Agriculture Events

    Quality assurance sessions and clinics have been scheduled for Madison County 4-H and FFA youths who plan to  take swine and sheep projects to this year’s fair. The sessions will take place on April 19 at the Madison County Fairgrounds in London and the schedule is as follows:

    • 9:30 a.m.—Sign in for Swine Quality Assurance

    • 10-11 a.m.—Swine clinic

    • 11-11:15 a.m.—Refreshments /Sign-in for Sheep Quality Assurance

    • 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.—Quality Assurance for Sheep and Swine

    • 12:15-12:30 p.m.—Refreshments/sign-out for Swine Quality Assurance

    • 12:30-1:30 p.m.—Sheep Clinic/sign-out for Sheep Quality Assurance

    For more information, contact Madison County 4-H sheep key leaders Ramona Sheehy, 614-313-4274, and Jeff Harris, 740-852-0472, or swine key leaders Kevin Roseberry, 614-879-6180, and David Rife, 740-857-3806

Goat Clinic

    A clinic for Madison County 4-H and FFA youths who plan to take goats to this year’s fair has been set for 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. April 19 at the fairgrounds in London. For more information, contact Madison County 4-H goat key leaders Savannah Brock, 614-668-5273, and Renita Morczek, 614-679-2048.

Nominations sought for conservation farm family award

    Nominations are being accepted for the 2008 Conservation Farm Family Awards. The awards program is coordinated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Soil & Water Conservation and co-sponsored by Ohio Farmer Magazine and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.

    Nomination forms can be obtained from county Soil & Water Conservation Districts, local Ohio Farm Bureau Federation offices, or Ohio Farmer Magazine. They must be returned by May 1 to Ohio Farmer Magazine, 117 W. Main St., Suite 202, Lancaster, OH 43130. 

    Begun in 1984, the Conservation Farmer Awards Program recognizes farm families who are doing an outstanding job of managing natural and human resources in a way as to meet the twin goals of production and conservation.

    Individual farmers, partnerships or family farm corporations are eligible for nomination, provided a substantial portion of their income is derived from farming. Judging is based on the nominee’s use of new and traditional conservation techniques; comprehensive management; individual initiative in applying conservation measures; and the nominee’s willingness to share conservation information, experiences and philosophy with others.

    Five area finalists will be chosen from around the state. These top conservation farm families will be recognized at the annual Farm Science Review in September. They will also receive a $400 check courtesy of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and be featured in the September issue of Ohio Farmer Magazine.

    Agriculture is Ohio’s largest industry and the largest land user in the state. Nearly 60 percent of Ohio’s land is used for crop production and pasture. Not surprisingly, farming has a big impact on the state’s land, water, woodland and wildlife resources. The key to maintaining a balance between this important industry’s contribution to Ohio’s economy and the environment is conservation and wise resource management.

Quality assurance training

    Youths enrolled in a marketable project for the 2008 Madison County Fair are required to attend annual quality assurance training. Sessions are scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. April 10 and April 29 at the Della Selsor Building on the Madison County Fairgrounds in London. Registration will begin 30 minutes prior to each session. No one will be admitted after the sessions begin.

    Marketable projects include all swine, sheep, beef, dairy, goat, poultry and rabbit projects (expect the pet rabbit category).

    A parent or legal guardian must accompany youths who are under 18. Youths enrolled in the FFA program at London or Madison-Plains high schools do not need to attend another training session.

    The following are answers to frequently asked questions about quality assurance training:

    • What if I cannot make it to one of the scheduled trainings? There will be no make-up sessions. If you do not attend one of the required sessions, you will not be permitted to exhibit and/or sell at the 2008 Junior Fair.

    • Why do I have to attend a quality assurance training session? Is just the Senior Fair Board that is making me do this? Quality assurance training is a state requirement. Due to problems with market livestock in previous years, the state set up this mandatory training for youth exhibitors. The Senior Fair Board is responsible for providing this training. The state has set guidelines as to what must be taught.

    • I am under the age of 18. Why do I have to have a parent or legal guardian attend the training with me? The Senior Fair Board requires that you have a parent or legal guardian with you because there are forms to be filled out prior to the fair that must be signed by the exhibitor and their parent or legal guardian. Your parent or legal guardian is responsible for everything related to raising your marketable project until you reach the age of 18.

    For more information, contact a Madison County’s 4-H key leaders of quality assurance, Paul and Brenda Roseberry, at 614-879-6180.

Showmanship Clinic and Open Show

    The Madison County showmanship clinic and open beef feeder and steer show is set for June 14 at the Madison County Fairgrounds, 217 Elm St., London. The event is free.

    Showmanship will start at 9 a.m. and is open to Madison County 4-H and FFA members only. The contest will be conducted by age group.

    The beef feeder competition will take place 30 minutes after showmanship. It’s for calves born after Dec. 1, 2007. The steer competition will start after the beef feeder show.

    Payouts are $250 for the first-place beef feeder and the first-place steer and $100 for second. Classes will be divided by hip weight. The wash rack will be open and limited electricity will be available. Show out of your trailer.

Prizes will be awarded to overall division winners: chairs for clinic/show, money for feeder and steer shows.

Tom Lindsey will serve as the judge. Call Bill McDonald for more information, 740-837-0364.

Tree seedlings

The Madison Soil and Water Conservation District has set April 11 from 1 to 7 p.m. and April 12 from 9 a.m. to noon as the times to pick up pre-ordered tree seedlings. The office is located at 831 U.S. Highway 42 NE, London.

The district also will have extra tree seedlings for sale in limited quantities in the following varieties: red-osier dogwood, common lilac, sugar maple, tulip tree, pin oak, serviceberry, bur oak and black walnut. The seedlings are packaged in bundles of three and are $3.

For more information, call 740-852-4004.

Clean Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Program

    The 2008 Clean Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (AEPP) online application is now open, with a closing deadline of 5 p.m. May 23.

    In November 2001, Ohio voters approved the $400 million Clean Ohio Fund to preserve farmland and greenspace, as well as to develop recreational trails and clean up brownfield sites. Of the funds, $25 million was allotted to the Ohio Department of Agriculture to purchase agricultural easements on productive farmland from willing landowners. Divided among seven years, approximately $3.12 million has been provided each year to purchase agricultural easements.

    One round of funding remains for 2008, but future funding is unknown.

    The Clean Ohio AEPP grants up to 75 percent of the points-based appraised value of the farm’s development rights. In recent years, a payment cap has been set at $2,000 per acre with a maximum of $500,000 per farm. In addition, since 2002, the department has been awarded

additional funds through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP).

    Landowners cannot apply to the AEPP directly. Rather, county commissioners, township trustees, municipal councils, soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs), and land trusts apply on behalf of farmland owners. These applicants are known as local sponsors and submit paper copies of the completed application to the Office of Farmland Preservation by the indicated deadline.

    The Madison County commissioners have agreed to sponsor the applications of any landowner interested in selling their development rights. The Madison SWCD has agreed to help the landowner put together the application on behalf of the county commissioners. 

    The application involves a series of questions about the soil type, farming practices, surrounding land use as well as five essay questions. The farms with the highest scores are offered a price for their easement based on the score, not to exceed $2,000 per acre and $500,000 total.