped in agriculture history. “I’m first-generation,” said Rockhold. “My father never farmed and my son isn’t planning on farming either.” But even with the lack of history when it comes to farming, through his hard work and determination the Rockhold name has become synonymous with Fayette County agriculture. Rockhold is known throughout Ohio for his dedicated service to many agricultural and public organizations. In 2010, he was inducted into the Fayette County Agricultural Hall of Fame. His farming career began as a hired man on the farm of Jed Stuckey. “Jed hired me out of high
school and I started in 1958,” said Rockhold. “It kind of began from there and here I am now.” As Rockhold gained experience, he began share cropping with Jed and eventually began to farm on his own in 1962. “He gave me a rented farm that he gave up and the first farm that was left to me was 89 acres,” he said. Now, Rockhold and his wife Susan, own 465 acres on Greenfield-Sabina Road in Sabina. As technology became available to the public, Rockhold was quick to apply its use in the home and on the farm. He owned one of the first personal computers in the county and was also one of the first to place one in the combine. Rockhold’s career has been defined by his public service. In 1958, he joined the Concord-Green Township volunteer fire department. This began a
career that would span 49 years and he retired from the department as a captain. He joined the Ohio Army National Guard and served from 1966 to 1972. Rockhold’s greatest endeavor for the farming community has been through his involvement with the Ohio Corn Grower’s Association. He has been on the board of directors for the last 20 years and has participated in legislative trips to both the Ohio State House and the U.S. Congress, promoting issues important to Ohio Corn Growers. He helped establish the only county affiliate of the OCGA in the Southwest Ohio Corn Growers Association, where he’s served on the board of directors and as the computing secretary responsible for group correspondence. He’s also served on the National Corn Growers Service Action Team, the
OSU Extension (Fayette County) advisory board, Farm Credit board candidate selection committee, Extension Agent selection committee, Fayette County Agronomy Committee and was chairman for several years, Fayette County Pork Producers, was co-chairman of the pork food stand at the fair, chairman of the Fayette County Marketing Club,Dekalb seed salesman for 26 years, Farm Bureau board chairman for marketing for several years, and served as Concord Township ASCS committeeman until it was discontinued. “I’ve been able to accomplish so much more than I ever expected,” said Rockhold. “All of this recognition has been very humbling. I have absolutely loved serving this community.”
Ronald Rockhold is very active in community breakfasts (above) and Ohio Corn Growers Association (below). Rockhold is a first-generation farmer in Fayette County just outside of Sabina.
Ryan Carter is the Assistant Editor of the Record-Herald
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4B
May 2012
ACRES of Southwest Ohio
Dynamic Duo
The Atley Brothers
Brothers Bryan and Brandon Atley pose on their family farm near Xenia. The brothers love running the farm handed down to them from their parents. By Paul Collins pcollins@xeniagazette.com XENIA --- George Washington once said, "I had rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world." That statement could have just as easily came from the mouths of Xenia brothers Bryan and Brandon Atley. The duo grew up with farming, watching their grandfather and their father plow the land and maintain a large agricultural operation. For 29-year-old Bryan, the memories of daily chores and farm work are just as vivid today as they were when he first joined his grandfather and father out in the field at 10 or 11
years of age. "I can remember when I was 10 or 11 years old getting out and working the farm," said Bryan. "We were in charge of livestock feeding." Brandon also has fond memories of his childhood days on the farm. The time he spent in the field working with the livestock convinced him that farming was in his future. According to the 33-year-old farmer, his preteen experiences on the family farm filled him with dreams of operating his own farm when he became an adult. "I remember working the ground when I was 12 years old," said Brandon. "I had hoped, even as a
young boy, to farm on my own land some day." During their time on the family farm, the Atleys were like sponges, absorbing all of the knowledge they could concerning agriculture. The brothers found great teachers and mentors in their grandfather and father. "Our dad was a real gogetter," said Brandon. "He taught us not to mess around. He told us to get in there and not to lollygag. Grandpa was a phenomenal farmer. He was a good teacher. When he spoke about farming, you wanted to listen." The lessons and the experiences paid off when the Atley brothers reached
adulthood. Today, the two are partners and third generation farmers, working 850 acres of land. Many days, the two can be seen on their farm, raising corn and soybeans. They put in eight to 10 hour days, taking on all of the responsibilities that are required to run a successful operation. In addition to planting and harvesting, Bryan and Brandon tackle a variety of other duties,
including mechanic work, metal fabrication, grain storage, construction, excavating and desk work. The multitasking, says Bryan, is the most demanding and difficult part of farming. "The most challenging part of farming is wearing all the different hats you've got to wear," said Bryan. "We do everything and anything we have to do to save money. We're both good at different things, which helps out." The hard work, however, comes with several rewards. The benefits of working up a sweat in the fields begin to emerge in late September and early October, when harvest time arrives. "What I like most about farming is watching the crops grow and mature," said Brandon. "I like actually
seeing what you've planted grow into something you can harvest." "Harvest time is the most enjoyable part of farming," added Bryan. "I love getting up with the sunlight every day, just working hard." The Atley brothers seemed to be thriving, making a profit and surviving in a difficult economy. The two offer up many words of advice to youngsters who hope to join the ranks of America's future farmers. It is faith, however, that the brothers emphasize and hold aloft as the key to success. "Trust in God," said Brandon. "If our grandfather were still alive today, he'd say 'You've got to do your best and let God do the rest."
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May 2012
5B
Swearingen Family carries on
he Swearingen land, established in 1875 at 4688 Brier Ridge Road, West Union, has been designated an Ohio Century Farm by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Current owners Mark and Erica Swearingen, along with their children, Katelynn and Matthew, received a letter of congratulations in May 2011 recognizing their commitment to preserving the family heritage and for their contributions to Ohioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
agricultural community by maintaining the farm that has been in the family for more than 100 years. "It's a big honor and a responsibility - my dad, his brother and three sisters all grew up here," said Mark Swearingen. "We wanted to keep it in the family, not just for the history, but especially for the many living family members who still call it home." Brother and sister, Albert Swearingen and Catherine Swearingen Redmon purchased 100
century old tradition
acres of land on Brier Ridge Road, Military Survey numbers 2729, 2829 and 2845, in 1875. They were children of Peter Swearingen, a great-great-grandfather of Mark. In 1906, Albert became the sole owner of the land. After his death in 1926, the land was acquired in the following year by his son, James Cleveland Swearingen. Grover E. Swearingen, greatgrandfather of Mark, purchased the land from James in 1932. Wendell
W. Swearingen, grandfather of Mark, lived on the land and became the owner in 1957. Wendell passed the land to his children, Wendell, Jr., Sharon, Linda, Nancy, and Keith in 1994 and 2000. Keith Swearingen purchased the land in 2009, and Mark became the owner in 2010. Now, Mark and his family cut some hay from the farm and keep a few cows. The hills are ideal for the cattle, and the farm gives daughter, Katelyn, a three-year 4-
H member, plenty of room to work with her project hogs. "Katelynn and Matthew love the farm," Swearingen said. "It gives them plenty of room to explore." Celebrating over 136 years of farm family ownership, a certificate was presented to the Swearingen family. Wendell and Virginia Swearingen lived on and farmed the land the longest of any owners, Wendell 66 years and Virginia 53 years. Of Ohioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nearly
75,000 farms, only 872 are recognized as century farms by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Achieving century farm status is an impressive feat, and Mark and Erica Swearingen are commended for continuing the farming tradition. The Ohio Department of Agriculture has listed on their website 11 farms in Adams County that have been designated as Ohio Century farms.
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6B
May 2012
ACRES of Southwest Ohio
GETTING
THE MOST OUT OF CORN
By Tracy Turner OSU Extension Service
Corn growers looking to ensure a healthy crop with strong yields this year need to plan ahead including knowing when to plant, when and if to till and how to make the right seed depth adjustments based on soil conditions, says an Ohio State University
Extension expert. “Mistakes made during crop establishment are usually irreversible, and can put a ‘ceiling’ on a crop’s yield potential before the plants have even emerged,” said Peter Thomison, an OSU Extension agronomist.
The following are some proven practices that will help get a corn crop off to a good start: - Perform tillage operations only when necessary and under the proper soil conditions: Avoid working wet soil and reduce secondary tillage passes. Perform secondary tillage operations only when necessary to prepare an adequate seedbed. Shallow compaction created by excessive secondary tillage can reduce crop yields. Deep tillage should only be used when a compacted zone has been identified and soil is relatively dry. Late summer and fall are the best times for deep tillage.
- Complete planting by early May: The recommended time for planting corn in northern Ohio is April 15 to May 10, and in southern Ohio, April 10 to May 10. However, if soil conditions are dry and soil temperatures are rising fast, and the five to seven day forecast calls for favorable conditions, start planting before the optimum date. During the two to three weeks of optimal corn planting time, there is, on average, about one out of three days when field work can occur. This narrow window of opportunity further emphasizes the need to begin planting as soon as field conditions will allow, even though the calendar date may be before the optimal date.
- Avoid early planting on poorly drained soils or those prone to ponding: Yield reductions resulting from “mudding the seed in” may be much greater than those resulting from a slight planting delay. Also, if dry corn seed absorbs cold water as a result of a cold rain or melting snow, “imbibitional chilling injury” may result. Cold water can cause similar injury to seedling structures as they emerge during germination. Such injury in corn seed ruptures cell membranes and results in aborted radicles, proliferation of seminal roots and delayed seedling growth.
- Adjust seeding depth according to soil conditions: Plant between 1 1/2- to 2inches deep to provide for frost protection and adequate root development. In early to midApril, when the soil is usually moist and evaporation rate is low, seed should be planted no deeper than 1 1/2 inches. When soils are warming up and drying fast in late May or early June, corn may be seeded more deeply, up to 2 to 2 1/2 inches on non-crusting soils. Consider seed-press wheels or seed firmers to ensure good seed-soil contact.
- Adjust seed planting rates on field-by-field basis: Adjust planting rates by using the yield potential of a site as a major criterion for determining the appropriate plant population. Higher seeding rates are recommended for sites with high yield potential, high soil-fertility levels and water-holding capacity. Follow seed company recommendations to adjust plant population for specific hybrids.
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May 2012
7B
AGRICULTURE EVENTS AROUND
Here are upcoming events involving Ohio State University?s College Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences for May, June and July
members of Greater Mohican Audubon May 17:High Life in the City? Society. Free. Information: 330-464Behavioral and Population Processes June 29:Registration deadline for Name Shaping Avian Conservation in the 2148. That Tree, July 6, Big Creek Park, May 2:Improving Your Woodland, Plastic Pot Recycling, 8 a.m.Urbanizing World, 3:30-4:30 p.m., June 9: Geauga County Park District, 9160 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Big Creek Park, noon, Chadwick Arboretum and 103 Kottman Hall, Ohio State Robinson Road, Chardon. Workshop Geauga County Park District, 9160 University, 2021 Coffey Road, Learning Gardens, Ohio State providing in-depth training and practi Robinson Road, Chardon. Workshop Columbus, with video link to 123 University,?Howlett Hall, 2001 Fyffe on identifying trees. Registration $35 for landowners on getting the mostWilliams Hall, Ohio Agricultural Court, Columbus. Free recycling ofJune 29. Information: go.osu.edu/JrY o from a wooded acreage. Registration and Research and Development Center, plastic flower trays, plastic pots614-688-3421 $35 by April 26. Information: non-food-grade plastic foam packing 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster. Seminar go.osu.edu/JrJ or 614-688-3421. sponsored by School of Environmentmaterial. Information: 614-688-3479. and Natural Resources. Speaker is May 3:Climate Tools Cafe Webinar, SENR 10 June 9: Rose Garden Open House, 9 professor Amanda Rodewald. a.m.-noon. Web-based seminar July 6: Name That Tree, 9:30 a.m.Free. Information: 614-292-2265 ora.m.-2 p.m., Garden of Roses of Legend featuring models and tools for helping and Romance, Ohio Agricultural 3:30 p.m., Big Creek Park, Geauga 330-263-3659. planners and others address climate Research and Development Center, County Park District, 9160 Robinson adaptations in their communities. May 19:Irrigating Urban Gardens, 91680 Madison Ave., Wooster. Features Road, Chardon. Workshop providing Free. Information: go.osu.edu/JrK a.m.-noon, or three-acre garden of 1,500 heirloom Godman Guild, 303 E. 6th in-depth training and practice on 614-292-8975. St., Columbus. Workshop on how to roses, most in full bloom. Free. identifying trees. Registration $35 by 330-263-3612. build irrigation systems; speakersInformation: are June 29. Information: go.osu.edu/JrY May 5:Plant Discovery Day, 9 a.m.-3 Ohio State University Extension?s Larry or 614-688-3421. p.m., Fisher Auditorium, Ohio Brown and Angelica Huerta. Free. June 13:Summer Pruning Workshop, 8 Agricultural Research and a.m.-noon, Seaman Orientation Plaza, Information, registration: July 12: Whiz Bang! Science Show, Development Center, 1680 Madison go.osu.edu/HZJ or 614-263-5662. Ohio Agricultural Research and 7-8 p.m., John Streeter Garden Ave., Wooster. Plant and art sale and Development Center, 1680 Madison Amphitheater, Secrest Arboretum, auctions; proceeds benefit OARDC?sMay 24:Carbon Footprint in No-tillAve., Wooster. Hands-on training and Ohio Agricultural Research and Secrest Arboretum. Information: 330practice for gardeners. Registration $50. Farming in Southern Brazil, 3:30-4:30 Development Center, 1680 Madison 464-3148. p.m., 103 Kottman Hall, Ohio StateLimit 15 people. Information: Ave., Wooster. Fun science program cochran.7@osu.edu or 330-464-2148.for kids of all ages. Free. Informatio University, 2021 Coffey Road, May 7-9: Ohio Wine Competition, Columbus, with video link to 123 whizbangscience.com or 330-464Fisher Auditorium, Ohio Agricultural Williams Hall, Ohio Agricultural June 14:Whiz Bang! Science Show, 7-2148. Research and Development Center, Research and Development Center, 8:30 p.m., John Streeter Garden 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster. Amphitheater, Secrest Arboretum, Ohio 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster. Seminar July 21: Night Insect Walk, 8-10:30 Sponsored by Ohio State University?s sponsored by School of EnvironmentAgricultural Research and Development p.m., Seaman Orientation Plaza, Ohio Department of Horticulture and Crop 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster. and Natural Resources. Speaker is Center, Juca Agricultural Research and Science. Information: 330-263-3881. Sa, Universidade Estadual de PontaFun science program for kids of all Development Center, 1680 Madison Free. Information: ages. Grossa, Brazil. Free. Information: 614May 10-12: Plant Sale 2012, Ave., Wooster. Fun educational whizbangscience.com or 330-464292-2265 or 330-263-3659. Chadwick Arboretum and Learning program on nighttime insects for kids 2148. Gardens, Ohio State University, 2001 and their families. Rain date July 22. Fyffe Court, Columbus. May 10, 6-9 June 20:Beekeeping Webinar Series: Free. Information: cochran.7@osu.edu p.m.; May 11, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; May 12, or 330-464-2148. Mites and Honey Bees, 9-10 a.m. Web8 a.m.-3 p.m. Proceeds benefit the based seminar featuring retired Ohio June 2:Building and Testing Soil, 10 arboretum. Information: July Jim 25: Guided Summer Walk, 10State University honey bee specialist a.m.-noon, Godman Guild, 303 E. 6th go.osu.edu/Hwj or 614-688-3479. 11:30 a.m., Seaman Orientation Plaza, Tew. Free. Information: St., Columbus. Workshop by Mike Ohio Agricultural Research and ellsworth.2@osu.edu or 330-263-3723. May 16: Beekeeping Webinar Series: Hogan, Ohio State University Development Center, 1680 Madison Information, registration: Pesticides In and Around the Hive,Extension. 9June 21:Hay Day Field Day, 4-8:30 Ave., Wooster. Guided walk through go.osu.edu/HZJ or 614-263-5662. 10 a.m. Web-based seminar featuring p.m., Eastern Agricultural Research OARDC?s Secrest Arboretum. Free. Ohio State University entomologist June 9: Guided Bird Walk, 9-11 a.m.,Station of the Ohio Agricultural Information: cochran.7@osu.edu or Reed Johnson (apiculture; pollinator Research and Development Center, 330-464-2148. Secrest Arboretum, Seaman Orientation toxicology and genomics). Free. Bond Ridge Road, Caldwell. Free. Plaza, Ohio Agricultural Research 16870 and Information: ellsworth.2@osu.edu or Information: little.16@osu.edu or July 740- 26: Field Crops Day, time to be Development Center, 1680 Madison 330-263-3723. 732-5681. determined, Northwest Agricultural Ave., Wooster. Birdwatching walk led by
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May 2012
ACRES of Southwest Ohio
Picking processor not an easy task By Rose Cooper rcooper@wnewsj.com Selecting a meat processor can sometimes be intimidating for farmers. But for some it is even more frustrating if one of their requirements is to have a processor that is fully inspected and which provides the U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection stamp on the meat. That is one of the requirements for Nancy and Kent Pickard of Hoskins Road, Wilmington, who have been taking steers for processing since the late 1970s. A fully inspected facility is one where the animals are inspected and processed at an Ohio Department of Agriculture, Division of Meat Inspection, plant. The inspection includes all facets, from processing to packaging and handling of the meat. Nancy said another problem is being able to get their steers processed when the animals are ready or when she and Kent want to have the processing done. “There are so many locker plants that have closed,” Nancy said, “The ones that are (open) get booked up quite a bit. There are a lot of them that are not state inspected.”
For years the Pickards had their steers processed at Wilson’s Locker in Blanchester which was convenient and kept the costs down. “After they closed up we had to find someplace else so we went to the Frozen Food Market at Old Town, near Xenia,” Nancy said. But now the Frozen Food Market is no longer a fully inspected facility so the Pickards began taking their steers to Copey’s Butcher Shop at Medway, a one-hour drive from Clinton County. Nancy called it “easier” to take the steers to Old Town. “Now we have to haul them so far and it takes a lot longer,” Nancy said. Copey’s is located in Clark County, about half way between Springfield and Dayton. The family owned business has been in operation since the 1950s. Both Pickards are happy with the quality of their operation. “They are state inspected. They do the vacuum clear-wrap and cut the meat to our specifications,” Nancy said. Nancy said she can designate what cuts of meat she wants, which may include New York strip steaks, tenderloin, porterhouse, t-bones, rib and sirloin steaks. “I kind of mix it up as to what I need. During the summer people grill out more so
I have more steaks. I need more ground beef in the winter time for meat loaf and chili.” Nancy said she also has some ground beef made into patties. She also plans to have roasts on hand. The Pickards are pleased that Copey’s places their animals in individual pens. “Kent liked that they were in small individual pens. We didn’t like Old Town as much,” Nancy said. “They put several in the same pen and just anything was there. Some of the animals were bony. Sometimes one would be trying to get out and they’re butting heads. We like it when Copey’s puts only one steer in a pen.” The cost for having the meat processed is more costly at Copey’s, she said. “They charge a whole lot more than what we were paying around here.” The Pickards, who sell their beef under “Garden Delights” at the Clinton County Farmers’ Market and from their home at 1129 Hoskins Road,
Wilmington, do not use harmones in raising their beef and the meat does not have added preservatives. “Ours are grain fed so there is marbeling and flavor. The meat is more tender,” Nancy said. All of their meat has the state seal of approval, the Pickards said. In addition to having a butcher shop, Copey’s also has a delicatessen, a bakery and sells cheese. “They have a big showcase and they have containers of chicken, pork, lamb and beef. It’s a nice clean place.” Shirley and Bob Webb of Fife Avenue, Wilmington, raise chickens and have them processed. “For our own use, we have had them dressed at Johnson’s Farm on Farmers Road. We also use King’s Poultry at Greenville,” Shirley said. Bob said Johnson’s Farms has processed chickens for them for 10 or 12 years, but they are not fully inspected. “When they do
turkeys to resell, they have an inspector come in,” Shirley added. King’s has a fully inspected poultry processing plant year round. “It’s so clean up there and they’re very swift,” Shirley said. “They have a lot of equipment. Nancy and I usually take them up, drop them off and then go out to lunch. They are always ready by the time we are done eating. The chickens are packaged on the spot and they will put our label on them that says that they actually process them and how much they weigh. They also put on the USDA inspection sticker.” The Webbs are pleased with both chicken processing facilities. “They are both great. We have really been pleased with them,” Shirley said. Rose Cooper is a staff writer at the Wilmington News Journal in Clinton County
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May 2012
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The Amish Cook By Lovina Eicher Thirty-one years ago today my older sister Leah and Paul were married. I was only in the third grade when they were joined in marriage. So happy anniversary wishes to Paul and Leah if they happen to be reading this column. Paul and Leah will hold a late 2011 Christmas gathering for my family on Memorial Day. Each of us siblings take a turn to host a family gathering around Christmas or later the following year. We take turns from oldest to youngest are now starting over and so it is Leah’s turn again since she is the oldest of us eight siblings. My husband Joe ordered 50 chicks that will come in the middle of May. With 50 chickens that should give us quite a few eggs.
Amish Cook lines when it is this windy. Elizabeth wants to finish the dress for the wedding she has a part in on Thursday. She has it almost done so it won’t take her too much longer. Our whole family will probably attend. I cut a dress out a dress for me that I would like to sew sometime. I could use a few more dresses. We were helping Elizabeth’s friend Timothy get his house cleaned so he could move to the property he bought last year. We still need to do some cleaning over there but the main part of the house is now in good shape. It needed a thorough cleaning because it looked like it had been neglected.
Also he ordered a dozen broiler chicks to raise for meat. We will order more this fall. I didn’t want to order too many this spring because they would be ready to butcher right around the time we will be preparing to have church services here. I also wasn’t sure if we would have enough freezer space. Our potatoes Joe planted in the garden are up now. We have some more potatoes to plant as soon as the soil dries out a little. I want to start planting the rest of the garden also. After that cold weather last week I am glad I waited. On Tuesday we had a few flurries of snow off and on. It is really windy outside so we will put off doing laundry until tomorrow. It is hard to keep the clothes on the
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Timothy put in new doors, new floors and remodeled some bathrooms. He still wants to change some windows and do some painting. He moved the rest of his things in on Saturday so it will be different for him to be on his own. He has done a lot of work in the barn also, including building stalls for his horses and also fencing in the pasture field. Yesterday we spent the day at home relaxing. For dinner we had meatloaf, scalloped potatoes, pork and beans, cake, brownies, and peaches. In the afternoon we played some games. Joseph, 9, didn’t want to play, though, as he is reading the Little House on the
1 cup milk grated us 2 cans of asparag ed asparagus) 1 cup Cheddar cheese, ice (or use fresh-cook and chopped Bread crumbs, 3 or 4 sl ed 4 eggs, boiled and peel 4 tablespoons butter 1 cup flour /4 salt and pepper. top h it w le k in pr S . sh di a casserole paragus on Place eggs in bott, romesoferving one cup of juice. Place draineoudr.asAdd 1 cup milk Drain asparagus epan melt the butter and then mix in flken add the rest of of eggs. In a saucragus juice. As mixture begins to thic ickens. Pour the and 1 /2 cup aspaice and continue to stir until mixture th se on top. Add bread the asparagus ju the eggs and asparagus. Sprinkle cheed. thick sauce over 400 or until bread crumbs are toaste crumbs. Bake at For more recipes, photos or stories “Like” The Amish Cook on Facebook and visit amishcookonline.com to sign up for the free twice-weekly e- newsletters.
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2273198
“We treat the land and the landowners with respect.” Owners
www.e-farmcredit.com For all your Country Home Financing needs, contact:
Buyer of Standing Timber • GRANBINS - DRYERS • AIR SYSTEMS • AUGER SYSTEMS • BUCKET ELEVATORS • PHASE CONVERTERS • ELECTRIC MOTORS • PULLEYS • AUTOMATIC DRYERS • SILOS & UNLOADERS • ALL-STEEL BUILDINGS
Located on St. Rt. 68 & 131) FRANKLIN J. HOLDEN (OWNER)
2272812
WANTED TO RENT
Bill ~ Home 937-393-2393 Cell 937-725-7388 Sonny ~ Cell 740-352-2061 Home 740-286-6932 Wayne ~ Cell 937-725-2791 Main Office 937-393-1958
Since 1949
Open Monday Through Saturday
Johnny Seip, owner
UNION STOCK YARDS
2273336
15 East Main St. Wilmington, Ohio• 937-366-6021 Tues - Fri 10 am - 5:30 pm • Sat 10 am - 3 pm
Prairie books we got him for Christmas. He is on the second book, Little Town on the Prairie, and is enjoying them so much. We give each of the children sets of Little House books around that age for Christmas. I remember reading them when I was in second grade and then rereading them when I was older. I am surprised how much I had remembered from reading them in second grade. We had our first meal of asparagus. Some people in the community had some in March with the early warmth. I will share an asparagus casserole with you.
Asparagus Casserole
Appraisals • Firearms • Collections by Appt. • Coins
UTILITY VEHICLES
9B
100 Grieshop Street • Mt. Orab, Ohio 45154 Phone: 1-800-321-3013 or 1-937-444-0905 FAX: 937-444-0919 2273194
May 2012
ACRES of Southwest Ohio
WOOSTER — Scientists with Ohio State University have received a four-year, $896,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to study the feasibility of incorporating so-called “naked oats” into organic farming rotations as a way to cut the cost of producing organic chicken. The oats, which have a unique protein and amino acid balance, will be tested in the diets of pasture-raised organic broiler chickens. The chickens will be considered part of the crop rotation within a given year, where they’ll serve as both a product to sell and a source of manure to enhance soil fertility. The goal of the study is to develop a way to reduce the cost of organic chicken feed by growing the cereal portion of the birds’ diet on the farm, thus making it more cost-effective to raise and sell organic chicken, said Mike Lilburn, an animal sciences professor at the university’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in northeast Ohio and the leader of the study. “What I’m hoping is that in four years we can offer a cost-effective crop rotation alternative to organic producers, one that produces a quality organic product but decreases the cost of production,” said Lilburn, who also holds an appointment with Ohio State University Extension. Selling naked oats to other organic poultry producers or for use in high-value organic foods such as granola could be other options for farmers, he said. Also called hull-less oats, naked oats are named for their lack of an outer hull compared with conventional oats. “Naked oats are higher in protein than conventional oats and have an amino acid profile that may reduce the proportion of high-cost, high-protein supplements that are currently needed to produce balanced organic diets,” Lilburn said. “If our hypothesis is correct and naked oats can be used at up to 70 to 80 percent of the diet for pasture-reared broilers, this becomes a new option for organic producers.” For now, the cost of organic chicken feed, which is typically bought off the farm, is a limiting factor in expanding organic poultry production, Lilburn said. Organic farmers often sell their chickens only as “pasture-raised” rather than “certified organic” due to the high cost of organic feed. That cost can make the birds too expensive to produce, even if sold at a premium price. Pasture-raised chickens don’t require organic feed but still get a premium price. The study will be done at OARDC’s certified-organic research plots at the
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center’s East Badger Farm near Wooster. The birds will be kept in portable pens, or “chicken tractors,” with spelt and red clover as the other crops in the rotation. In the study’s second year, three area “stakeholder” farms will join the project to test the diets and rotations under real-world conditions. The farms will raise two cycles of organic broilers in the second year, then two cycles of heritagestrain broilers in the third year, with a further aim being to compare the different strains’ carcass characteristics and length of time to reach market size, which is typically 6 pounds. When ready, each year’s findings will be shared with farmers through the eOrganic online Community of Practice hosted by the national eXtension network and through workshops organized by such groups as the Small Farm Institute and the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association. Lilburn’s academic co-researchers on the study are Larry Phelan of the Department of Entomology and Marv Batte of the Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics, both also with Ohio State, OARDC, and the center’s nationally known Organic Food and Farming Education and Research Program (OFFER); and Matt Mariola of the College of Wooster’s Environmental Studies Program. Deb Stinner, former head of OFFER, now retired, had an initial role in planning the study. The grant comes through the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative program of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. This past fall, USDA announced this and 22 other grants, totaling $19 million, to research and Extension programs at U.S. universities, all designed to advance organic farming. “As more and more farmers adopt organic agriculture practices, they need the best science available to operate profitable and successful organic farms,” U.S. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan said in a statement. “America’s brand of organic agricultural goods is world renowned for its high quality and abundance of selection,” she said. “These research and Extension projects will give producers the tools and resources to produce quality organic food and boost farm income, boosting the ‘Grown in America’ brand.” OARDC and OSU Extension are the research and outreach arms, respectively, of Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
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By the Ohio Extension Service
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Naked Oats
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10B
Kitchen: Happy to be here By Alyssa Kitchen kitchen.103@osu.edu As I arrived into Washington Courthouse for my interview back in March, I felt as though I was back home in Hardin County. Growing up with similar roots in a rural community made my decision to start my career in Fayette County an easy transition. When I arrived for my interview, I quickly became aware this is a community, much like my own, dedicated to Ohio State Extension and 4H Youth Development. I am a fourth generation 4-H member on my mother’s side of my family and also had a great great aunt on my father’s side of the family who was a member of A.B. Graham’s 4-H Club in Clark County. As you can see, my family has a long tradition with 4-H programming and this makes me appreciate the opportunities I see for myself and my future with Fayette County. My background includes being an 11 year member, participating in many aspects of Extension. Throughout my time in 4-H, I showed Jersey Cattle and Quarter Horses at numerous county fairs as well as The Ohio State Fair. Growing up watching my older siblings spend their summers with their animals, attending county fairs and participating in 4-H camp, I knew I wanted to join 4-H when I was in 3rd grade. During my teen years, I realized 4-H and Extension had much more to offer than just taking animals or other still projects to the fair. I quickly became involved with the 4-H Awareness Team, 4-H Teen Council, Horse Council, Junior Fair Board, Camp Counseling, Hardin Youth Leadership, and Hardin Leadership II. At the state level I attended the Ohio 4-H Teen Conference. Due to my active involvement, I was selected as my county representative to attend the Citizenship Washington Focus trip my senior year of high school. In the fall following my D.C. trip, I began my college career at The Ohio State University. Like many other young adults, I was undecided with my future plans and what career path I would follow.
I was certain I wanted a career working with youth; however becoming an education major was not the path I wanted to take. After talking with family, I decided my best option was registering in the College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences. Enrolling in CFAES made me feel like I wasn’t a fish out of water in a sea of 60,000 students enrolled at the university. It was a relief for me to see so many familiar faces around the campus that were previous connections through my 4-H participation throughout the state. Being actively involved in numerous 4H and Extension programs also helped me financially throughout my college career. During my four years, I received over $8,000 in 4-H and Agriculture Scholarships. Through the Ohio 4-H Foundation, I was a Smith Family Scholarship and Vance Family Scholarship recipient. Within CFAES, I received the Kyle Althauser Memorial Scholarship, the Griffith Family Scholarship, along with other collegiate scholarships. My undergraduate degree is Agricultural Extension and Education: Leadership Option. My core classes consisted of Leadership in Teams, Community Organizations, and Community Service. I also took classes on teaching in Non-formal or Non-school settings. These classes have prepared me for the Program Assistant position I have accepted with Fayette County Extension. Having a strong 4-H and Extension program background, I look forward to working with the Fayette County community and your youth. I have already begun planning Cloverbud Camp for this summer and have attended several meetings. I am also excited to work with the Master Gardener Volunteers. I look forward to meeting all of you and becoming a member of your community. Alyssa Kitchen is the Program Assistant, 4-H Youth Developement Horticulture & Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator OSU-Fayette County
EW FAFIRVI ARM
Freezer Meat Tony and Rhonda Pursell Washington Court House
740-636-8202 Taking orders year round Custom Processed Whole or Half Hogs
We are proud to raise the meat for your table and ours
2271121
Janie’s Closet Furniture – Crafts Lots of Candles Primitive Items Buy * Sell * Trade 203 North High St., Hillsboro 937-393-2357 Jane Angles, Owner
Morton Buildings constructs quality, dependable buildings that meet the needs of the American farmer. From machine storage buildings to livestock facilities and even farm shops, we work with you to construct a building that fits your lifestyle and budget. Our service goes well beyond planning and erecting your building; Morton buildings are backed by the strongest, non-pass through, non-prorated warranty in the industry - something you won’t find anywhere else. Discover the advantages of working with the leader in post-frame construction.
For more information
937-382-8528 Wilmington OH
©2012 Morton Buildings, Inc. All rights reserved. Price, construction details and material specifications shown are subject to change without notice. A listing of GC licenses available at mortonbuildings.com/ licenses.aspx. Reference Code 043.
800-447-7436 • mortonbuildings.com 42’ x 14’4” x 60’ Starting at $23,545
2271797
60’ x 16’4” x 120’ Starting at $49,470
81’ x 18’ x 210’ Starting at $159,794
2273214
Now and for Generations
HOURS Mon.-Sat. 10am-6pm
Want more control of the food you eat?
Cedar Raised Garden Bed System • Naturally rot-resistant cedar frames • Quick setup • Use on any level surface. • Stackable for various soil depths • Modular design for custom configurations • High-yield gardening with minimum effort 2273756
Check out our raised beds at:
2965 Wheat Ridge Road West Union, Ohio
937-544-0898
ACRES of Southwest Ohio
May 2012
11B
that work .com JobSourceOhio.com
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937-544-2391 937-368-6161 937-382-2574 740-335-3611 937-393-3456
POLICY: Please Check Your Ad The 1st Day. It Is The Advertiser’s Responsibility To Report Errors Immediately. Publisher Will Not Be Responsible for More Than One Incorrect Insertion. We Reserve The Right To Correctly Classify, Edit, Cancel Or Decline Any Advertisement Without Notice.
y Lane Farm k c u L
We Accept
6200 St. Rt. 138 Eidshore, Ohio 45133
BULLS FOR SALE EPD Information and Semen Checked
2266142
Registered Angus
• Call KENT AYRES 937-763-6513 • Metal Roofing and Siding • Post Building Packages Lumber • Trusses • Insulation • Doors • Windows
• COLLISION & REPAIR • From minor dents to major body repairs, we’ll get your car back in shape.
• CONSTRUCTION •
Murphin Ridge Building Supplies, LLC 67 Murphin Ridge Road West Union, OH 45693
BOLEN CONSTRUCTION
• Auto & RV Repair • Uni-Body Repair Specialit • A.S.E. Certified • Custom Color Matching • Experts in Foreign & Domestic Cars
One Call Does It All • Roofing • Siding • Electrical • Plumbing • Gutters • • Windows • Driveway Sealing • Painting • Garages • • Pole Barns • Gutter Cleaning • Drywall • • Property Management •
Fast ~ Friendly Service
CARROLL HALLIDAY, INC.
937-544-8010 2273758
Free estimates
1700 Columbus Ave., Wash. C.H. 740-335-1670
2274055
25 Years Experience Licensed & Bonded
937-584-4286 937-302-9549
VISTA GRAIN LLC
2247 US Rt. 22 SW Washington C.H.
Vision & Innovation Serving Today’s Agribusiness
740-335-2000
5738 Greenfield-Sabina Rd. Washington C.H., OH 43160 Office 800-255-2622 Mkt. Line 740-333-5321 vistagrainllc@yahoo.com
Auto Repair Medium/Light Truck Diesel Engine Repair www.jimvandyke.com
2271350
2274628
www.vistagrainllc.com 2257415
CNMP Services LLC
Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans EQIP or Non-EQIP CNMP Nutrient Management Plans (NMP)
Roger L. Butts, TSP Certified CNMP Specialist • EXCAVATING •
• SALVAGE COMPANY •
EXCAVATIN A•WDumpK Truck H D G TE • Leach Fields
Bennett Brothers Salvage
• Backhoe • Septic Systems • Water Lines • Foundations • Driveways • General Excavating
(740) 335-1439 • (740) 572-0088 2274102
Non-ferrous metals and automobiles
Independent soil fertility recommendations by
Roll off and container service
Agro-Serve Consulting
Monday-Friday ~ 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Saturday ~ 8:00 a.m.-12 noon
66 Biddle Blvd., Bloomingburg, Ohio 43106
740-437-7442
ROBERTS ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICE
30 years experience Quality work - reasonable pricing
Insured and Bonded
2268880
226 Jonesboro Rd. Washington C.H., Ohio 43160 Ph: (740) 335-9474 Cell: (937) 402-8002
740-636-1942 2272339
michaelbarr365@yahoo.com Tel: (740) 335-2037
MICHAEL L. BARR Attorney at Law
Kevin Mongold Owner 2257452
• ROOFING & SIDING • Cell: 740-572-0879 740-505-8700
Bennett Recycling Drive-Thru Rec. Facility For all your Recycling needs
• ATTORNEY AT LAW • MICHAEL L. BARR
Crop Dryer • Electric Motors Sales, Service & Repair Service Calls Available
• DRIVE-THRU RECYCLING •
950 Delaware Street Washington C.H., Ohio 43160
Roger L. Butts, CCA, Agronomist 9771 Stivers Rd. Hillsboro, OH 45133-6718 2273374
• ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICE •
Smith Home Improvement
T Metal roofing & siding for Barns and Homes T Room additions, porches & decks T Electrical & plumbing T Windows T Bathroom and kitchen remodeling Call Daniel Smith today at (740)505-9275 or (740)333-6212
Email: agroserve@frontier.com
Buyers of scrap metal
2257754
• HOME IMPROVEMENT •
Office: 937-442-3202 Cell: 937-750-3202
Ratliff Roofing & Vinyl Siding Also Continuous Gutter & Painting Washington C.H., OH •Power Washing •Mobile Home Cleaning
• PAINTING & POWER WASHING •
Office: 937-584-2369 740-636-0223
Licensed & Bonded
•Roofing Asphalt, Fiberglass, Rubber Roofs
2271806
R&R Painting and Power Washing We paint grain bins, fences and houses. Also demolition of old buildings. Also power washing of equipment.
Sabina, OH •Remodeling •Fill Dirt •All Types of Hauling
Free Estimates Licensed and Bonded
SENIOR CITIZENS & CHURCH DISCOUNTS 2266524
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Fax: (740) 335-5996 P.O. Box 250 224 N. Fayette Street Washington C.H., OH 43160
2266911
74 0-6 36-0 22 3 74 0-5 72-6 18 6 74 0-5 05-1 60 8
May 2012
ACRES of Southwest Ohio
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{cXX jU`cK@ 800-708-2676 www.seedconsultants.com ®, TM trademarks of Seed Consultants, Inc. © 2012 Seed Consultants, Inc. *Supreme EX® brand seed is distributed by Seed Consultants, Inc. ® Supreme EX is a registered trademark of Pioneer Hi-Bred.
2269699