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HARVEST
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Summer 2016, Volume 3, Issue 3
06
Welcome
04
LETTER FROM THE STAFF
Working Together
Features
14 18
06 14 18 30 38
PUBLISHER : Andrew S. Dix, SPECTRUM PRODUCT MANAGER: Colette Taylor, SPECTRUM DIRECTOR: Amanda Nixon, LAYOUT DESIGNER: Adam Arditi, OFFICE: Spectrum Publications, 212 E. Liberty St. • Wooster, OH 44691, 330-264-1125 or 800-686-2958, editor@spectrumpubs.com
2 Summer 2016
CATHERINE RAMSEY
A Life-long Agricultural Career
WHAT’S IN YOUR FOOD?
Ohio Among Top 10 Organic Farming States
DRY WEATHER HAZARDS IMPACT MORE THAN JUST CROP GROWTH GET YOUR GOAT THE HOLMES COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS
HARVEST magazine is a quarterly publication centered in some of the most agriculturally rich counties in Ohio. We will bring you the latest in farming technologies, industry practices and hot topics in agriculture from industry experts in our area. If you wish to submit an article or offer a suggestion, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you. A Division of Dix Communications ©Copyright Spectrum Publications 2016
Hot Topics
08 10 34 42 44
NEW AGRITOURISM LAW
Provides Clarity
GRAIN FARMERS RECEIVE DOUBLE POLICY HIT GOOD GRAZING NEEDS TO BE PRACTICED IN THE SUMMER SOIL MANAGEMENT CHECKLIST CONSIDER SUMMER ANNUAL FORAGE OPTIONS
Farm Safety/Technology
05 12 22
CAN YOU NAME THIS TOOL? BEEF EXPERTS ADVISE PRECAUTIONS WHEN HOSTING VISITORS PLAYING IT SAFE: NEW FOOD SAFETY
Rules & Resources to Help Farmers
Local County Fairs
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COUNTY FAIR SCHEDULE
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Working Together On June 19, the Cavs won the NBA Championship. I was lucky enough to attend the watch party at Quicken Loans Arena. As strangers shared in this exhilarating moment together, high fiving and cheering, we became one. One with our fellow fans. One with the team. One with the city and the region. This isn’t a sports magazine, so why am I talking about basketball in Harvest? This sport and the ensuing activity is similar to the way that farming brings us together. One person alone cannot produce all the food required for our needs. It takes a team, actually many teams, across the country and around the world to grow all of the food we consume. Today it is even rare to have one individual in the household responsible for preparing the family meal, with even the kids doing their small part to contribute to the meal. Then again when we come together to literally enjoy the fruits of our labor around the dinner table we are usually surrounded by family or friends. Farming brings us closer to the land and closer to each other, just as the Cavs brought us closer to our city and our fellow citizens. In this edition, read about all of the collaborative efforts it took over the last few years to get the new Holmes County Fairground up and running in time for this year’s fair. Many hands worked diligently to bring the right pieces together so that the community could have a safe and enjoyable location to share in the continued history that is the county fair and other fun and exciting events through the year.
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We also share stories that highlight the hard work and dedication that farmers have for their craft. While we feature one individual, no one was able to accomplish it alone without the support of others. We spoke to lifelong dairy farmer, Catherine Ramsey, who is now transitioning from caring for her cows to tending her beautiful gardens. We also learned how a 4-H project grew into a goat milking and beauty products business for Harvest Hills Farm. Unlike the Cavs who will get to rest for a bit, the work on our farms is now in high gear. I hope you will take the opportunity to reflect just a bit on how coming together can grow something stronger than we could ever have on our own.
Can You Name This Tool? Story & Photos by | Paul Locher DIX COMMUNICATIONS
This very simple wooden tool was once found in most of the barns around the region. Can you name it’s purpose?
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Catherine Ramsey A Life-long Agricultural Career
Story & Photos by | Gayle E. Blair DIX COMMUNICATIONS | THE ALLIANCE REVIEW
L
Ramsey with her husband, Paul, beside their garden filled with rose bushes, peony bushes, and other assorted flowers.
ifetime farmer Catherine Ramsey wouldn’t change a thing even if she could. Speaking from the home she shares with her husband of 60 plus years, Paul Ramsey, Catherine Ramsey talked about her love of living on a farm. She grew up on a farm in Jefferson County and now lives in Louisville where the family owns and operates the 1,500 acre Paradise Valley Farms. Her love of farming was cultivated early at her family farm in Richmond, Ohio where they milked Gurneys and Holsteins by hand, twice a day, until they eventually got milkers. At the farm, they pasteurized the milk, bottled it and put it in a cooler. The family had a milk route and delivered the fresh, bottled milk. “I did that until I got married,” said Ramsey. She met her husband, who also lived in Jefferson County, through her brother. The two boys went to conservation camp on the 4H team. “That’s how we met, through 4H activities,” said Ramsey. “Jefferson County had an older rural
6 Summer 2016
youth organization and we went to square dances together at grange halls in different parts of the county. Paul and Catherine got married in 1950 and went to his farm in Jefferson County where they lived with his parents for 20 years. “We met the man who owned this farm; he was from Jefferson County,” said Catherine. “We ventured out in 1970 and moved to Stark County, still milking cows, registered Holsteins up here.” The couple described their preference for the Holstein breed as “beautiful black and white cows.” In our minds, that’s the only kind,” said Ramsey. “The others (breeds) aren’t as strong.” Holsteins are big and produce more milk although they don’t have the butterfat that Guernsey’s do. “It’s a good, hard living, lots of hard work,” said Ramsey but she added that right now the price of milk isn’t really good, “We’re only getting $13.94 per hundred weight (HW). We need to have $20 per HW to make life bearable, to pay bills.”
Biggest change in farming in the equipment; tractors are bigger and the milking equipment has advanced. They also had to get more acres to take care of paying their bills. She described a typical farm day as “start to work early and sometimes work late at night to get everything done.” The couple lived at the farm until 1988 then they bought a house adjacent and moved there. “This is part of main farm,” said Catherine. “We just added to it.” As to what she loves about farming, Catherine said she loves the open air, the freedom to get up and do what she wants. “I enjoyed raising my children on the farm and they all enjoyed it because now everyone is related to the farm industry.” Son Bill (Debbie) lives at the main farm along with grandchildren Brian (Liz) and their five children; Jill (Corey) and her family, while grandson Mike (Shelly) lives on another farm in Maximo. Granddaughter Brenda (Nevin) is a veterinarian who is in charge of herd health. The family milks 400 head of Holstein three times a day and have 10 employees. According to Ramsey, farm kids learn responsibility. They have to get up and help with the chores, know how to work and grow up taking care of what they’re supposed to do, Her life on the farm included having a vegetable garden and after harvesting, she would can or freeze what they produced. The couple worked cooperatively; Ramsey would drive the tractor and raked but never baled hay. “When you’re a farm wife you get up with your husband, go out and milk then come back inside for breakfast and work as you go,” she said. “We help each other.” Now, at age 87, Ramsey said she doesn’t really have a bucket list. She went on vacation once, to Florida in 1977 to Disney World. They also visited her sister who lived in Florida. “I liked it except it was in January, a little chilly and the stuff wouldn’t run good (Disney operations),” said Ramsey. Catherine said she doesn’t go up to the main farm very often but Paul goes every day to feed the cats. Catherine still mows the lawn at the home with a riding mower but thinks this year their great granddaughter may take over that task. Rose bushes, peony bushes and other assorted flowers fill up the front landscape. She enjoys watching the birds come to the bird feeder and has finches, grosbeak, red-headed woodpeckers,
cardinals and blue jays along with hummingbirds visiting. “That’s my hobby now, flowers and birds,” said Catherine. She also walks her dog behind the house and their portion of the farm is home to three cats. In March, Catherine Ramsey received the Ohio Holstein Woman of the Year Ramsey stands proudly with award from the Ohio her award from the Ohio Holstein Association. Holstein Association. The presentation was made at a dinner meeting in New Philadelphia. She was nominated by her son and was recognized for her promotion of the Holstein breed and her work at the cattle shows along with their farm having award-winning Holsteins.
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New Ohio Agritourism Law Provides Clarity, Addresses Liability, Taxation, Zoning Story by | Martha Filipic Ag Answers
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or 20 years, the Leeds Farm in Delaware County has opened its gates to thousands of visitors on autumn weekends for hayrides, zip lines, pig races and other activities including a petting zoo with goats and a mother-daughter pair of donkeys. “We kind of naturally evolved into agritourism,” said Rob Leeds, who is also the local agriculture and natural resources educator for Ohio State University Extension. “As development started happening and things changed around us, we adapted.” If nothing else, new Ohio legislation gives Leeds peace of mind, he said.
or gross an average income of at least $2,500 from such production. You already have to have that production taking place. If so, then an agritourism activity that is agriculturally related, whether educational, historical, cultural, recreational or for entertainment, is covered by the new law.” The law protects operators from liability for injuries related to risks inherent in agritourism activities. “‘Inherent’ risks are those things that a reasonable person would know they would be at risk from doing that activity,” Hall said. “Being around a horse carries some inherent risks due to the size and unpredictability of the animal. But if an operator doesn’t correctly harness the horse and a problem Defining agritourism arises, that would be considered negligence, which On May 17, Gov. John Kasich signed Senate Bill isn’t protected by this legislation.” 75, which defines agritourism, offers protections for agritourism operators, and addresses issues including civil liability risks, property taxation and local zoning authority. The law takes effect Aug. 16, well in time for agritourism activities popular in Ohio in autumn, said Peggy Kirk Hall, assistant professor of agricultural and resource law for the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University and agricultural law field specialist for OSU Extension. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of the college. “I think the first thing people need to understand is that to be covered by the law, you have to meet the definition of a ‘farm,’” Hall said. “You have to have at least 10 acres devoted to agricultural production
8 Summer 2016
Inherent risks Activities involving animals always carry some risk, Leeds said. “Ninety to 95 percent of our goats are good-natured, but if someone’s coat or jacket gets too close, they could easily start nibbling on it. They’re not trying to be mean. They’re just goats.” Leeds said rough terrain can be an issue for farm visitors. “Not everything is blacktop on a farm,” he said. “At our operation, you park in a hayfield. It’s part of the experience. For the most part, it’s fine, but you have to realize that it is still a farm field. So, these protections offer us some peace of mind.” Under the new law, operators must post warning signs near each entrance or at each activity notifying visitors that the operator is not liable for any injuries related to those inherent risks. “The language of the warning sign is precise, and the law states the letters must be in black, at least one inch in height and must be clearly visible at the entrance or at the site of the activity,” Hall said. “I recommend that operators err on the side of posting too many signs rather than not enough. You’re putting people on notice that they need to understand that there are some inherent risks of being there.” Local zoning officials need to understand the new law also, because it limits how zoning can affect agritourism activities, she said. County and township zoning won’t be able to prohibit agritourism, but can make some requirements to address property access, parking and building setbacks in certain situations.
figure out who this affects.” The law also clarifies that land where agritourism activities take place should be taxed under Ohio’s Current Agricultural Use Valuation program rather than at higher property tax rates. “That’s never been a big deal for us - our auditor in Delaware County works very closely with the ag community - but I’ve heard it’s been an issue for some operators in other counties,” Leeds said. “It’s always good to be clear.” Hall provides an overview of the legislation with additional details in a post on OSU Extension’s Ag Law Blog, aglaw.osu.edu/blog. Leeds said that the law will be helpful to operations like his, which he runs with his wife Christy Leeds. “But no matter what legislation we pass, it always comes back to relationships,” Leeds said. “As agritourism operators, we need to develop relationships with neighbors, township trustees and elected officials. I really enjoy working with our local fire officials and sheriff, talking about issues they may see with our operation and what we may need to do to be safe. Those relationships are invaluable no matter what.”
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TPP Combined With Weak EPA Ethanol Target Gave Grain Farmers A Double Policy Hit This Week
American Corn Growers Foundation May Report
“T
his week farm organizations supporting the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), referenced an International Trade Commission (ITC) report, and admitted that the trade deal will result in $31 million less in corn exports per year,” said Dan McGuire, Trade Policy Analyst for the American Corn Growers Foundation (ACGF). “They said that farmers must feed more grain domestically to indirectly benefit from the TPP by exporting beef and dairy. Increased production of ethanol-derived distillers grains could have helped mitigate the negative price impact of those reduced corn exports but the Administration also announced a domestic policy that seriously limits new corn demand growth from ethanol. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) weakened future U.S. domestic corn demand by announcing a very weak ethanol renewable volume obligation (RVO) for
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For more information on American Corn Growers Foundation visit www.acgf.org
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Story by | Tracy Turner Ag Answers
roducers need to take precautions and be prepared to implement safety procedures when having visitors on their farm or when exhibiting animals to prevent risk of injury to humans and livestock, says a beef cattle expert with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University. That’s especially true when visitors to farms or other livestock exhibits don’t have a background in production agriculture and have little understanding of the process of food production, said John Grimes, beef coordinator for Ohio State University Extension and a member of the OSU Extension Beef Team. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of the college. With the warmer weather come more opportunities for public interactions on farms or at events where livestock are exhibited, Grimes said. In these instances, producers shouldn’t make any assumptions when it comes to the general public’s knowledge of animals, including how to stay safe around them, he said. “As a livestock producer, there may be times when individuals come to your farm to observe your operation or you have an opportunity to visit with individuals
unfamiliar with animal agriculture,” Grimes said. “But Take nothing for granted you can’t assume that all people have awareness of Safety precautions producers can take include: • Fencing must contain your animals where they are how to behave around animals - you have to be on your supposed to be located and should account for any guard at all times. size and gender differences between animals. • When interacting with individuals on the farm Anything can happen or in a public situation, take the time to educate “No matter how safe you think you are on the farm, them about proper animal husbandry production anything can happen. Livestock aren’t pets; they are practices that relate to food production. animals that are being raised for food production. Don’t • Be prepared to implement safety procedures when assume that everyone knows that.” the opportunity for human-animal interaction For producers, that means taking precautions to ensure exists on your farm or at a show where you may you have adequate and secure fencing to keep animals be exhibiting animals. and people out of harm’s way, he said. “While livestock producers can’t prepare for every And most importantly, producers shouldn’t take possible scenario, we must have facilities that minimize anything for granted, Grimes said. the risk of injury to humans and animals,” he said. “We “Don’t assume everything is as secure as you think it should always be prepared to offer the general public a is,” Grimes said. “For liability reasons, take the extra precautions needed to make sure you aren’t negligent positive view of what production agriculture is. “Producers should also take steps to educate the public and avoid any unsafe situations for both animals and about the methods our industry takes to produce a safe, people.” wholesome food product.”
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What’s In Your Food? Ohio Among Top 10 Organic Farming States
rganic
Story by | Tami Mosser DIX COMMUNICATIONS | THE DAILY RECORD
O
rganic farming is a big business and Ohio is Look, Amalie Lipstrau said, for the label. leading the way. Lipstrau, a policy program coordinator for the But what does “organic” mean and how can Columbus-based Ohio Ecological Food and Farm consumers know what they are buying is legitimately Association, said “certified organic is the most highly organic? regulated label that’s out there.” And the OEFFA is one of 12 organizations that make sure Ohio’s farmers and handlers have earned the right to call themselves certified organic, and thus are eligible to use the “USDA Certified” label on their products and operations. Locally Owned for 21 years Organic farming, Lipstrau said, is a $40 billion a year industry and Ohio is in the top 10 organic farming states. According to the Organic INTEGRITY Database, which was funded by the 2014 Farm Bill and is maintained by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Marketing Service, there are 74 certified organic farms and ag-related businesses in Wayne County and 105 in Holmes County. The vast majority
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engage in crop farming or raise livestock or a combination of both, while others are handlers of certified organic products. Marcus and Beth Ladrach own and operate Autumn Harvest Farm, which had once belonged to Marcus Ladach’s father. The 231 acres on Rice Hill Road in Chester Township are not all tillable, but do provide the family with 16 acres of corn, 108 acres of hay, five acres of mixed vegetables and 55 acres of pasture for beef cattle, as well as an 800-square-foot greenhouse. “(Marcus’s) Dad did use some sprays,” Beth Ladrach said, “but he was cautious about what he did.” When the next generation took over, Beth Ladrach said, they decided to become certified organic. “It was more the environment and just taking the soil back to its natural state,” she said. “It’s just something we believed in.” Moving from belief to reality took time. The farm had to go through a three-year transitional phase during which no chemicals were used and 25-foot buffer zones were put in to keep the crops separate from neighboring farms, roads and oil wells. The crops on the Ladrach farm are certified organic, though the livestock is not. Even though the cattle are
pastured on organic grass and fed certified organic hay during the winter, the Ladrachs do not use a certified organic processor. Still, Beth Ladrach said, their “customers are more interested in our practices” than in the processing. But when it comes to the crops, the “certified organic” designation is an absolute must for the Ladrachs. Because they do business with other certified organic operations, the crops must also be certified organic. Getting that certification, Beth Ladrach said, requires a good deal of paperwork, as well as an annual inspection. Activity logs are kept on planting, tilling, input applications, weed control methods, pest and disease control, cover crops and harvests. An OEFFA inspector comes to the farm once a year, asks questions, clarifies what has been reported and then takes a look at the fields. Maintaining the certification means extra work, Beth Ladrach said. There is some spraying, but only the naturally occurring substances on the National Organic Program standards list. It takes a bit longer to get the fields ready, she said, and there is extra cultivation involved, so planting is done later than non-certified organic farms. And there’s the $850 cost
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of the certification, though some or all of that is often to surrender her “certified organic” designation. reimbursed through OEFFA’s Organic Certification Bongue, who sells produce at the North Union Cost Sharing Program. Farmers’ Market at Shaker Square and is a member But there’s a payoff, both financially and of the Farm Roots Connection cooperative, had her philosophically. operation certified organic for 18 years. But as a smaller “The prices for crops are higher,” Ladrach said. “You operation, she said, the record keeping and costs were get a better price because you’re prohibitive. And because she putting in more labor. You can’t grows a wide variety of crops, just go and spray and then you’re each would have to subscript to done.” organic standards for the farm to The Ladrachs also are longbe certified. time vendors at the Downtown It’s not that Muddy Fork, Wooster Farmer’s Market. which is on nearly 27 acres on “There is a certain customer Reedsburg Road in Chester base, they want certified Township, is not committed to organic,” Ladrach said, but organic practices and sustainable others are concerned more agriculture, though. “I do with the practice than the label. mindful farming,” Bongue said. “At the market, you establish Marcus Ladrach chisel plows some ground “I take care of the environment, customers,” Ladrach said. “You for future planting just beside several rows but I don’t have the label to back of onions. get to know each other and then me up.” they know your practices.” Bongue uses permaculture It’s in part because her customers know her practices farming methods, which don’t always conform to that Muddy Fork Farm owner Monica Bongue decided certified organic practices, but do in many ways go
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beyond them. In permaculture, the focus is on bringing the food closer to the consumer, on conserving natural resources and optimizing natural energy sources. In a certified organic operation, Bongue said, “you’re as good as your paperwork. As a non-certified (producer), I’m only as good as my word.” Certified organic products could still be transported over many miles and may be covered in plastic. Likewise, not all local produce is organic or a product of a “no spray” operation. “Organic is not the only way to get /better,’” Bongue said. “I think your best bet is to know your farmer” and visit the farm if possible. Ladrach said she and her husband -- and now their two sons -- would run an organic operation regardless of the benefit or the certification. “I guess we’ve been doing it so long, I wouldn’t think of doing it any other way,” she said. “We have never regretted the decision.” and the boys grew up that way, so they wouldn’t consider changing.”
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Dry Weather Hazards Impact More Than Just Crop Growth Story by | Dylan Sams DIX COMMUNICATIONS | ASHLAND TIMES GAZETTE
A
dry season for farming is bad. Worse, is the potential of a fire that could cause serious damage to crops or even structures and create significant financial setbacks for farmers. While there is no burn ban in effect from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, farmers are facing an unusually dry season. This May, Ashland County received 0.82 inch of rain through the month of May after receiving 2.24 inches in April. May of last year was a particularly wet month — the county saw about 4.45 inches and 6.62 inches in June 2015. May 2014 saw about 3.11 inches of rain while May of 2013 had only 1.99 inches. While rain has been promised over the last few days, June has only had 0.54 inch of rain. Stock up Now! Order your furnished beef or hog - cut & packaged specifically for
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Photo (left): Firefighters battle a barn fire April 19 at 777 County Road 30A. Some 300 to 350 pigs died in the blaze.
The latest barn fire in Ashland County took place April 18 and carried with it an estimated loss of $350,000, a destroyed barn and between 300 and 350 pigs that were just about to go to market. Another barn was destroyed on March 9, which also damaged a tractor, Kubota ATV and Polaris 4-wheeler on Ohio 179. On March 28, a garage was destroyed on Ohio 96, amounting to an estimated loss of $30,000. While it is important to be cognizant of the structures and animals that could be on agricultural land, during the summer months, a larger concern for area fire departments are open burns, said Ashland Fire Capt. Mark Miller. “This time of year, especially when people are preparing for gatherings and a lot of people clean up landscaping, fields or yards, you see a lot of open burn complaints,” said Miller, a member of the Fire Prevention Bureau. The Ohio EPA defines an open burn as “any set outdoor fire that does not vent to a chimney or stack. Generally, the EPA allows open burns outside
city limits for a variety of items, with different restrictions on the item For example, agricultural waste that includes plant matter, fence posts and scrap lumber can be burned as long as the fire is set 1,000 feet from a neighbor’s building. For land clearing, the EPA is more strict. “Plant matter such was tree trimmings, stumps, brush, weeds, leaves, grass, shrubbery and crop residues,” are included with the caveat that written permission has to be obtained from the EPA. “You can pretty freely burn tree trimmings, stumps, woods, greens and shrubbery, but no dead animals or animals parts,” Miller said. Because of the dry conditions, land-clearing fires are especially where farmers should take caution, he said. “Those are less-than-ideal options because you don’t have control over when (the fire) gets to go,” Miller explained. Brush fires can be difficult to contain because of uncontrollable variables such as wind. That was what happened on Thanksgiving Day
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in Clear Creek Township when high winds helped spread a trash fire on County Road 658 across 21 acres of fields and nearly spread to a wooded area. In all, five brush trucks, two tanker trucks and 22 firefighters from four fire departments responded to that fire. Drying hay can also be a problem as the first cutting approaches. Fires can flare up from the drying process and the heat of decomposition, Miller said. Machinery on dry fields could also flare up, and a fire extinguisher could be a good piece of equipment to keep on machines, he said. “A small 1.5- to 2-pound extinguisher can put out a lot of fire,” Miller said. As summer begins to warm up, Ashland Fire Capt. Ken Gardner said EMS calls begin to rise in relation to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. As farmers, or anyone working outdoors, work, he suggested continually staying hydrated and taking breaks if one begins to have profuse sweating, thirst and dizziness. “The best offense for any (heat exhaustion) is avoidance,” Gardner said.
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Playing it Safe: New Food Safety Rules and Resources to Help Farmers Story by | Amalie Lipstreu OEFFA
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n 2015, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released two rules as part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) that will greatly impact many farmers and food businesses: the Preventive Controls (PC) Rule and the Produce Rule. As a farmer, it’s important for you to understand the new requirements, which ones affect you, and what you’ll need to do to protect your farm, your business, and your customers.
The Preventive Controls Rule The PC Rule establishes new prevention-oriented food safety requirements and updates the requirements for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). You need to know how the FDA defines your operation to determine whether your business falls under the PC Rule, is completely or partially exempt, or eligible for modified requirements. If you are a “food facility,” defined as a facility that
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manufactures, processes, packs, or holds food for human consumption, you must register with the FDA and comply with the PC Rule. Retail food establishments— businesses that primarily sell food products directly to consumers—as well as roadside stands, farmers’ markets, and community supported agriculture (CSA) operations are exempt from the PC Rule. Some “Primary Production Farms” and “Secondary Activities Farms” are also exempt, but the exemptions depend on the management structure of the farm, the location, and the activities they perform on raw agricultural commodities (RACs). More information is available at http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/ FSMA/ucm334115.htm. If you farm, but also do some manufacturing and processing that falls outside the FDA’s definition of a farm, you are classified as a “Farm Mixed-Type Facility” (FMTF) and will need to register with the FDA. Depending on the size of your FMTF and the type of activity you perform, you may not be subject to all of the requirements in the PC Rule. Some FMTFs that perform activities beyond those classified as “low-risk”—including “very small businesses” or those that sell directly to consumers, restaurants, or retail food establishments within their state or a 275 mile radius—may still be eligible for modified requirements. For more information and examples, read through the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s (NSAC) blog at http://sustainableagriculture.net/
“If you are a “food facility,” defined as a facility that manufactures, processes, packs, or holds food for human consumption, you must register with the FDA and comply with the PC Rule. “
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The Produce Rule The Produce Rule establishes, for the first time, science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption. The rule went into effect January 26, and the earliest compliance dates begin in January 2017. The Produce Rule applies to domestic and imported produce. Produce rarely consumed raw, such as potatoes, food produced for personal or on-farm consumption, and grains do not fall under the Produce Rule. As with the PC Rule, you need to know how the FDA defines your operation to determine if you fall under the Produce Rule and what requirements you must meet. The rule does not cover farms that have average
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annual produce sales of $25,000 or less during the previous three year period. Additionally, the rule provides a qualified exemption and modified requirements for farms that meet two conditions: (1) The farm must have food sales averaging less than $500,000 per year during the previous 3 years; and (2) The farm’s sales to qualified end-users—the consumer of the food, or a restaurant or retail food establishment that is located in the same state or Indian reservation, or not more than 275 miles away—must exceed other sales. Exempt farms, however, are still required to keep records. For non-exempt farms, the rule includes water quality standards for irrigation, harvest, and post-harvest contact. Detailed water testing protocols are required to make sure no detectable E. coli is present in water used in direct and indirect contact with produce and to assess surface and ground water quality for water applied directly in the field. To help producers understand these standards, the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) is organizing a workshop and tour, Find Your Path to Clean Water: Food Safety Water Quality Standards and Testing Protocols for Produce Growers, on Monday, June 20 from 3-7 p.m.at Methodist
Theological School in Ohio’s Seminary Hill Farm in Delaware, Ohio. For more information or to register, go to www.oeffa.org/q/findyourpathogen or call (614) 421-2022. For more information, NSAC’s blog at http:// s u s t a i n a b l e a g r i c u l t u r e. n e t / b l o g / p r o d u c e - r u l e analysis-part-1/ and the FDA’s FSMA blog at http:// www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/ ucm334115.htm are good resources. Both rules necessitate that staff are adequately trained on food safety and hygiene, and may impose additional requirements. Even for exempt farms, it’s in your best interest to be able to show you have taken the necessary steps to keep food safe. Resources to Help Your Farm Play it Safe For some producers, complying with FSMA may mean updating, improving, or adding new facilities, such as handwashing stations, restrooms, or storage and handling areas. Luckily, there are some resources available to help you finance these projects. The Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Farm Storage Facility Loan Program can provide low-interest financing to build or upgrade storage facilities, and was recently expanded to fund portable storage
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structures and equipment, and storage and handling trucks. The FSA also has a Microloans Program that small, beginning, niche, and direct marketing farmers can use to build, repair, or improve farm buildings or dwellings. For more information on FSA programs or to find your county office, call (614) 255-2441. Kiva, a global crowdfunding site with more than 1.4 million lenders around the world, allows farmers to apply for zero-interest, zero-fee microloans of $10,000 or less, with up to a one-year grace period for borrowers. OEFFA became a Kiva Zip trustee in 2014 and can endorse loan requests from farmers. For more information, go to http://oeffa.org/invest_kivazip.php. OEFFA staff is available help you understand and adopt food safety requirements. For more information about resources, training opportunities, and developing a food safety plan, call (614) 421-2022.
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Amalie Lipstreu is the Policy Program Coordinator for the OEFFA, a statewide, grassroots, nonprofit organization working to create and promote a sustainable and healthful food and farming system. For more information, go to www.oeffa.org.
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It’s a bag opener – or, more specifically, a grain bag opener. Story & Photos by | Paul Locher DIX COMMUNICATIONS
On the early farmsteads, mature grain was obtained by the process of flailing. Farm workers would stand in a circle around a freshly harvested pile of grain plants and beat the grains from the heads using a heavy wooden club attached to a long handle. Laborers often chanted so as to keep up a steady rhythm and prevent multiple clubs from striking the pile at the same time and getting tangled. The flailed grain seeds collected beneath the stems on the barn floor, which was composed of tongue-andgrooved boards to prevent the grain from falling through cracks and being lost. After the chaff was removed, the grain was scooped into a cloth sack made from the shorter fibers of spun flax called tow. (You’ve heard of a child being referred
to as “tow-headed”? This is the color referenced in that expression.) Because the cloth sack tended to collapse, the farmer anchored this grain bag opener into the mouth, the sharp points on the ends sticking into the weave of the cloth. This made it much easier to fill with a scoop.. Collection of Paul Locher
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2016 Fair Schedule HARRISON COUNTY FAIR July 4-9 550 Grant St, Cadiz
SUMMIT COUNTY FAIR July 26-31 229 E. Howe Rd, Tallmadge
CARROLL COUNTY FAIR July 19-24 106 Kensington Rd. NE, Carrollton
OHIO STATE FAIR July 27-August 7 717 E. 17th Ave, Columbus
KNOX COUNTY FAIR July 23-30 125 Fairgrounds Rd, Mt. Vernon
COLUMBIANA COUNTY FAIR August 1-7 225 Lee Ave, Lisbon
MEDINA COUNTY FAIR August 1-7 720 W. Smith Rd, Medina RICHLAND COUNTY FAIR August 6-13 750 N. Home St, Mansfield
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HOLMES COUNTY FAIR August 8-13 8381 OH-39, Millersburg MUSKINGUM COUNTY FAIR August 14-20 1300 Pershing Rd, Zanesville PORTAGE COUNTY RANDOLPH FAIR August 23-28 4215 Fairground Rd, Atwater
NOBLE COUNTY FAIR August 30-September 4 Co. Rd. 56, Caldwell STARK COUNTY FAIR August 30- September 5 305 Wertz Ave. NW, Canton CANFIELD FAIR August 31- September 5 7265 Columbiana-Canfield Rd, Canfield ASHLAND COUNTY FAIR September 18-24 2042 Claremont Ave, Ashland
WAYNE COUNTY FAIR September 10-15 199 Vanover St, Wooster
TUSCARAWAS COUNTY FAIR September 19-25 259 Tuscarawas Ave, Dover
GUERNSEY COUNTY FAIR September 12-17 335 Old National Rd, Lore City
COSHOCTON COUNTY FAIR September 30-October 6 707 Kenilworth Ave, Coshocton
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Get Your Goat Story By | Colette Taylor DIX COMMUNICATIONS
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hey say goats are like potato chips, you can’t have just one! Just ask Deb Gray of Harvest Hills Farm. She bought a couple goats when her kids were involved with 4-H and more then 15 years later she has a budding business that supports 24 goats, along with an assortment of other animals at her farm in Wooster. Having grown up on what she calls a “pet farm,” Gray always wanted to be around animals. Once her daughters completed their 4-H project, she obtained a few more goats because she said she loved their personality. Gray soon realized that she “needed to find a way to afford to keep all these goats.” About this time a friend gave her a bar of goat milk soap and after trying the product she decided to make goat milk products herself. This idea, that started as a hobby has now become a full-fledged business. Harvest Hills Farms has a line of skin care products available at several local stores, sold at farmers markets and through an e-commerce store on Etsy. This year Gray will even take her products to the Yankee Peddler Festival occurring in Canal Fulton this September. Along the way Harvest Hills Skin Care has added products to its line, always favoring natural
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ingredients like essential oils to enhance the aroma instead of heavy perfumes. Gray noted that “most essential oils offer additional benefits beyond just fragrance. Lavender, for instance, is calming and may improve skin with acne.” In addition to the goat milk products, Harvest Hills Farm offers a herd share program. Ohio laws prohibit buying or selling raw milk from any milk producing animal. If individuals are interested in raw milk but don’t have the resources or time to have their own animals, they can buy a share of the herd from an authorized farmer, pay a monthly fee and obtain a predetermined amount of milk for their own use. Gray noted that while most of those participating are local, she has some people that drive up to an hour to take a share of her goat milk. Of course, if you are looking to get into the goat farming business, you’ll need to acquire a few goats. Harvest Hills Farm can help you do that too! They offer three varieties of goats, Sanens, Toggenburgs and Nubians and Gray is quick to point out that the differences in the breeds isn’t just apparent in their physical appearance and milk production. She loves the inquisitive nature of the Toggenburgs and laughs about how the cute floppy eared Nubians can create a lot of drama on the farm. She notes that, “there is a big difference in the temperament of each breed.” As much as she loves her goats, Gray realized early on that she couldn’t keep them all. With each doe having between one and four babies annually she would soon outgrow her space. Gray tries to stagger the mating season to the best of her ability. This practice ensures that she will have milk almost continuously throughout the year, although winter production will always be the lowest. By keeping the bucks (males) and does (females) in separate grazing pastures and living quarters – which she fondly calls
the Buck Hut, she has better control over their mating practices. Not only does this allow her to mate specific animals to each other but it helps to keep the musky scent that bucks produce during rutting season out of the milk products. It’s not all hard work when you are raising goats. There are plenty of shenanigans too. Just ask Gray the next time you visit her stand at Wooster’s Farmers’ Market.
Harvest Hills Farm products are available at Local Roots in Wooster, on their website, www.harvesthilssskincare.com, or Saturdays from June - October at the Downtown Wooster Farmers’ Market.
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Good Grazing Needs to be Practiced in Summer Story by | RORY LEWANDOWSKI EXTENSION EDUCATOR, AG/NROSU EXTENSION WAYNE COUNTY
O
ur recent period of above-80 degree days with no rainfall demonstrates how quickly we can go from saturated soils to looking forward to some rain. For the livestock owner dependent upon pasture growth, our recent weather pattern of 80 degree-plus days with no rainfall demonstrated how quickly growth rates of our cool season pasture grasses can be reduced.
Looking ahead to summer it’s likely we will see more of this kind of weather and maybe even hotter and drier. There are management practices that can give the grass plant some advantages during hot, dry periods and help to keep cool season grass pastures productive during summer months. Two big keys are leaf area or residue after a grazing pass and rest period between grazing passes.
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the two principles work hand in hand. The height at which grazing should begin is somewhere in the 8-10 inch range for grasses such as orchardgrass, fescue and festuloliums. For bluegrass and perennial ryegrass pastures, 6-8 inches may be used. In practice this means that grazing rotations must slow down during hot, dry periods because grass growth and recovery is slower. When pastures are growing fast, rotate fast. When pastures are growing slowly, rotate slowly. Unfortunately, it is easy to do the opposite and I have seen a number of pasture managers get caught
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The take half, leave half principle must be followed during the summer months. The leaf area that remains after a grazing pass provides a photosynthetic base for plant regrowth, shades the soil to keep the soil temperature cooler and helps to reduce soil moisture loss. In addition, research has shown that leaving half of the leaf area on the plant produces a minimal impact upon the plant root system, enabling that plant to continue to absorb nutrients and moisture and recover quicker. Taking off 60 percent or more of the plant leaf area will cause a significant decrease in the plant root system that will slow down and impede the regrowth of the plant. Do not cheat on this principle during hot, dry spells. It is critical to maintain a 4-inch grass height to get the benefits mentioned. Maintaining this leaf residue provides the grass plant the best opportunity to take advantage of those spotty rain events that are common to hot, dry years, allowing regrow much sooner as compared to overgrazed pasture paddocks. The second principle that must be adhered to is to provide a rest period that is sufficient to allow plants to grow back to a practical grazing height. Obviously,
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and less pasture production. Generally between 8-10 pasture paddocks or divisions are needed to manage adequate rest periods during the summer. I know of graziers that have 30 or more pasture paddocks. I have never heard good pasture managers say they have too many paddocks. Summer weather with its hot temperatures and reduced rainfall result in reduced cool season pasture growth. While weather can’t be controlled, how the grass plant is managed during the summer can be controlled by the livestock owner. Good pasture management can result in more productive pastures during the summer. Summer Programs to Get on Your Calendar There are some good summer programs scheduled that I hope agricultural producers get on their calendars. I will have more to say about each of these programs, but for now get these dates reserved:
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in faster rotations during the summer with the end result that pastures become overgrazed, leading to even slower recovery and less pasture production. The only way to increase the number of days between grazing passes in a paddock and provide longer rest periods during the summer months is to have a sufficient number of pasture paddocks or pasture divisions. The number of paddocks needed can be determined by this formula: Days of rest needed divided by days of grazing + 1. For example, let’s say that in the spring of the year it takes 15 days for grass to regrow from 4 inches back to 8-10 inches in height. If my livestock stay in each paddock for 5 days, I need 15//5 =3+1 or 4 paddocks. Now let’s say that as it gets warmer and drier it takes 35 days for that same pasture to regrow to an 8-10 inch height after being grazed down to 4 inches. I now need 35//5= 7+1 or 8 paddocks to provide enough rest period. If I have fewer paddocks I am either going to graze down the preceding paddock below 4 inches while waiting for the next paddock to regrow to the 8-10 inch height or I will enter the next paddock at a lower height and have less forage available. Either way, the end result is overgrazing, slower plant recovery
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36 Summer 2016
July 9: Ohio Sheep Day at the Rodger Sharp farm, 27735 Winona Road, Salem. July 12: Dairy Twilight Tour, 6 p.m. at the Stoller Organic Dairy Farm, 10451 Eby Road, Sterling. July 15: Developing a Farm Transition Plan, 1-3:30 p.m., Fisher Auditorium, Wooster. July 26: Mount Hope Produce Grower Crop Walk, 5 p.m., at the Leroy W. Miller farm. Aug. 18: Orchard Sprayer Technology Field Day, 3 p.m. at Moreland Fruit Farm.
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The Holmes County Fairgrounds
Story by | Kevin Lynch DIX COMMUNICATIONS | THE DAILY RECORD
T
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he Holmes County Fair will have a new home for this year’s event, Aug. 8-13. The Fairgrounds at Harvest Ridge, about a mile west of town on the south side of Ohio Route 39, have been a long time in the making, with a lot of
38 Summer 2016
people stepping up to the plate to raise more than $7 million for the construction and development of the new facility. The following is a 10-step process that covers the timeline from the dream of a few people to the reality that is currently being built.
Several buildings and some touching up need completed before the new Holmes County Fairgrounds at Harvest Ridge are ready for this year’s inaugural event, which takes place Aug. 8-13.
1. The dream: In 2004, after another flood leaves Ridge project manager. With the assistance the old fairgrounds under water, Dave Hall, a of fundraising expert Matthew Hughes, the Holmes County Commissioner and Fair Board fundraising project with a goal of $6 million is President Kerry Taylor talk about the need to kicked off in earnest. Groundbreaking of the relocate. The Holmes County commissioners Baker Building gets under way in the spring of authorize $10,000 for a feasibility study. 2012, and the building hosts its first Share-AIn 2005, there are discussions amidst the business Christmas in December of that same year. community about construction of a year-round “We are so fortunate to live in a community of event center that can house the fair as well as generous people who help each other beyond the other activities. normal measure,” Taylor said. “This campus will 2. First step: In 2009, local businessman Paul support hundreds of local youth with leadership Weaver, owner of Weaver Leather Products, and character building opportunities through purchased an 85-acre farm known as the 4-H and FFA. It will assist needy families during Shreiner Farm. Weaver donated 10 acres for the the annual Share-A-Christmas drive, plus it will construction of New Pointe Church, and then support the local economy for generations by donated the remaining 74 acres to the Holmes hosting ongoing local and regional events.” County Agricultural Society. 5. Half-million dollar boost: Through his tenure The fair board was obligated to install water in Columbus as a State Representative, Hall and sewer lines from Millersburg to the location. has been active in the development of the new Plans are drawn up for design of the fairgrounds, Holmes County Fairgrounds, and in the summer and in March of 2010, Weaver purchases an of 2014, he is successful in negotiating a $500,000 additional 11 acres and awards them to the capital improvement line item into the state’s Agricultural Society. biennial budget. The money was earmarked The Holmes County Park District received for the construction of a 30,000 square-foot a $562,000 grant from CleanOhio funds to livestock arena and holding facilities. purchase the old fairgrounds and turn it into 6. Major donation: The unbelievable generosity of green space. The Park Board and Holmes County Sterling Humrichouser, a Holmes county farmer Fair Board work out a deal to allow the county who died in 2015, comes to light, as Humrichouser fair to be held at the current space through 2015. donated the majority of his property to the 3. Restoration: In the fall of 2011, area businessman Holmes Agricultural Society, which netted Bill Baker offers the fair board $200,000 for the first structure on the property, and a partnership between Share-A-Christmas and the fairgrounds is born. Share-A-Christmas uses the Baker Building throughout November and December to serve more than 300 families, while the fair board will operate the building the rest of the year. The next year, Arlie and Evelyn Rodhe, owners of the local IGA, agree to fund the restoration of the original farm barn on the property that is more than 100 years old. A capital campaign, started in 2010 with a $3,000 donation in memory of long-time fair supporter Mike Smith, exceeds $2 million in cash, in-kind and grants. A community effort helped moved 16 truckloads 4. Fundraising begins: In the spring of 2012, Historic of materials from the old fairgrounds to the new Downtown Millersburg Director Tom Wilke fairgrounds at Harvest Ridge. The trucks carted is hired on a part-time basis to be the Harvest bleachers, lights poles and the dairy boosters barn. HARVEST
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more than $1 million when the farm was sold. 8. Ground breaking: Construction of the The livestock building name is changed to the Humrichouser Building gets under way in Tom, Eva and Sterling Humrichouser Livestock November as the project bid is won by local Facility, and plans are enhanced to make it a contractor Ivan Weaver Construction, with more usable as a year-round exposition center. an expected completion date of June, 2016. The project gains momentum as the Holmes Thanks to a relatively mild winter, the project County Hardwood Furniture Guild (HFG) is essentially completed by the end of May, with pledges to get on board with a healthy donation some final finishes to be done. and plans for a 60,000-foot arena and exposition In March of 2016, the Lions Club breaks ground center. for its $80,000 permanent concession stand in the 7. The final fair: In July, 2015, an open house is midway and the Holmes County Commissioners held at Harvest Ridge, complete with fair food present the fair board with a check for $150,000 and a ferris wheel. More than 700 people show to assist in the completion of the grounds. up and the board kicks off its brick sale, an 9. More community and government support: opportunity to purchase engraved bricks to be In April, 2016, in a final act to commemorate displayed at the Gloria Celebration Garden at his time serving Holmes County as a State the new location. Representative, Hall once again helps procures Nostalgic fairgoers enjoy one last trip down $500,000 in capital appropriations to assist in Memory Lane at the old fairgrounds and records the construction of an arena/expo center in are set in sales profits. An emotional ceremony collaboration with the HFG. is held at the final fair at the old grounds in Work on the midway, camp area and the August, 2015, and within hours of the closing, electrical infrastructure gets under way. The the fair board shifts gears and breakdown and Nicholson family agrees to fill in the gap on transition mode begins, preparing items for unfunded portions of the horse barn. transport to the new grounds at Harvest Ridge. Funds for the completion of the grandstand
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project are needed, and Millersburg Tire Service steps up and earns the naming rights of the grandstands, bringing the total funds raised for the project close to $7 million. 10. Ready or not: Community volunteers and members of the fair board teamed up to transfer nine sections of bleachers, the stage, lights and poles, as well as the Dairy Boosters Barn to the new grounds. Work on projects such as parking, the entrance way and other touch ups are ongoing, with community workdays scheduled for every Saturday through July. While everything seems to be ready to host a functional fair, the project is still in progress. Fundraising to enhance the facility will be ongoing. There are plenty of opportunities to help out. For more information about what you can do, feel free to contact the fair office at 330674-0869. As Taylor says, there is only one place something like this could have occurred, and that is Holmes County, where the community came together and helped build a dream that will impact lives forever.
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healthy, productive soils checklist for growers Managing for soil health is one of the easiest and most effective ways for farmers to increase crop productivity and profitability while improving the environment. Results are often realized immediately, and last well into the future. Using these four basic principles is the key to improving the health of your soil. 1. Keep the soil covered as much as possible 2. Disturb the soil as little as possible 3. Keep plants growing throughout the year to feed the soil 4. Diversify as much as possible using crop rotation and cover crops Use the checklist on the back of this page to determine if you’re using some or all of the core Soil Health Management System farming practices. It is important to note that not all practices are applicable to all crops. Some operations will benefit from just one soil health practice while others may require additional practices for maximum benefit. But these core practices form the basis of a Soil Health Management System that can help you optimize your inputs, protect against drought, and increase production.
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42 Summer 2016
Helping People Help the Land USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Soil Health Management Systems Include: What is it?
What does it do?
How does it help?
Conservation Crop Rotation
• •
Growing a diverse number of crops
•
Increases nutrient cycling Manages plant pest (weeds, insects, and diseases) Reduces sheet, rill, and wind erosion Holds soil moisture Adds diversity so soil microbes can thrive
• • • • •
Improves nutrient use efficiency Decreases use of pesticides Improves water quality Conserves water Improves plant production
• • • • • • •
Increases soil organic matter Prevents soil erosion Conserves soil moisture Increases nutrient cycling Provides nitrogen for plant use Suppresses weeds Reduces compaction
• • • • • •
Improves crop production Improves water quality Conserves water Improves nutrient use efficiency Decreases use of pesticides Improves water efficiency to crops
No Till
•
A way of growing crops without
• • • •
Improves water holding capacity of soils Increases organic matter Reduces soil erosion Reduces energy use Decreases compaction
• • • • • • •
Improves water efficiency Conserves water Improves crop production Improves water quality Saves renewable resources Improves air quality Increases productivity
Reduces soil erosion from wind and rain Increases soil moisture for plants Reduces energy use Increases soil organic matter
• • • • •
Improves water quality Conserves water Saves renewable resources Improves air quality Improves crop production
Reduces erosion from wind and rain Moderates soil temperatures Increases soil organic matter Controls weeds Conserves soil moisture Reduces dust
• • • • • •
Improves water quality Improves plant productivity Increases crop production Reduces pesticide usage Conserves water Improves air quality
Increases plant nutrient uptake Improves the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil Budgets, supplies, and conserves nutrients for plant production Reduces odors and nitrogen emissions
• • •
Improves water quality Improves plant production Improves air quality
Reduces pesticide risks to water quality Reduces threat of chemicals entering the air Decreases pesticide risk to pollinators and other beneficial organisms Increases soil organic matter
• • • •
Improves water quality Improves air quality Increases plant pollination Increases plant productivity
in a planned sequence in order to increase soil organic matter and biodiversity in the soil.
Cover Crop An un-harvested crop grown as part of planned rotation to provide conservation benefits to the soil.
disturbing the soil through tillage.
• •
Mulch Tillage
•
Using tillage methods where
• • •
the soil surface is disturbed but maintains a high level of crop residue on the surface.
Mulching
•
Applying plant residues or other
• • • • •
suitable materials to the soil surface to compensate for loss of residue due to excessive tillage.
Nutrient Management Managing soil nutrients to meet crop needs while minimizing the impact on the environment and the soil.
• • • •
Pest Management
•
Managing pests by following an
•
ecological approach that promotes the growth of healthy plants with
•
strong defenses, while increasing stress on pests and enhancing the habitat for beneficial organisms.
•
United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service
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Consider Summer Annual Forage Options
Story by | RORY LEWANDOWSKI EXTENSION EDUCATOR, AG/NROSU EXTENSION WAYNE COUNTY
M
ost of our common pasture and hayfield grasses such as orchardgrass, bluegrass, fescue, ryegrass, festulolium, brome and timothy, to name a few, are cool season forage species. When summer temperatures of 80 degrees and higher arrive, these species do not thrive and their growth rates and productivity decline significantly. In pasture management we term this the summer slump. For this reason, if livestock producers need extra forage to either harvest as stored forage or to provide additional grazing, they may want to consider planting a warm season summer annual. Warm season annuals like warm to hot temperatures and can produce high yields during the summer period when cool season forages are slumping. r Ove 0 00 , 2 1 n rs i Pai ck! Sto
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Recently Mark Sulc, OSU Extension forage specialist, outlined some summer annual forage options in the OSU Extension Beef Cattle Letter and I am excerpting some of his planting options and comments. Corn silage: For anyone considering forages for silage, corn should be the first choice because of its high yields and energy content. Corn can be planted as late as mid- to late June for silage production; however, it does carry increased risk, especially if dry weather develops. Nevertheless, June planted corn with adequate rainfall can produce more forage with greater feeding value than other summer annual grasses. If forage is needed before the ear is formed, corn can be green chopped. Even without the ear, the feeding value of corn is at least equal to that of the other summer annual grasses and yields are likely to be higher. Summer annual grasses: Sudangrass, sorghum x sudangrass hybrids, pearl millet and forage sorghum grow rapidly in summer. When managed properly, these grasses can provide good quality forage. All these species can be planted up to mid-July and will produce 3.5-5 tons of dry matter per acre assuming
sufficient moisture is present for emergence and growth. Pearl millet is essentially free of prussic acid poisoning potential, while the sorghum species have the potential for prussic acid poisoning which varies by species. Nitrate toxicity is possible with all summer annual grasses. More information about the establishment and management of these species is available in the Ohio Agronomy Guide, on pages 11-114. That publication is available as a pdf file at: http://go.osu.edu/OHagronomyguide .
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Teff: is a relatively new warm-season grass option that can be used for hay, silage or pasture. In our test plots it produced about 3-4 tons of dry matter per acre from three cuttings. It can tolerate droughtstressed as well as waterlogged soil conditions. For more details on managing this forage, see an excellent factsheet from Cornell University found at: http://tiny.cc/CornellTeffInfo. Soybean: can be grown for forage, but it is extremely difficult to make good soybean hay and ensiling soybean also has problems. The high concentration of fat (about 10 percent) inhibits
bacteria in the silage and fermentation is slow and often incomplete. The best approach to using soybeans as a forage is to mix them with corn plants during silo filling. A mixture of 1 part or more of corn to 1 part soybean works well. In large diameter upright silos, adequate mixing usually occurs when one load of corn is unloaded followed by one load of soybeans. In smaller diameter upright silos onehalf load of soybeans followed by one-half to a full load of corn will usually result in adequate mixing. For silo bags, mixing is difficult. The ratio of corn to soybeans should be increased and the amount of soybeans put in the silo at one time should be small. The best solution would be to chop about onefourth to one-half load of soybeans and fill the rest of the wagon with corn. Use of herbicide-treated soybeans for forage or hay is allowed for only a few herbicides, so check chemical labels. Watch orchardgrass harvest height An article in a recent University of Kentucky forage newsletter shed some light on why orchardgrass hay fields no longer seem to be persisting as they did in the past. According to a survey of forage specialists across the U.S., the No. 1 reason for shorter stand life was low cutting heights. Low cutting heights
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were mainly attributable to disc mowers because these mowers allow cutting heights of 1-2 inches. Low cutting heights are harmful to orchardgrass because all the leaves needed for photosynthesis and the base of tillers (stems) where carbohydrates are stored for regrowth are removed. A research experiment on orchardgrass cutting height at the University of Kentucky found that just one season with low cutting heights significantly reduced stand longevity and increased weed infestation, regardless of the addition of fertilizer treatments. The recommended cutting height of 3 to 4 inches for orchardgrass and similar grasses is essential to maintain thick, weed free stands.
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Rory Lewandowski is an OSU Extension Agriculture & Natural Resources educator and may be reached at 330-264-8722.
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