Acres Midwest » North Central

Farmers encouraged to review crop insurance needs

Rob Treynor — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 01:15:58 +0000

For ACRES Droughts, floods and damaging weather wreaked havoc last year for farmers across the country, causing billions in insurance losses. For many farmers, crop insurance can offer some relief and protection from rough years such as 2012. To better understand how crop insurance can provide an economic backstop to agricultural losses, Ohio Lieutenant [...]

The post Farmers encouraged to review crop insurance needs appeared first on Acres Midwest.

The China connection

Gary Brock — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:20:55 +0000

by GARY BROCK gbrock@civitasmedia.com There isn’t one thing Ohio farmers need to know about China’s affect on Ohio agriculture. There are two. And while Ohio State University’s retired international agriculture economist Dr. Allan Lines says Ohio farmers are all too familiar with the affect China has on the price of corn and soybeans they [...]

The post The China connection appeared first on Acres Midwest.

Rise in farmland rental rates adds to local growers concerns

Rob Treynor — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:13:56 +0000

By Randa Wagner The songbirds are drifting back into Ohio, the days are gradually warming, and the planting season is fast approaching. Farming, in itself, has unique issues, and each year brings new challenges. One of the issues affecting Morrow County growers this Spring is the increase in cash rent rates with property [...]

The post Rise in farmland rental rates adds to local growers concerns appeared first on Acres Midwest.

Weather could hurt OH maple syrup production

Acres Admin — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 17:01:03 +0000

WILLOUGHBY (AP) — Ohio’s maple syrup experts are concerned that above-average temperatures and the delay in seasonal weather could result in statewide production that would be lower than the 100,000 gallons or more reported each of the past two years. The Willoughby News-Herald reports that experts in the field are concerned that this year’s total [...]

The post Weather could hurt OH maple syrup production appeared first on Acres Midwest.

The folks of Fox Hollow

Acres Admin — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 05:30:26 +0000

By ZACHARY GRIMM Knox County Citizen The story of the Rickard Family’s farm, Fox Hollow Farm, begins not in Knox County, but in New Jersey. There, Bruce and Lisa Rickard met. Having always wanted to be a farmer, Bruce relocated with Lisa to Columbus 26 years ago with only eight lambs, but plenty of [...]

The post The folks of Fox Hollow appeared first on Acres Midwest.

Ohio's Century Farms: Willow Brook

Rob Treynor — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:04:17 +0000

By SALLY BOYD sboyd@civitasmedia.com WAKEMAN — It’s often difficult to keep secrets in the small communities which dot Ohio’s rural areas, but for Ken Green, of Wakeman, his family has maintained “the best-kept secret” of that north central Ohio region for nearly 200 years. “We are the best-kept secret in Wakeman. We have really [...]

The post Ohio's Century Farms: Willow Brook appeared first on Acres Midwest.

‘AG-Gag’ law controversy continues but doesn’t stop proponents

Rob Treynor — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:53:10 +0000

By Randa Wagner rwagner@civitasmedia.com Do you know where the meat on your dinner table comes from? From beef, pork and poultry producers, you might answer, and you’d be correct. But between the farm and the grocery store, animals have to be slaughtered, butchered and sometimes packaged for sale in meat-processing plants. That is where [...]

The post ‘AG-Gag’ law controversy continues but doesn’t stop proponents appeared first on Acres Midwest.

High corn - high hazard

Rob Treynor — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 17:03:26 +0000

By DAVID J. COEHRS Civitas News Service It can become an annoying game for motorists during planting season: inching perilously forward in their vehicles at rural intersections because cornfields obstruct their view of approaching traffic. Local officials say the problem is preventable, and in cases of uncooperative property owners they have the authority to enforce [...]

The post High corn - high hazard appeared first on Acres Midwest.

‘Dairy Cliff’ averted... for now

Rob Treynor — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:37:24 +0000

The price of milk didn’t double for consumers, but where does that leave producers?

The post ‘Dairy Cliff’ averted... for now appeared first on Acres Midwest.

Big tools and toys dominate Power Show

Rob Treynor — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:29:12 +0000

By KATE LIEBERS The Delaware Gazette About 15,000 agricultural supply enthusiasts made the trip to Columbus to attend this year’s Power Show Ohio – the state’s largest indoor exhibition of outdoor equipment. Power Show manager Dennis Alford boasted of the show’s breadth of farming, construction and gardening equipment. “There’s a lot of specialty type [...]

The post Big tools and toys dominate Power Show appeared first on Acres Midwest.

Think you've got a big tree? Check the register.

Rob Treynor — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:33:54 +0000

By LEE REICH A few months ago I happened upon an enormous cucumbertree magnolia. “Must be the biggest cucumbertree magnolia anywhere,” I thought. Such speculation doesn’t have to be idle. In a Washington, D.C., office, the American Forests organization keeps the National Register of Big Trees. The Big Tree program was begun in 1940 as [...]

The post Think you've got a big tree? Check the register. appeared first on Acres Midwest.

Power Show Ohio coming to Ohio Expo Center

Rob Treynor — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:21:47 +0000

by KATE LIEBERS Civitas News Service Agricultural supply enthusiasts are invited to unite at the annual Power Show Ohio —the state’s largest indoor farming, construction and gardening equipment exhibition. “I think (visitors) would be impressed with the mixture of equipment,” said Dennis Alford, Power Show manager. “There’s a lot of specialty type of equipment [...]

The post Power Show Ohio coming to Ohio Expo Center appeared first on Acres Midwest.

Pro-tips: Keeping livestock healthy in winter

Rob Treynor — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 14:58:38 +0000

As the weather gets colder as the year comes to an end while another begins, it’s very important to remember that our livestock need help to make it through the winter, just as we sometimes struggle. The local vets in Fredericktown and Mt. Vernon have some tips on how to help our animals through this rollercoaster of a season.

The post Pro-tips: Keeping livestock healthy in winter appeared first on Acres Midwest.

ODNR announces new direction for Malabar Farm State Park

Rob Treynor — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 15:05:11 +0000

LUCAS, OH – Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Director James Zehringer announced a new vision and a series of capital improvements for Malabar Farm State Park. “Louis Bromfield showed farmers firsthand how we could improve our farmland and protect our drinking water,” Zehringer said. “Our new vision for Malabar Farm involves an approach to [...]

The post ODNR announces new direction for Malabar Farm State Park appeared first on Acres Midwest.

New concerns about antibiotic-resistant bacterium raise questions for pork producers

Rob Treynor — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:56:41 +0000

By Randa Wagner Morrow County Sentinel Pork products have recently come under scrutiny by consumer groups for harboring a hard-to-pronounce bacteria that can cause food poisoning, especially in children. Yersinia enterocolitica came under the microscope after Consumer Reports recently performed an analysis of American pork in grocery and specialty stores. Their findings were that [...]

The post New concerns about antibiotic-resistant bacterium raise questions for pork producers appeared first on Acres Midwest.

On-farm weddings a growing niche business

Rob Treynor — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 22:13:00 +0000

By COLLEEN NEWVINE TEBEAU APExchange Robert Pollock started hosting weddings at his Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa as a fluke. He bought a 1764 house on about 100 acres in the Hudson Valley, north of New York City, and one of the guys he hired to do work on the property needed a place [...]

The post On-farm weddings a growing niche business appeared first on Acres Midwest.

Christmas tree farms open for business

Rob Treynor — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 21:48:05 +0000

Christmas trees are readily available for purchase in Ohio the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve at most tree farm locations. Depending on the local farm, most offer cut-your-own trees, ready-cut trees and live trees to be replanted. Saws are usually provided and post-cut services will vary. Most farms will offer tree shaking and bailing [...]

The post Christmas tree farms open for business appeared first on Acres Midwest.

Keeping your trees healthy

Rob Treynor — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:15:11 +0000

By Taylor Kaser reporter@newscolorpress.com Diseases from Asia aren’t just a threat to humans, native trees are fighting a battle of their own too. Bugs, fungi, and spores all threaten to decimate the local flora. While people have antibiotics and modern medicine to aid them, trees are basically on their own, with little defenses. The [...]

The post Keeping your trees healthy appeared first on Acres Midwest.

A Family organic tradition

Rob Treynor — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:00:25 +0000

By Patty Rice Groth pattyricegroth@gmail.com Good stewards of the land, educators in their community, innovators of technology. These phrases only begin to describe Dale and Toni Norwood who own and operate Springwood Valley Farm in rural Galion, Ohio. On just over seven acres of slightly rolling land, the Norwoods grow organically-nurtured produce, children, and [...]

The post A Family organic tradition appeared first on Acres Midwest.

Singles in Agriculture

Rob Treynor — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 13:47:21 +0000

By Devon Immelt dimmelt@delgazette.com In today’s fast-paced society, being “single and looking” can be a challenge. That challenge is often doubly so for farmers who frequently work long, physically hard days and live in rural areas where opportunities and venues for social activities are few and far between. So what’s a single farmer to [...]

The post Singles in Agriculture appeared first on Acres Midwest.

Yielding progress

Rob Treynor — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 03:21:42 +0000

By Matt Echelberry mechelberry@galioninquirer.com Water for Yields in Your Fields, an event sponsored by the Crawford County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), was held on Aug. 28 on a farm located west of Crestline. Members of SWCD, local farmers and employees of Sunrise Cooperative gathered beneath a large canopy tent. Several presentations were [...]

The post Yielding progress appeared first on Acres Midwest.

Wine-grape production discussed at the Farm Science Review

Rob Treynor — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:12:11 +0000

By Kevin Dye kdye@madison-press.com In the last four years, Ohio has seen the amount of wineries grow from 124 in 2008 to 171 in 2012. That has created a shortage of wine grapes available and has opened up opportunities for those interested in wine-grape production. Ohio State University extension specialist and associate professor Dr. [...]

The post Wine-grape production discussed at the Farm Science Review appeared first on Acres Midwest.

Autumn is the season for apples

Rob Treynor — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 16:17:01 +0000

By Randa Wagner editor@newscolorpress.com Autumn brings the new school year, football games, cooling temperatures — and apples. Orchards everywhere are humming with activity right now as apples get picked, sorted, bagged, and pressed into cider. For the Osbornes at 6027 US Route 42 southwest of Johnsville, it’s business as usual since 1958. Though the [...]

The post Autumn is the season for apples appeared first on Acres Midwest.

GPS magic on the farm

Acres Admin — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 15:49:01 +0000

By Penny Smith knoxcitizen@ohcommedia.com The development and implementation of precision agriculture or site-specific farming has been made possible by combining the Global Positioning System (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS). These technologies enable the coupling of real-time data collection with accurate position information, leading to the efficient manipulation and analysis of large amounts of [...]

The post GPS magic on the farm appeared first on Acres Midwest.

The plight of the honeybee

Acres Admin — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 15:40:28 +0000

By Randa Wagner editor@newscolorpress.com Many of the things we take for granted and use in our modern world have had a significant effect on natural resources, weather and nature itself. The meek, industrious honeybee is no exception. If the honeybees’ biggest challenges are not reduced or eliminated soon, the results could be grim. Colony [...]

The post The plight of the honeybee appeared first on Acres Midwest.

Small producers and buyers enjoy auctions beside the big guys

Acres Admin — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 05:52:01 +0000

By Patty Rice Groth With canning season upon us, growers and consumers alike should be taking a look at the opportunities and produce availability of wholesale produce auctions all over Ohio. Don’t let the word “wholesale” throw you off — many markets include small lots which are perfect for the person canning for the [...]

The post Small producers and buyers enjoy auctions beside the big guys appeared first on Acres Midwest.

Fredericktown’s Bechtel Farm

Acres Admin — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 21:06:12 +0000

By JUDY DIVELBISS The history of Fredericktown’s oldest Century Farm dates back to 1823, but the history of the Swank Family dates even further, to 1781, when four brothers, Christley, Henry, Casper and Nicolas Swank left their home in Aumstuck, Germany to fight for the British in the Revolutionary War. According to a history [...]

The post Fredericktown’s Bechtel Farm appeared first on Acres Midwest.

Galion’s ‘Madman’ soars to success at the county fair

Acres Admin — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 21:01:33 +0000

By Matt Echelberry mechelberry@galioninquirer.com After the dust settled, The Madman emerged from his hot rod wearing a jumpsuit resembling something out of Evel Knievel’s closet and walked toward a grandstand full of cheering fans. He removed his helmet and waved to the crowd, completely unharmed after landing a jump that spanned the distance of [...]

The post Galion’s ‘Madman’ soars to success at the county fair appeared first on Acres Midwest.

Summertime blues

Acres Admin — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 05:51:27 +0000

By Lenny C. Lepola newsguy@ee.net Almost everyone loves blueberries. They’ll buy one of those 8-ounce packages at the supermarket, and soon after they’re home the blueberries are gone. Eaten by the handful, that half-pound of blueberries lasts about 10 minutes. Most blueberries we get at the market are advertised as fresh, but they can’t [...]

The post Summertime blues appeared first on Acres Midwest.

A Catholic blessing

Acres Admin — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 08:39:25 +0000

The faithful came by the hundreds. Almost 400 people, Catholic farmers and their families from throughout the St. Marys and Sidney deaneries of the Cincinnati Archdiocese, emptied containers of soil into a large pot as they exited vehicles for the recent annual Rural-Urban Mass.

The post A Catholic blessing appeared first on Acres Midwest.