Washington C.H. Record Herald,
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
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Washington C.H. Record Herald,
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
NATIONAL AG DAY Small farm owners gather for training, workshops By TRACY TURNER OSU Extension
ZANESVILLE — Small farm owners who want to learn more about how to make their farms work better for them or expand their operations, or those new to agriculture who are looking for ways to utilize acreage, can attend workshops and presentations on these and more issues during a small farm conference March 23 in Zanesville. The “Living Your Small Farm Dream” conference and trade show is designed to help participants learn more tips, techniques and methods for diversifying their opportunities into successful new enterprises and new markets as a way to improve economic growth and development on their farms, said Mark Mechling, an Ohio State University Extension educator in agriculture and natural resources. “It may be a person who is new to agriculture, or someone that may have acreage that they aren’t using to the fullest, or even someone who has newly acquired land and may not know what to do with it,” he said. “What we try to do with this conference is to give participants a smorgasbord of ideas that may interest them by offering a wide
Christmas trees are among the topics to be discussed at the Zanesville conference.
variety of sessions in which they can learn more in-depth about an issue, gain resources and learn how to finance a new venture.” The conference, which will be held at the Muskingum County Convention and Welcome Center, 205 N. Fifth St. in Zanesville, kicks off with a keynote address on “Planning and Goal Setting,” presented by Mike Hogan, an OSU
Extension educator. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Following Hogan’s address, participants can choose from over 20 sessions from Ohio State and industry experts on issues related to small farms and a trade show for small farmers that will offer information that can benefit a variety of growers,
Mechling said. The overall goal of the event and the mission of the OSU Small Farms Program is to provide a greater understanding of production practices, economics of land-use choices, assessment of personal and natural resources, marketing alternatives, and the identification of sources of assistance, he said. “Participants will gain awareness and knowledge of different enterprises
that they can venture into and how to begin the process of becoming an entrepreneur by exploring some of the different ideas that are out there,” Mechling said. “Participants will learn some of the basic information needed to get started and leave the conference with the knowledge of some of the resources of how to start a new venture and what other help or sources are available.”
Some of the topics to be addressed include: Maple syrup, Sheep production, Goat health and production, Forages, Livestock nutrition, Direct marketing of meat, Social media, Christmas trees, Legal issues for small farms, Soil basics, Brambles, High tunnels, Beekeeping, Vegetables, Financing/ loans, Tax issues. The conference is an outgrowth of the Ohio New and Small Farm College, an eight-week program created by OSU Extension that offers an introduction to the business of small farming for those who are new to the industry. The program offers information on budgeting, business planning and how to develop a farm structure, among other issues. The conference is cosponsored by OSU Extension’s Small Farm Program, Farm Credit Mid-America, USDA’s Farm Service Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the National Agricultural Statistics Service and Rural Development. The conference starts at 8:30 a.m. and runs until 4:15 p.m. Registration is $50. For more information or to register, go to http://muskingum.osu.edu or contact Mechling at 740-454-0144 or mechling.1@osu.edu.
OSU Extension reorganizes production guides COLUMBUS - Ohio State University Extension’s Ohio Vegetable Production Guide (Bulletin 672) has been discontinued but most of its content, including cultural, varietal, and pesticide recommendations, have been merged with an existing regional publication, an OSU Extension specialist said. The Midwest Vegetable Production Guide (Bulletin 948 for Ohio) is a regional publication involving seven states, including Ohio, published by Purdue University Extension. OSU Extension and Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) vegetable specialists are contributors to the new guide, ensuring the information within the document will reflect current recommendations
applicable to Ohio farming operations, said Jim Jasinski, an OSU Extension educator and Integrated Pest Management specialist. OSU Extension and OARDC are the outreach and research arms, respectively, of Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. The states included in the regional guide are Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota and Ohio. “Ohio growers should find the new comprehensive guide filled with the same information that was previously published in the former guide,” Jasinski said. “If there is specific content growers notice missing, please contact us and we’ll try to include that information next year.” A change for Ohio
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Washington C.H. Record Herald,
9A
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
NATIONAL AG DAY Daniels promotes the importance of agriculture in Ohio By GARY HUFFENBERGER Civitas Media Service
Farm products end up not only on dining room tables, but also go toward health-care goods, energy uses and other useful things, the Ohio department of director agriculture said Thursday in Clinton County. And Ohio Department of Agriculture Director David T. Daniels anticipates the types of uses for the state’s agricultural products will only increase in the future, with research into plants yielding results having economic or human impact. on Daniels Thursday continued to observe Ohio Agriculture Week on two stops near Wilmington - Stokes Berry Farm on Center Road and JD Equipment on U.S. 68 north of town. goodness, “My we’re making rubber from dandelions now. Maybe you’ll be driving on tires one of these days produced from dandelions,” Daniels said inside a greenhouse on the 230acre Stokes Berry Farm. Agriculture and food already is Ohio’s number one industry, according to the Ohio of Department Agriculture which sets the economic impact at $105 billion. “We just want people to know how important and how large agriculture is to the state,” said Daniels. Daniels was asked about the thought that research in the life sciences, which includes botany and animal science among other specialties, might have as big an effect as research in the electronics field has. “Yeah, I believe that,” he said, mentioning the research that the Stokes operation takes part in regarding
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the use of black raspberries to help prevent cancers. Daniels formerly represented Clinton County in the Statehouse and was already familiar with the Stokes operation prior to Thursday’s visit. “But also know there’s research going on at Ohio State all the time on a number of different things,” added Daniels. Earlier, the state director of agriculture said, “Every day there’s research that unlocks some new use for the products that are being produced right here in Ohio.” Daniels said that ranges from the dried fruit industry to energy research. “All those kind of things are things that our agribusinesses and our producers are producing right here in Ohio,” said Daniels. Ohio already has operations involving 200 different crops, he said. Recently, he saw an operation where the farmer’s entire business on his 173 acres is herbs and vegetables. That producer markets the herbs and vegetables directly to chefs around the world, according to Daniels, shipping to all 50 states and 31 countries. Further, “He is refining the refrigeration process for overnight delivery of vegetables picked on his farm,” said Daniels. The agriculture director is making a total of 16 on-site visits this week in conjunction with Ohio Agriculture Week.
New study shows agriculture degrees are in demand COLUMBUS – By New Year’s Day this year, graduating senior Linsey Howell already had five job offers. Although the 21-yearold double major in agribusiness and applied economics in Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) won’t receive her degree until graduation day May 5, Howell already has a start date for her new job working in grain merchandising for The Andersons: June 3. “Thanks to the degrees I’m earning from Ohio State and the internships I’ve had, I was able to take the time to really consider the job offers and decide which one would be the best fit for me and what I want to do in my professional career,” the Danville, Ohio native said. “There are a lot of companies looking to hire agriculture graduates. “The opportunities are nationwide and worldwide, if you are open to them. A lot of students in the college (CFAES) have job offers at the end of their junior year and a lot of students had jobs by the first career fair, and the ones who aren’t looking for jobs have already been accepted into graduate school.” Howell is among a growing number of recent agriculture graduates and graduating seniors who are reporting strong job prospects with their agriculture and natural resources degrees in Ohio and nationwide thanks to the growing world-wide demand for food and an increasingly strong agriculture industry, experts say. In fact, recent agriculture and natural resources graduates with bachelor’s-
degrees have the third lowest rates of unemployment (7 percent), according to a 2012 study by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce. The same study found that rate even lower for graduates with advanced agricultural degrees (2.4 percent). This, as net farm income is expected to reach $128.2 billion this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That’s a 14 percent increase over last year’s $112.8 billion and the highest figure since 1973, USDA said in a statement. Strong future employment prospects ring true for many recent CFAES graduates and graduating CFAES seniors, said Bruce McPheron, vice president for agricultural administration and dean of CFAES. Consider the following: • Some 92 percent of CFAES graduates are employed or are attending graduate school within six months of graduation. • CFAES graduates report an average starting salary of $39,024 • Some 72.1 percent of CFAES graduates reported employment within Ohio. • More than 200 companies and organizations hired CFAES graduates last year. “We focus on providing not only the best possible technical education for our students but also help them gain leadership, communication, and teamwork skills,” McPheron said. Job postings by employers received in the CFAES career services office increased in 2012 compared to 2011, said Adam Cahill, career development manager for CFAES. And the college is on pace to see continued
gains so far in 2013, he said. “We have always had high involvement from agribusiness and seedbased companies at our career expos,” Cahill said. “Businesses see the value in our graduates which has kept them coming back every year. “When we look at the fall semester interviews held at the college, 68 percent were from companies focused directly in seed industry and agribusiness sectors.” The college is also seeing an increase in company interaction with CFAES student organizations and in the classroom as guest speakers, he said. “Companies like Cargill, Archer Daniels Midland, Pioneer, Farm Credit Services of MidAmerica, John Deere and numerous others have increased their presence and physical time on campus so that they can interact with and recruit students from multiple avenues outside of the traditional career fair,” Cahill said. Kristen Johnson agrees. She is one of four recruiters employed by Farm Credit Mid-America, a $19 billion agricultural lending cooperative providing farm and home financing to more than 100,000 agribusinesses, farmers and rural residents throughout Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Farm Credit MidAmerica recruits on campuses at more than two dozen colleges and universities that offer four-year degrees in agriculture across our four states, including CFAES, Johnson said, noting that there is “increased competition for the best and brightest” agriculture and
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natural resources graduates. “There’s been a substantial increase in the number of businesses participating in campus events seeking employees from agriculture’s talent pool,” she said. “A career fair that might have had 20 companies last year may have 60 this year. “At the same time, those interested in agricultural careers are really stepping up to the plate. They’re coming in with definitive career plans and have done their research on the companies at the event.” In response to the growing demand of the agricultural financing market, Farm Credit MidAmerica experienced a 27 percent jump in employee numbers in the last three years, and expects to add more than 100 sales and customer support positions in 2013, Johnson said. “That level of student professionalism is extending into our internships, too,” she said. “This year, we’ll add 40 interns to our program, up from just eight or 10 interns a few years ago. “Like a lot of other companies, our intern program is an important part of our strategic hiring process and often leads to long-term careers and even leadership positions.” For Howell, the knowledge that she is graduating with a high-demand degree and the completion of two agriculture-related internships, allows her to feel confident in her shortterm and long-term career prospects. “I’m so excited,” she said. “I know I’ve made the right job decision and I can’t wait to start my new career.”
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Washington C.H. Record Herald,
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
NATIONAL AG DAY Ohio Livestock Coalition sets direction for 2013 COLUMBUS — The Ohio Livestock Coalition (OLC) Board of Directors (Board) elected new officers and identified three key focus areas in December to guide its direction for this year. Dick Isler, executive vice president of the Ohio Pork Producers Council, will serve as president of OLC. He will lead the organization as it addresses its priority issues, including antibiotics in food producing animals, nutrient management and water quality issues, and maximizing resources available from national farm organizations working on similar issues. “The use of antibiotics in livestock and environmental management at farms are important issues for farmers and all Ohioans,” said David White, OLC executive director. “The Board prioritized these focus areas that will advance our ability to engage in public dialogue and support our mission to assist Ohio’s livestock farm community in expanding its positive contributions to the state by advancing environ-
continue to represent the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association on the OLC board. • Roger High, who represents the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association, will serve as vice president. • Scott Higgins, who represents the American Dairy Association Mideast and is a past president of OLC, was elected to serve as secretary/treasurer. Mr. High held the seat previously. “The OLC has a proud history of electing strong leaders committed to building trust in Ohio’s farmers and food producers through open and proactive engagement with the public,” said White. “This slate of elected officers continues that tradition.” “I am honored to be assuming this role with OLC,” said Isler. “Under The Ohio Livestock Coalition is a trusted resource for the leadership of Dr. Glauer, the OLC has livestock farmers. served as an effective mentally friendly, socially elected the following offi- voice for livestock farmresponsible and economicers during that meeting: ers and has established cally viable farming. “ • Dick Isler, president. positive partnerships with The focus areas were Isler replaces David opinion leaders and other approved at the December Glauer, DVM, who served Ohioans interested in Board of Directors meetas president the past two farm and food issues. I ing. Board members also years. Dr. Glauer will am committed to continu-
ing the work of OLC and look forward to this opportunity on behalf of the livestock community.” In 2012, OLC leadership developed a strategic plan to guide ongoing programs and strengthen OLC’s ability to meet its vision and mission. The strategic plan identifies three priority areas for long-term success: • Drive unity among Ohio’s animal agriculture stakeholders; • Shape perception of animal agriculture in Ohio; and • Proactively identify emerging issues. “Farmers are dedicated to responsible production as well as the standards and best practices that ensure the animals on our farms receive quality care, our natural resources are preserved and protected, and that
our rural communities remain vibrant,” said White. “I am confident the Ohio Livestock Coalition Board of Directors has set a positive direction for our efforts on behalf of farmers and their communities in 2013.” The OLC, formed in 1997, is a statewide trade organization consisting of diverse agriculture organizations and individual farmers committed to a mission of advancing environmentally friendly, socially responsible and economically viable livestock farming practices. The OLC vision is to create an environment in which Ohio’s farm community can prosper and grow, and is a trusted resource in sharing factbased information about animal agriculture and food production.
Planting season is right around the corner Adam Shepard OSU Extension spring nitrogen should wait until plants begin to greenup before making the application. If we make our application too soon before the plant comes out of dormancy the plant will not have the ability to absorb the nitrogen and we are subject to loss from leaching and volatilization. Some producers may opt to implement a more intensive management plan
that could call for two or even three applications of spring nitrogen. In this case the small quantities of nitrogen spread over multiple applications will help to reduce the salt burn on the plant tissues and also allow for feeding when the plant will get the biggest benefit. Herbicide applications may be necessary and producers should be sure to scout before application to make sure the correct product is selected to treat the weeds that are identified in the field. Some herbicide can be
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applied with the nitrogen application but you should always consult the label of the product you wish to apply for complete instructions. Private Pesticide Applicators that have not received recertification can register for March 18, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.; recertification that will take place at the Clinton County Extension Office. For more information and to register please visit www.pested.osu.edu.
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The calendar on the wall says that spring is drawing near but depending on the day the weather outside may give a different impression. My first season of winter meetings is rapidly concluding which means it is about time to focus and plan for field operations at the county farm. If you have been by the farm lately you will notice that we are conducting some trials on cover crops and tillage methods. The first year at the county farm has proven very informative for me: I’ve learned that even with an early harvest I was not able to complete cover crop seeding at an early enough date to get stand establishment before winter. That is the great thing about the demonstration farm, we have ideas and we try them out. I’m quickly learning that rarely will things go just as we plan but no matter the end result there is always something we can take away. For the first year in a while we have planted wheat at the farm and it isn’t looking too bad. Similar to the rest of the wheat in the area when the snow cover melted it revealed a dull brown wheat crop that is getting ready for the spring topdress. Producers may be tempted to get out early before green-up but studies on the subject have seen little to no advantage over wheat that was not top-dressed. Producers opting for a single pass approach to
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Washington C.H. Record Herald,
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
11A
NATIONAL AG DAY FDA’s proposed safety rules will impact farmers MEDINA — Ohio’s produce farmers may want to take some time to review the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s newly proposed Produce Safety rule. They have until May 16 to comment before the rule is finalized, said Ashley Kulhanek, agriculture and natural resources educator for Ohio State University Extension. After finalization, the rule will take effect for some operators within a mere 60 days. “That’s a short period of time after finalization before they have to comply with the new rules,” she said. The proposed Produce Safety rule, announced on Jan. 4 and published in the Federal Register, is one way the government is putting the Food Safety Modernization Act into practice. The act was signed into law in January 2011, and growers and the food industry have been waiting since then to get details on what it will mean for their operations. Also announced Jan. 4 was the proposed rule for Preventive Controls for Human Food, geared toward facilities that process, package or store food. Still in the works are additional rules regarding the safety of imported food and for facilities producing animal feed. The proposed Produce Safety rule focuses on standards for growing, harvesting, packing and holding produce on farms. It is geared toward fruits and vegetables that will likely be eaten fresh. Not included is produce that is rarely consumed raw (such as potatoes) or is destined for commercial processing. The hope is that the new rules will reduce the incidence of foodborne illness related to fresh produce: According to the FDA, between 1996 and 2010, approximately 131 produce-related outbreaks were reported, resulting in 14,132 illnesses, 1,360 hospitalizations and 27 deaths. The rule addresses a number of areas that could affect the safety of produce on the farm, including: Irrigation and other agricultural water. Farm worker hygiene. Manure and other additions to the soil. Intrusion of animals in the
growing fields. Sanitation conditions affecting buildings, equipment and tools. The rule contains special provisions for sprouts, which are considered much more risky and vulnerable to disease-causing bacteria. A fact sheet summarizing the rule is available at http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafe ty/FSMA/ucm334114.htm and basic information about the rule is available at http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafe ty/FSMA/ucm334554.htm. To comment, click the link from the Federal Register page, or go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for FDA-2011-N-0921. The Federal Register page also includes information to submit comments in writing. The 120-day comment period began today with the publication of the draft rule in the Federal Register. After reviewing summaries of the rule, Kulhanek said she sees no real surprises. “There’s an exemption for small farms just like the FDA said there would be,” she said. “And the proposed rule allows states to request variances from some or all provisions depending on local growing conditions. “So, if there’s an instance where one of the rules might seem unattainable by the farms in the region, the state can apply for a variance, or a different way of doing things, so farmers can still grow their produce as long as it’s proven safe.” To determine if an operation is exempt from the rules, see the flow chart available here: http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafe ty/FSMA/ucm334554.htm - happen. Kulhanek said she expects Ohio State will be asked to do some research in the future to help determine those safe alternative practices for local growers. Before taking her new position as an OSU Extension educator in Medina County, Kulhanek was the coordinator and primary instructor of Ohio State’s Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Education Program (http://producesafety.osu.edu), a program sponsored by the
Department of Horticulture and Crop Science in Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, and delivered by Kulhanek and county Extension educators. The three-hour GAPs workshops have been held throughout the state for about five years to assist Ohio’s produce growers in adopting practices to keep produce safe. Currently, a grant from the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Program allows the workshops to be offered for just $10 per person, a significant discount. Kulhanek, who remains one of the instructors of the GAPs programs and is Ohio’s representative to the National Produce Safety Alliance, said she believes the new regulations on water quality may be the biggest challenge for Ohio’s growers. The proposed rule states that water used for produce “be safe and of adequate sanitary quality for its intended use,” and that “specific criteria for the quality of agricultural water be established for water that is used for certain purposes, with proposed requirements for periodic analytical testing.” “If you’re irrigating, getting clean water for crops it not always easy,” Kulhanek said. “A lot of growers use streams or creeks, ponds, reservoirs, open sources, and the quality of water can change from day to day. “If an animal dies in the water, bacterial counts will go way off the charts. And the cost or frequency of testing water quality might be an issue. I think it’s going to be something a lot of people will comment on.” Paying for new equipment or training of employees might also be an issue for some growers, she said, “but it can be done.” The risk posed by wildlife or other animals defecating in fields may also be a difficult issue for growers to manage, Kulhanek said. “It’s my assumption that the FDA understands that it’s not going to be perfect,” she said. “Wildlife is unavoidable.” One key is scouting and inspection, Kulhanek said.
“Growers are going to have to take some time to walk or drive the perimeter of produce fields to see if wildlife have been walking through, if there’s been some heavy deer traffic, for instance. If they find signs of wildlife, they’ll have to figure out a way to handle it. That can be done by adding fencing, noisemakers, or some other kind of repellent, she said. According to information on the FDA’s website, FDA will not require fencing of farms, habitat destruction, or animals to be harmed in order to comply with animal intrusion regulations, Kulhanek said. “The FDA or auditors will want to see that growers have used due diligence, that they have made the effort to do a preliminary risk assessment before planting and before harvesting, and have taken pro-active measures to prevent those risks where possible,” Kulhanek said. She encourages all Ohio produce growers to attend GAPs training, even if they are small farmers or are otherwise exempt from the new rules. “Any grower can make improvements to help make produce safer overall,” she said. Besides, although the FDA may not force small growers to abide to the new rules, grocery chains or produce auctions may decide that even those exempt by FDA’s standards are not exempt in their eyes. “Buyers want safe food, period,” she said. Upcoming trainings were held in January as part of the Ohio Produce Growers and Marketers Association Congress. More programs will be planned when a new program coordinator is hired, said Doug Doohan, professor of horticulture and crop science, and the originator and leader of the GAPs training program. “Everyone has to realize that there’s no such thing as 100 percent risk reduction,” Kulhanek said. “There’s no such thing as 100 percent safe when you’re talking about fresh produce. “But there’s always room for improvement.”
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Washington C.H. Record Herald,
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
NATIONAL AG DAY Sugaring season has arrived in Ohio’s Clear Fork Valley
By DIANA SHARP Spring means many things to many people … budding flowers, the return of migratory birds, and for a few dedicated, hardworking individuals, like Steve Shasky, it means the flow of sweet sap from Ohio’s Maple trees. The popularity of real maple syrup during early American history centered around the demand for sugar. Back then, sap was boiled down to make a sugar loaf that was easily shipped on boats to meet the demand. “It was called loaf sugar you boiled almost all the water out. The idea was … (in the colonies) you had honey sorghum or molasses and maple sugar. Those were the three sweeteners until the slave trade kicked in and the sugar started coming from the Indies. …Well if you were on the frontier envision the great lakes … all the production for maple syrup is around the great lakes,” explained Shasky last week as he was preparing to boil. He added, at that time, there was always a demand for sugar, so it was a profitable venture for a frontiersman or early settlers. It’s not as easy as tapping a tree and hanging a bucket. There is a lot of care and effort that goes into producing quality maple syrup, then and now. In fact, it is a tricky crop dependent on weather and the relative short season in which one must collect the sap. The sugaring season begins in late winter or early spring, Presidents’ day till the end of March according to Shasky. Optimal conditions occur when the temperature is below freezing at night and above freezing during the day, creating internal pressure that causes the sap to flow through the tree. Sugar season is over when the buds begin to swell and the sap develops an off flavor. “Prime syrup weather is 20s and 40s. In the 20s and night and in the 40s during the days,” explained Shasky, who owns Steve’s
Photo by Diana Sharp
Steve Shasky standing in his sugar palace checking the grade on his latest batch of syrup earlier this month.
Ski Shop, 2583 Possum Run Rd., near Snow Trails. These temperatures are ideal for the sap to run. It is a clear liquid that is two percent sugar and 98 percent water. Producers boil 60 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of syrup. A grove of sugar trees is called a “sugarbush.” Shasky taps around 700 trees and boils for himself and a friend who taps around 400 trees. He considers himself a commercial producer who sells bulk syrup and some retail. This is compared with commercial producers in New England who average around 50,000 trees.
Any sizable sugaring operation occurs in a sugar-house, a building designed to vent the enormous amount of steam that is produced by the condensing syrup. Shasky says he calls his shack a palace. “You won’t find most shacks with drywall,” laughed Shasky. He went on to describe that most sugar shacks can be very “rustic.” Sugaring is the process in which the sap is boiled down and converted to syrup, at which point it’s about 67 percent sugar and 33 percent water. “To me syrup-ing is a logistics issue.
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Everybody’s woods is different nothing is steady state. This year is different from this year … It’s farming,” explained Shasky. He went on to describe the intricacies of sugaring. It’s a race against bacteria from tree to evaporator. One doesn’t want to let the sugar water sit too long for fear the growth of bacteria will eat the sugar your trying to syrup. Likewise once the water makes it’s way to an evaporator there
is the temperature and flow to maintain as the water is evaporated. After boiling, the syrup is filtered, graded, and bottled. Shasky prefers fancy grade syrup which has understated maple notes and a rich flavor unlike any dark or amber syrup. Shasky’s says his wife Cindy prefers the darker syrup. Regardless of the grade, taste is in the preparation, how quickly the water makes its way to the evaporator and the regulation of temperature in the sugaring process. The Shasky’s sell their syrup which is available now at the Ski Shop and at
the Village of Bellville’s Farmers’ Market. Shasky hopes to grow his operation; after all, he admittedly has the sugar bug. He is a member of the Ohio Maple Producers Association (OMPA). “Everyone’s syrup is different. It’s in how each one boils their water,” said Shasky. He welcomes anyone to stop out to try his product. It’s an expensive passion and he takes pride in his syrup that he and his wife produce. For more information concerning the entire driving tour visit http://www.ohiomaple.org/ maple-madness.html.
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Washington C.H. Record Herald,
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
13A
NATIONAL AG DAY Local farmer gives back to schools, fire department
A soybean farmer looks over his crops.
Soybean Education Program receives international award bean: Many concessionaires made their fried foods healthier by adopting the use of trans fatfree high-oleic soybean oil in their food booths, featuring educational signage alongside the delicious treats. Various additional soy-based products, such as hand sanitizer and paint, were used throughout the 360-acre Ohio Expo Center. A final educational element was the sponsorship of several buildings and the entire junior livestock show, capped with Ohio Soybean Day, Saturday, Aug. 4. On this day, Ohio soybean farmers greeted fairgoers and answered questions about the uses of soybeans and how farmers grow them. Additionally, potted soybean plants along with signage sharing interesting facts such as “one acre of soybeans can produce 82,368 crayons” were located throughout the grounds. The Soybean and Environmental Sustainability Awards were developed to encourage fairs to utilize soy products in their operations, educate the public about the soy products, to incorporate environmentally sustainable practices in fair operations as well as to educate the fairgoing
Pl Our ace
public about environmentally sustainable practices. The Ohio Expo Center hosts the 2013 Ohio State Fair, which will run July 24-Aug. 4. In 2012, 840,306 people attended the Ohio State Fair. For more information, call 1-888-OHO-EXPO or 1-614-644-FAIR. On the Web, visit them at ohiostatefair.com. The Ohio Soybean Council is governed by a volunteer farmer board, which directs the Soybean Promotion and Research Program. The program’s primary goal is to improve soybean profitability by targeting education, marketing and research and development projects through the investment of
farmer-contributed funds. To learn more, visit www.soyohio.org and www.ohiosoybeanfarmers.org.
teer fire department will be using the funds to help improve the services they provide to the community. The second $2,500 donation will help support the school district by allowing the middle school science department to continue running the outdoor learning lab that grows vegetables for the cafeteria. “My son went to Miami Trace,” said Rockhold. “I think it’s important that we support the local school system.” This year, the Monsanto Fund will invest nearly $6 million in rural America through Grow Communities, which includes double donations for counties impacted by the historic drought. In Ohio, $160,000 is being given across 64 counties. America’s Farmers Grow Communities is sponsored by the Monsanto Fund to partner with farmers in helping them positively impact their communities. This program is part of the Monsanto Fund’s overall effort to strengthen rural America.
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WORTHINGTON – The Ohio State Fair, in conjunction with the Ohio Soybean Council, has received an award of distinction in the inaugural Soybean and Environmental Sustainability Awards competition from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) for its soybean education program at the 2012 Fair. In addition to receiving first place in its attendance division for the “educational event, exhibit or program for the fairgoing public – soy use” category, the Ohio State Fair was presented with the coveted Judge’s Choice Award for the entire Soybean and Environmental Sustainability Awards competition, which recognized fairs in four different categories, and in each of five divisions based upon attendance. The entries were evaluated and judged by a team of industry leaders selected from the membership of the IAFE. The multi-faceted program was developed in partnership with the Ohio Soybean Council and soybean checkoff to educate fairgoers, farmers and concession vendors about the state’s most abundant and versatile crop, the soy-
The Concord Green Volunteer Fire Department and Miami Trace Local School District will now be able to better serve the community, thanks to the support of local farmer, Ronald Rockhold, and America’s Farmers Grow Communities. Sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of Monsanto Company, Grow Communities provides farmers in eligible counties the chance to win a $2,500 donation for a local nonprofit organization of their choice. To further support counties declared natural disaster areas by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) due to the drought this year, winning farmers in these counties are able to direct double donations, a total of $5,000. Fayette County was declared a disaster area by the USDA, giving Rockhold the opportunity to choose two organizations to receive $2,500 donations. He selected the Concord Green Volunteer Fire Department and Miami Trace Local School District. The volun-
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Washington C.H. Record Herald,
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
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