Farming on the fly in Medina County
Farmer Colin Brown is in many ways a self-made, one-man band.
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Planting season is upon us. As farmers ready their fields, hope springs eternal for good weather and a bountiful crop.
Soil testing is an important practice for any farmer and a key resource in making fields as fertile as they need to be while still protecting water quality, a priority of Ohio Farm Bureau members.
In the May/June Our Ohio magazine, we look at 20 years of data analyzed by The Fertilizer Institute, which shows that the number of soil samples tested for Ohio increased from about 69,000 in 2001 to nearly 274,000 in 2020. Over the same time period, the median soil test phosphorus levels dropped from 38 to
26 parts per million (Mehlich 3). We talk to Putnam County member Jeff Duling about how soil testing helps his bottom line, and also report on all the ways farmers and Farm Bureau have made positive impacts on the state’s water quality.
Also rising up from rural Ohio are local leaders who have used their abilities to become important officeholders in their own communities – from mayors and county commissioners, to school board members and beyond. In this issue we speak to Plain City Mayor Jody Carney and others about the unique perspective they bring to their roles in local government.
In May/June Our Ohio we also trace the journey of first-generation farmer and gourmet sous chef Colin Brown in Medina County, whose entrepreneurial spirit and interpersonal skills have grown his livestock and poultry operation, Gifted Grass Farms, to where it is today. (His dog is our featured image.) We also profile a new member of the staff, Jana Mussard, who has taken on the reborn position of ag literacy specialist at Ohio Farm Bureau, a role members have been asking for for nearly a decade.
Executive Vice President Adam Sharp’s Across the Table column addresses recent attacks on agriculture, noting that it is more important than ever to tell the story of the industry, one personal tale at a time, while debunking myths and highlighting the value of Farm Bureau membership bringing a united industry voice to the table with policy makers and stakeholders.
Other items of interest in this issue include the latest OSU Impact from the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, as well as reader favorites — early summer recipes and Grow and Know events. These are just some of what members will find in the latest issue of Our Ohio magazine, a benefit of Farm Bureau membership and Our Ohio supporters. A digital edition is also available.
My first recommendation in your journey is to start out with a local farming friend or mentor along with joining an organization like Ohio Farm Bureau.
We’re just so thankful for the Farm Bureau and the foundation for helping put this together. And of course, the Boyert family for the vision they had with this grant. It’s jumping us forward 10 years. It’s unbelievable.
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
It wasn’t until I joined the Wilmington College Collegiate Farm Bureau that I truly saw how my passion could translate into leadership, advocacy and a career.
The issue of property taxation remains as one of the biggest challenges our members face today. Ensuring agricultural property is valued for its agricultural potential and not development is critical to the continued success of Ohio agriculture.
Through the Select Partner program, we became educated in farm insurance and weren't just selling policies. It became more and more clear why farmers need an advocate like Ohio Farm Bureau.
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
Featured Articles
Water quality gains flow through soil tests
Farmers in Ohio are increasing soil sampling and managing soil nutrients more closely, leading to a gradual decrease in high soil test phosphorus levels that can lead to water quality problems.
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Scholarship helped chart course in agriculture
Rose Hartschuh didn’t grow up on a farm, but her children will.
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Across the Table: Continue to tell your story
Our collective voices help us protect the future of agriculture and the promise to pass our farms to the next generation.
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3 questions to ask before lending farm, ag equipment to neighbors
It’s crucial to do proper planning – weighing any safety, liability and insurance considerations.
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May/June 2022 Our Ohio magazine preview
Editor Kelli Stammen shares a preview of the spring magazine, which includes features on soil testing, Gifted Grass Farms, and leadership development.
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Home grown, farm raised leadership
Several Farm Bureau staff and members are found wearing many hats within their towns, counties, school boards and beyond.
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Farming tradition, flexibility in Trumbull County
Sharon and Steve Grover have spent the last 30 years raising kids, strawberries and more on their farm in Trumbull County.
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