Menu

Franklin County Farm Bureau recently hosted members of the local media for a tour featuring varied agricultural business near Columbus. The goal was to show that traditional agriculture is adapting to new challenges brought about by a rapid movement toward urbanization in Delaware, Franklin and Union counties.

Tim Street, organization director for the three counties, said the tour is one of many opportunities Farm Bureau can provide for urban media to gain a better understanding of agriculture.

The day started at Ehmann and Sons Greenhouses in Orient, a family-run specialty crop business in its fifth generation. What started as an outdoor garden is now an operation of multiple greenhouses, gardens and a retail shop. Owner Gene Ehmann said they are having a banner season. “If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, you probably aren’t going to find it anywhere else,” he said.

The media got a taste of Lee Farms in Marysville, operated by Gary Lee, along with sons Ryan and Greg. The wheat, soybean, straw and corn operation is run with Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology that prints out grids of fields complete with information on yields, nutrients and soil contents.

“These grids tell us exactly what parts of our fields have lost certain contents,” said Greg Lee. “We only apply the amount of fertilizers or chemicals that are lost, instead of over applying.” GPS guidance has allowed the Lees to conserve fuel, seed and time.

Price Farms Organics in Delaware County, a composting, sod, hog and cattle farm using recyclable organic byproducts rounded out the tour. Tom Price, owner of the farm, explained that as a Class II compost site, the farm can accept yard trimmings, manure and selected organics to transform into topsoil and mulch. Price’s animals are fed recyclable food and bedded with recyclable shredded paper.

“The green movement is really starting to take hold in Ohio,” said Price, who has shown his commitment to the community through hosting school and community groups, starting a nature preserve and partnering with the Columbus Zoo in the creation of a recycling program known as “My Backyard.”

Mark Claffey, staff writer for The Delaware Gazette, found the event helpful. “I was aware that it (Price Farms) was here, but had no idea about the scale and size of the place,” he said of the 22-acre facility. “Delaware County still has a large agricultural base, and The Gazette has an interest in all that occurs within its boundaries, so the more people I can let know about an operation like this, the better.”

Bill McNutt, information coordinator for Franklin County Farm Bureau, said those who attended the tour saw agriculture at its finest. “These people are ambassadors of agriculture,” he said. “They are proud of what they do and love to show it to others. They are willing to do anything to help put out a good word for agriculture.”

Caption: A unique irrigation system on display at Ehmann and Sons Greenhouses.