outlook on

Agriculture
March 2015

outlook on

a special supplement to

THE DELPHOS HERALD

Honey Bees Boost Crops

Gearing up for spring
Canning & Preserving
March 2015
Agriculture in Ohio
Buying locally
Creating growth

Agriculture
a special supplement to

THE DELPHOS HERALD

Symposium on food waste

Challenges facing farmers
Meat industry fights proposal

2 The Herald Agricultural Tab

March 2015

Uncle Sams farm office: How the Farm Service Agency was born
By Jacqui Fatka
The Farm Service Agency was born out
of the depths of the Great Depression and the
New Deal era of programs promising to revive the nations economy.
In 1935, a Department of Agriculture
agency was born with familiar initials FSA
which stood for the Farm Security Administration. The agency relocated entire farm
communities to areas in which, it was hoped,
farming could be carried out more profitably.
Resettlement was controversial and expensive, so other roles such as providing
credit, farm and home management plan-

ning, and technical supervision became

more prominent. Another related program
was Debt Adjustment and Tenure Improvement. FSA county supervisors would work
with farmers and their debtors to try to arbitrate agreements and head off foreclosures.
FSA also promoted co-ops and even provided medical care to poor rural families.
One study estimates that families who participated in FSA programs saw their incomes
rise by 69% from 1937 to 1941.
In 1946, the Farmers Home Administration Act consolidated the Farm Security Administration with the Emergency Crop and

We Support Our
Area Farmers!
2014 CHEVY SILVERADO
HD and Light Duty Silverado
and GMC Trucks Available

LEE
KInStLE
GM SALES AnD SERVICE

650 West Ervin Road, Van Wert, OH 45891

419.238.5902 | 866-LEEKINSTLE | LEEKINSTLE.COM

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Troutman (left) listen to advice from Harold Ash, Hickory Point
Township Community committeeman, as they prepare to sign up for 1942 Agricultural
Adjustment Act farm program in Macon County, Ill., in November 1941.
Feed Loan Division of the Farm Credit Administration. This began the age of insuring
loans made by other lenders.
The Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933
established the Agricultural Adjustment Administration to stabilize farm prices at a level
on which farmers could survive. The law established state and county groups farmers
called Triple A committees, which oversaw the first federal farm program offering
price support loans to farmers to bring about
crop reduction.
Farm Service Agency is created
In 1994, a USDA reorganization resulted
in the Consolidated Farm Service Agency,
renamed Farm Service Agency in 1995. The
new FSA encompassed the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, Federal
Crop Insurance Corp. and the farm credit
portion of the Farmers Home Administration. In May 1996 FCIC became the Risk
Management Agency.
Today, FSAs responsibilities are organized into five areas: farm programs, farm
loans, commodity operations, management
and state operations.
Reprinted by permission. Farm Futures A farmer visits a U.S. Department of Agrimagazine. Copyright Penton Farm Prog- culture county agents office for information
and advice in Kent County, Md., in 1939.
ress.

March 2015

The Herald Agricultural Tab 3

Smartphones could tell buyers whats in food

BY MARY CLARE JALONICK
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) In the ever-complicated debate

over labeling of genetically modified foods, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack offers this idea: Use your smartphone.
Vilsack told members of Congress in February that consumers could just use their phones to scan special bar codes
or other symbols on food packages in the grocery store.
All sorts of information could pop up, such as whether the
foods ingredients include genetically modified organisms,
or GMOs.
Industry could solve that issue in a heartbeat, Vilsack
said during a House hearing on agriculture spending.
The Food and Drug Administration handles most foodpackage labeling, so Vilsacks idea isnt an official proposal.
But the Agriculture secretary suggested it could head off
the debate between the food industry and those who have
pushed for package labels that identify GMOs.
He has mentioned the idea for bar codes before, but he
said it could have new life as Congress becomes more involved in the issue. A Republican
House bill would block state efforts to require GMO package labels, legislation that was
introduced just as Vermont became the first state to require the labeling in 2014. That law
will go into effect next year if it survives a legal challenge from the food industry.
Labeling advocates arent signing on to Vilsacks idea. Scott Faber, head of the national
Just Label It campaign, says most consumers dont have the know-how to use their phones
to scan a bar code or so-called QR code, a commonly used scannable image.
Consumers shouldnt have to have a high-tech smartphone and a 10-gigabyte data plan
to know whats in their food, Faber said.
In response to those concerns, Vilsack has said in the past that there could also be in-store
scanners, like those that check prices now.
Vilsack said some food companies have been receptive to the idea, though he didnt

name any.
Theres some indication that food companies are mulling
something similar. A spokesman for the Grocery Manufacturers Association, which represents the food industry, said the
group is actively discussing ways to further provide consumers with this important information.
Jeff Beckman, a spokesman for The Hershey Co., said the
company is working on new ways it can make ingredient and
nutrition information more readily accessible through new
technologies. A spokeswoman for Nestle says that company
is also part of a larger food industry discussion on the topic.
The bar codes would likely be an industry, not government,
effort. An FDA spokeswoman said Vilsacks idea is not currently under discussion at that agency. The FDA doesnt require labeling for genetically modified foods and says they are
safe.
Genetically modified seeds are engineered to have certain
traits, like resistance to herbicides or certain plant diseases.
The majority of the countrys corn and soybean crop is now
genetically modified, with much of that going to animal feed.
Modified corn and soybeans are also made into popular processed food ingredients like corn
oil, corn starch, high-fructose corn syrup and soybean oil.
Consumer advocates pushing for the labeling say shoppers have a right to know what is
in their food, arguing that not enough is known about the effects of the technology. They
have supported several state efforts to require labeling, with the eventual goal of having a
federal standard. The food industry has vigorously opposed the effort, saying labels would
be misleading because GMOs are safe.
Vilsack has been supportive of genetically modified crops, saying at the hearing that
there is no question in my mind that they are safe. But he has called for the two sides to
try to come together.
A bar code seems the best way of doing it without picking sides, he said.

Scott Equity Exchange Co.

234 S. Jefferson St., Delphos, Ohio Ph. 419-692-6010

www.bunge.com

Weve built a reputation for quality products.

Serving the Area with Fast Efficient Service

Specialized Spreading of:
Water Treatment Lime
High Calcium Compost
Brown Gold Poultry Litter
Agro Soil Gypsum Distributor

BOCKEYS AG-LIME
MIKE & JAN BOCKEY

419-692-5250

9339 Brickner Road

Delphos, OH 45833

GPS GUIDANCE VARIABLE RATE TECHNOLOGY

JON, ETZLER, General Manager

scotteq@onlyinternet.net
419-622-6151 Fax 419-622-3071
P.O. Box 147
12529 Blaine St.
Scott, Ohio 45886

March 2015

Gerald Grain
Center inC.

00100893

4 The Herald Agricultural Tab

Stop by any of our officeS or call:

419-274-8030 or 800-423-9385
Hamler
Gerald
liberty Center
ridGeville Corners Wauseon arCHbold

CALL FOR DETAILS ON OUR LARGE IN-STOCK EQUIPMENT SELECTION!!

RODOC Leasing Sales & Service

5028 N. Kill Rd., Delphos, Ohio 45833

ROGER MILLER
www.rodoc.com
roger@rodoc.com

Nearly a third of the food produced throughout the

world is wasted. That startling fact is the focus of Wilmington Colleges sixth annual Food Symposium April 8 under
the theme, Waste Is a Terrible Thing to Waste.
In contrast to previous years symposiums when a nationally known speaker presented a keynote address, this
years event will offer more of a homegrown flavor, as research by Wilmington College students will be highlighted
as a cornerstone of the symposium.
This year were pulling students into the food-waste
conversation in a more direct, hands-on way, said Corey
Cockerill, associate professor of communication arts and
agriculture, and a member of the symposium organizing
committee.
Agriculture professor Monte Anderson added that its
unbelievable to those in agriculture Were in the
business of feeding the world! that more than one in
four calories produced ends up wasted.
Indeed, a recent report by the United Nations Environment Program and World Resources Institute indicates that
a third of all food produced worldwide valued at about
$1 trillion gets lost or wasted in food production and
consumption systems.
The days schedule includes the Food Waste Fair, from
10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., in Hermann Court; a Cookie Bake-off

419-692-5881
800-562-0768
Fax: 419-692-7621

Office:

S.I. Distributing Inc.

Successful Innovations for Agriculture
Since 1979

Your Planting and Harvesting Headquarters

Symposium to address food waste

Keeton Seed Firmers

Martin Row Cleaners
Precision Planting Parts
SCH Cutting System
HCC Combine Attachments
Montezuma Toolboxes
Schuck Cushion Hitchs
OEM Replacement Parts

Call Us Today!

800.368.7773
S.I. Distributing Inc.
13540 Spencerville Road
Spencerville, OH 45887
www.sidist.com

Middle Point Branch

402 Veach Road, P.O. Box 213
Middle Point, OH 45863
419-968-2328 www.mercerlandmark.com

Want More For Your Corn?

Call

BRENNCO, INC.
5230 N. Grubb Rd., Elida, Ohio 45807
www.brennco.net

STAN BRENNEMAN
Home: 419-339-3457
Fax: 419-339-7260
Mobile: 419-236-9759

KIM BRENNEMAN
Home: 419-339-3127
Mobile: 419-236-3347

SIEFKER REAL ESTATE

& AUCTION CO.
OTTAWA, OH
419-538-6184 OFFICE
419-235-0789 CELL

Aaron Siefker, Broker/Auctioneer

Tom Robbins Auctioneer
www.siefkerauctions.com

in Kelly Center, from 1 to 2 p.m.; and a panel discussion in

Kelly Center, from 2 to 3 p.m. on the topic, Food Waste
Prevention: Opportunities and Threats. Panelists will be announced closer to the event.
The Food Waste Fair will feature student research projects, free food sampling and 20-minute, on-stage demonstrations by: Monte and Diane Anderson on food dehydration as
a preservation strategy, Mike and Sandra Millard on longterm food storage methods, WC seniors Ellen Short and
Bri Knisely giving a food waste bio-digester demonstration,
senior A.J. Ganger sharing compost toilet designs and San
Fillipo produces methods for preventing food waste through
strategic distribution.
Details on how to register for the Cookie Bake-Off are
available by visiting: <https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/
RR9LF75>. This activity comes on the heels of extremely
successful pie and cake-making contests in 2013 and 2014,
respectively.
The Food Symposium is an annual event hosted by Wilmington College that focuses on contemporary topics in food
production, distribution, consumption, ethics and politics. It
is free of charge.

Did you know?

Biosolids are an organic amendment available to gardeners. According to the United States Environmental
Protection Agency, biosolids are carefully treated and
monitored residuals formed at sewage treatment facilities.
They may be recycled into fertilizers to stimulate plant
growth. Biosolids may help reduce the need for chemical
fertilizers. Biosolids can be safe to use, but homeowners
should be cautious about heavy metal content, pathogen
levels and salts. Rely on only Class A biosolids, which
have been treated to reduce the bacterial content and are
approved for use in production agriculture. Home gardeners may want to avoid biosolids in vegetable gardens
because of the potential for heavy metal content seeping
into the produce.

D&R AG REPAIR

292 East Main St. P.O. Box 475, Ottoville, OH 45876-0475

Air Conditioning Service

Radiator Sales & Service
Hydraulic Hoses & Fittings
Batteries, Parts & Filters

DAN HONIGFORD
Owner

Ph. 419-453-3353
Fax: 419-453-3034

POHLMAN FARM DRAINAGE

RTK Topographic Mapping

FREE ESTIMATES
Randy Pohlman
22461 Carpenter Rd.

419-695-6506

Delphos, OH 45833

March 2015

Buying locally

Home grown foods pay dividends

The popularity of organic foods and stores that cater to customers who prefer such
foods continues to grow, and that growth has contributed to a growing awareness among
shoppers of where the food they eat comes from. Many consumers now recognize the impact that food production has on the environment, and that recognition has spurred interest
in locally grown foods.
Locally grown foods are those that are grown within your community or a community
nearby. Such foods do not need to be shipped hundreds of miles before they ultimately find
their way onto your plate, and many people find that contributes to meals that are more
fresh than meals made up of foods shipped from afar. But freshness is not the only benefit
to purchasing locally grown foods, which pay various dividends for people and the planet.
Locally grown foods benefit the environment. The phrase field to plate is significant
to consumers who prefer locally grown foods. That phrase refers to the distance food travels
from the grower to the plate on your dinner table. Estimates vary depending on the source,
but advocates of locally grown food suggest that it reduces the field to plate distance by
an average of 1,300 miles. Thats a significant feather in locally grown foods cap, as the
Council on the Environment of New York City notes that it takes 435 fossil-fuel calories to
fly a single five calorie strawberry from California to New York. Buying locally preserves
that energy that is used to transport foods from afar.
Locally grown foods fuel your local economy. In addition to benefitting the environment, locally grown foods stimulate your local economy. Local, independent farmers have
largely fallen by the wayside in the 21st century, as industrial agribusinesses have taken
over the produce sections in grocery stores across the country. But local, independent farmers are making a comeback, thanks in large part to consumer demand for organic foods.
Supporting such farmers who grow their foods locally means youre putting money back
into your own community, a worthwhile effort at a time when so many small communities
are struggling economically.
Buying locally grown foods contributes to biodiversity. According to the United Na-

Joe Wittler
LG Representative
Farming mobile
419.233.1432
is hard
jljfarms@roadrunner.com
23121
Lincoln Highway
work.
Farming
Delphos, OH 45833
is hard
work.
Farming
Farmingis hard work.
is hard
work.

It starts first with the seed.

Dodie Seller, Agent

251 N. Canal Street
Delphos, OH 45833
Bus: 419-692-1626
www.dodieseller.com

Ill work hard to protect

your farm and auto.
Get to a better State .
Get State Farm.
CALL ME TODAY.
Dodie Seller, Agent
Ill work hard to protect
251 N. Canal Street
your farm and auto.
Delphos, OH 45833
Bus: 419-692-1626
Get
to a better State .
www.dodieseller.com
Get State Farm.
CALL ME TODAY.

Dodie
Agent Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company, Bloomington, IL
StateSeller,
Farm Mutual
Ill work hard to protect
251
N. Canal
State
Farm Street
Fire and Casualty Company, State Farm General Insurance Company, Bloomington, IL,
State Farm
Mutual
Automobile
Company,
State Farm
Indemnity
Company,
Bloomington,
IL
your
farm
and
auto.
Delphos,
OH
45833
State
Farm
FloridaInsurance
Insurance
Company,
Winter
Haven,
FL State
Farm Lloyds,
Dallas, TX
State
Farm Fire and Casualty Company, State Farm General Insurance Company,
Bloomington, IL

Bus:
419-692-1626
State Farm Florida Get
Insurance
Company,
WinterState
Haven, FL.
to
a
better
www.dodieseller.com
State Farm Lloyds, Dallas, TX
1201791

Get State Farm.

The Herald Agricultural Tab 5

tions Food and Agriculture Organization, more

than 75 percent of agricultural genetic diversity
was lost in the 20th century. Thats thanks in
large part to industrial agribusinesses that cultivate fruits and vegetables that are bred for fast
maturation. But small, local farms typically grow
a wider variety of fruits and vegetables in an effort to extend their growing seasons. That means
consumers of locally grown foods have access to
more fruits and vegetables, and therefore more
flavor.
Buying locally maintains beautiful landscapes. Farmland has been on the decline for decades, as cement and asphalt have made millions
of acres of once beautiful farmland disappear.
Buying locally helps to maintain the green space your community and surrounding communities have left. That makes for great road trips and even helps to sustain local wildlife
populations.
Locally grown foods can be more nutritious. Fruits and vegetables can rapidly lose nutrients once they are harvested. Thats problematic when buying such foods from industrial
agribusinesses that need substantial time to get their products from the farm to the shelves
at your local grocery chain. But buying from local farmers increases the likelihood that the
fruits and vegetables you purchase were just picked and therefore have yet to lose a significant amount of nutrients.
Locally grown foods are growing in popularity, and that popularity can be traced to the
freshness of such foods as well as the numerous additional benefits that locally grown foods
provide.

6 The Herald Agricultural Tab

March 2015

Challenges facing farmers today and tomorrow

Though farming was once big business in
the United States, by 2012 less than 1 percent of Americans were professional farmers. Many challenges face todays farmers,
many of which are largely unknown to the
general public.
Many people have an outdated view of
a farm as a small, family-owned and operated parcel of land where livestock is raised
in open pens and crops are hand-harvested
when ripe. The reality is that modern-day
farms have had to overhaul operations to
meet demand and remain competitively
priced while adapting to the ever-changing
ways technology infiltrates all parts of life.
Each of these factors present obstacles for
todays farmers.

Technology

Rural farming communities are expected

to make an effort to integrate modern technology into an industry that has been around
for centuries. But such a transition in rural
areas, where communications systems may
not be as up-to-date as those in urban areas,
FARM INSURANCE

Choice
for Farm Insurance.
Americas

Customized insurance protection for

your farm or ranch. Put Nationwide on
your side for farm insurance. Call me...
Stop by... Log on its your choice!

is not always so easy.

According to the Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council, a shift from a resource-based
to an information-based economy, compounded by the rapid introduction and expansion of new technology in the workplace,
has altered farm operation and the skills
in demand. Older workers who have been
schooled in one way of agriculture may have
a significant impact on labor supply and
the vitality of farming as a career. Younger
adults who are knowledgeable in technology
may no longer seek out agricultural careers.

Decrease in farming
as an occupation

The United States Environmental Protection Agency says that only about 960,000
Americans claim farming as their principal
occupation. As that figure has dwindled, the
average age of farmers continues to rise,
as the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that
roughly 40 percent of the farmers in this
country are 55 years old or older. This has
led to concerns about the long-term health of
Greater public awareness of agricultural challenges could help the
family farms throughout the United States.
industry in the future.
Many farmers have come under scrutiny
for how farming impacts the environment.
A growing emphasis on sustainability and that certain practices, such as raising live- the environment. Many farmers, however,
conservation has led many people to protest stock, can pollute water, while the use of have altered their methods to be more envicertain farming practices. Protesters claim fertilizers and chemical pesticides is bad for ronmentally friendly and self-sustainable in
the process.
Climate change is another environmental
issue farmers must deal with. Strong storms
and severe droughts have made farming
even more challenging.

Financial fall-out

For PIONEER SEEDS

RICK HELLMAN 419-235-1933

JERRY GILDEN

Gilden Insurance Agency

403 N. Main Street, Delphos
419-695-4656
217 N. Market St., Van Wert
419-238-6580
gildenj@nationwide.com

NATIONWIDE
Agribusiness
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and
Affiliated Companies, Home Office:
Columbus, OH 43215-2220. HO9-1 4/03

EQUAL HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY
INSURER

Raise Your
growth Potential.

Your success is our success. For rates and

information on the services and equipment
we provide, contract us today.

www.unitedequityinc.com
Delphos 419-695-1986
Kossuth 419-657-6788

The ongoing recession of the last half-decade has also affected farmers. In November
of 2012, the United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics indicated that the unemployment
rate within the agriculture, forestry, fishing,
and hunting industries was at 13.6 percent,
far higher than the national unemployment
rate. As a result, many farm families have
found themselves stuck between a rock and a
hard place, as rising costs for equipment and
technology are being coupled with decreasing profits and rising unemployment.
Further complicating matters is competition from corporations and international
food producers who have made it difficult
for family farmers to turn a significant profit.
Many family farmers rely on loans and lines
of credit to survive, but thanks to changes in
the financial sector that saw banks become
less willing to extend lines of credit, some
farmers are facing bankruptcy.
Though it can be easy for those who do not
work in the agricultural industry to overlook
the struggles facing todays agricultural professionals, a greater understanding of those
struggles and the challenges that lay ahead
can benefit the industry and its employees
down the road.

INFLUENCE GAME:

March 2015

The Herald Agricultural Tab 7

Meat industry fights new dietary proposal

MARY CLARE JALONICK

Associated Press
An occasional look at how
behind-the-scenes influence
is wielded in Washington

WASHINGTON (AP) The meat industry

is seeing red.
Meat companies have tried to rehabilitate an
image tarnished in recent years by health and
environmental concerns. Now the industry is
swiftly and aggressively working to discredit a
proposal for new dietary guidelines that recommends people eat less red and processed meat.
The proposal last month by a government
advisory committee also relegates the health
benefits of lean meat to a footnote to the main
recommendations.
Weve been put in a position over the years
to almost be apologizing for our product, were
not going to do that anymore, said Barry Carpenter, the president and CEO of the North
American Meat Institute.
The meat industry long has been one of the
more powerful lobbies in Washington, enjoying an especially close relationship with the Agriculture Department, which has inspectors in
meat processing plants.
Together, the meat processing and livestock
industries spent about $7 million on lobbying

last year and donated more than $5 million to

members of Congress in the last election cycle,
according to the political money and influence
tracking website OpenSecrets.org.
Meat industry executives say their push is
about the American perception of red meat,
rather than just dollars, though the guidelines
can have an eventual impact on government
purchases for the military and school lunches.
Carpenters group recently released a video
of the slaughter process to counter criticism
about the way animals are killed. It also is trying to better engage with consumers through
social media, tweeting links to its Meat Mythcrushers site, which looks at nutrition and
other issues from the industrys point of view.
Now, they are pushing the departments of
Agriculture and Health and Human Services,
which will write final dietary guidelines by
years end. They are meeting with officials and
asking them to do what they have done in the
past: prominently recommend lean meats as
part of a healthy diet. They also are asking their
many, mostly Republican, allies in Congress to
pressure the Obama administration.
Congress appears ready to help.
The secretaries share responsibility for
these flawed recommendations, said House
Agriculture Chairman Michael Conaway, RTexas. Conaway was among the House members who wrote the departments last week

KNIPPENS Spring Sale

about the overall recommendations, including advice that people eat a more sustainable,
plant-based diet because it is better for the environment.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has not
said what the final guidelines will look like. But
he has pledged to keep them focused on nutrition and diet, giving the meat industry some
hope that perhaps at least the environmental
portion could be left out.
A spending bill passed by Congress in December asked him to only include nutrition
and dietary information, not extraneous factors in the guidelines.
Environmental groups are lobbying on the
issue, pushing the departments to keep that
language. Meat executives counter their product is rich in nutrients and helps people get
enough protein in their diets. Processed meat
is often lean, they say.
Carpenter said he believes the report is encouraging people to eat less lean meat. The
fact that they put it in as a footnote really convinces me that thats true, he said.
Not true, say members of the advisory committee.
These patterns can be achieved without
eliminating any food group, said Barbara Millen, head of the advisory committee, referring
to the diets the committee described.
I am really sorry that someone took offense

to a footnote, said Miriam Nelson, another

committee member. She said the guidelines are
a technical, scientific report and are written to
show a range of diets.
This is not an attack on lean meat. Its on
the amount and how were eating meats overall, Nelson said.
Other meat groups also are criticizing the
guidelines.
It appears the advisory committee was
more interested in addressing whats trendy
among foodies than providing science-based
advice for the average Americans diet, Howard Hill, outgoing president of the National
Pork Producers Council, said last month. The
National Cattlemens Beef Association and the
National Chicken Council also challenged the
report.
This is not the first time the red meat has
campaigned against dietary guidelines. In 1977,
the first guidelines, issued by a Senate panel,
said Americans should reduce consumption
of meat and increase consumption of poultry
and fish.
Meat groups pushed back, and the Senate panel heard them out. A revised version
included new language on meat: Decrease
consumption of animal fat, and choose meats,
poultry and fish that will reduce saturated fat
intake.

CHRYSLER-DODGE-JEEP-RAM

Stop in & See the Lineup of NEW

2015 Ram Tough Trucks

2015 Ram 1500

Now
k
c
In Sto Crew Cab 4x4 Diesel

SLT Luxury Group Loaded

$
Sticker
50,000
Discount 4,330
Rebate
1,000
Sale
Price

44,740

+tax & title

800 W. Fifth St. Delphos, OH 45833

www.knippenchrysler.com Over 30 years in Business 419-695-4976 or 800-464-8434

Your little store & a whole lot more!

Concrete mix
Bird Feed
Dog & Cat Food
Softener Salt
Potting Soil

Chick Starter & Layer Feed

Deer Sweetlix Blocks
Salt Blocks
Pond Supplies
Grass Seed & Fertilizer

Helena Chemical Company, 200 N. Main St

Continental, OH 45831- phone 419-596-3806

Store hours 7 am to 5 pm M-F & Sat. 7 am to Noon.

8 The Herald Agricultural Tab

March 2015

The Herald Agricultural Tab 9

March 2015

Neighbor Insuring Neighbor Since 1863

Local Agents:

FARMOWNER/HOMEOWNER INSURANCE

Schmit, Massa,
Lloyd Ins. Agency:
419-692-0951

112 E. Third Street

Delphos, OH 45833

Lyons
Insurance:
419-229-3359

Rhoades Ins.
Agency:
419-238-2341

State Approved Specs Brick Block Fireplace Materials

Restoration Products Concrete Reinforcements Big Green Egg Grills
40 Conveyor Available Front Dumps Concrete Sealers
300 PUTNAM DR., LEIPSIC

419-969-0548
U.S. 224 & 115, KALIDA, OH

419-532-3585

900 JOHN BROWN RD, VAN WERT, OH

419-238-4140
24384 St. Rt. 697 DELPHOS

419-692-3431

10391 St. Rt. 15, Ottawa, OH

419-523-4376
5511 St. Rt. 613, McComb, OH

419-293-2937

Check out our website www.kandlreadymix.com

Going Once...
Going Twice...

SOLD!

33 years experience
Certified Auctioneers Institute (CAI)
Certified Estate Specialist (CES)
Bob Gamble, Broker and Auctioneer is your Go To
person for the appraisal and marketing of farmland

122 N. Washington St., Van Wert, OH

(419) 605-8300

Office:

(419) 238-5555

www.BeeGeeRealty.com

10 The Herald Agricultural Tab

March 2015

U.S. Soybean Yield

New Research Finds Losses Caused by

Weather Variations

Researchers have determined that precipitation and temperature variations over the past
20 years have suppressed the U.S. average soybean yield gain how much it improves
every year by around 30 percent, contributing to an industry loss of $11 billion nationwide.
In Ohio alone, that soybean yield suppression is estimated to have cost some $2.9 billion during the past 20 years, according to a new study co-authored by a field crops expert
in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University.
Global annual temperatures have increased by 0.4 C (0.72 F) since 1980, with several
regions exhibiting even greater increases, said Laura Lindsey, a soybean and small grains
specialist with Ohio State University Extension and a co-author of the study. OSU Extension is the colleges outreach arm.
And for every 1 C (1.8 F) rise in temperature during the growing season, soybean yields
fell by about 2.4 percent, the study found.
In Ohio, that translates into about a third of a bushel per acre per year yield loss, Lindsey said.
During the past 20 years, temperature and precipitation have been changing, and that
change is associated with yield reductions and economic loss that is region-specific, she
said. States including Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa and

See us for all your agricultural related financing needs.

The Ottoville
Bank Co.

MAIN OFFICE
161 W. Third St.
Ottoville, Ohio 45876
419-453-3313

Loans Checking
Savings CDs
IRAs more

www.ottovillebank.com

LENDING CENTER
940 E. Fifth St.
Delphos, OH 45833
419-695-3313

North Dakota have experienced negative impacts on yield due to weather variables.
Missouri suffered the most negative impact with an estimated loss of $5 billion during
the past 20 years, while Ohio had the next highest loss, at $2.9 billion.
The study, which appears in the February 2015 journal Nature Plants, was co-authored
by James E. Specht, researcher with the University of Nebraska; and Spyridon Mourtzinis,
Francisco J. Arriaga and Shawn P. Conley, all researchers with the University of WisconsinMadison.
The study is based on data gleaned from 12 states, including data from Ohio State researchers Ohio Soybean Performance Trials, which document temperatures, changes in
cultural practices, soybean varieties and technology in soybean production from 1970 to the
present, Lindsey said.
The U.S. is one of the worlds largest soybean exporters, with some 80 percent of its
soybeans being grown in the upper Midwest. Since most of that production is not irrigated,
soybean production in the region is highly affected by weather conditions during the growing season, according to the study.

March 2015

The Herald Agricultural Tab 11

Fun Facts: Flora, Fauna and Food for Thought

Its The Bees Knees

A hive of bees flies over 55,000 miles to bring

you one pound of honey. A honey bee can fly 15
miles per hour.
Honey bees must tap two million flowers to
make one pound of honey. Each worker honey bee
makes 1/12th teaspoon of honey in its lifetime.
Honey bees visit 50-100 flowers during one
honey collecting trip.
Bees have been producing honey from flowering plants for at least 10 million years! And maybe
even as long as 20 million ayears!
Flowers and other blossoming plants have nectarines that produce sugary nectar. Worker bees
suck up the nectar and water and store it in a special honey stomach. When the stomach is full the
bee returns to the hive and puts the nectar in an
empty honeycomb. Natural chemicals from the
bees head glands and the evaporation of the water
from the nectar change the nectar into honey.
In one day a honey bee can fly 12 miles and pollinate up to 10,000 flowers.
Honeybee workers must visit 2 million flowers
to make one pound of honey.

Fabulous Forests

An acre of trees can remove about 13 tons of

dust and gases every year from the surrounding
environment.
Almost a third of the worlds total land area is
covered by forests.
Some tissue-making machines can produce as
many as 6000 feet of toilet tissue every minute out
of trees.
About 1.5 million tons of ground cocoa beans
from the tropical tree are used each year to make
chocolate and cocoa products. Thats greater than
the weight of more than 300,000 elephants!
Every year in the United States each person
uses the equivalent of one tree, 100 feet tall and 16
inches in diameter, to fulfill their wood and paper
needs.
Thirty to 40 gallons of sugar maple sap must
be boiled down to make just one gallon of maple
syrup.
Many farmers grow more than just grains, vegetable and livestock. Some farmers grow trees. This
is called a woodlot. A woodlot is not an original
forest, because the timber has been cut down before. Sometimes the trees in a woodlot have been
cut down four, five, ore even six times. After the
trees have been cut down, the farmer lets them
grow up again, until they are big enough to be harvested once more.

Udderly Amazing

In a years time a dairy cow produces 1,500

gallons or 6,000 quarts of milk. A Jersey cow will
give as much as 3 to 4 gallons or around 16 quarts
of milk each day.
Dairy cows provide us with milk and milk byproducts like cheese, butter, and ice cream. In
addition, milk is also used to manufacture glue,
paint, and plastics.
Straight from the cow, the temperature of cows
milk is about 97 degrees Fahrenheit.
The average U.S. dairy cow produces 22.5 quarts
of milk each day. Thats about 16,000 glasses of
milk per year enough for about 40 people. One
cow can give 200,000 glasses of milk in a lifetime.
It takes approximately 1.4 gallons of milk to
make 1 gallon of ice cream.

A cow has 4 stomachs. They are: the rumen,

where the food is first stored, the reticulum where
food that has been more thoroughly chewed is
stored once the cow has chewed the cud and has
swallowed it; the omasum where extra water is
squeezed out, and finally the food goes to the abomasum. Some of the digested food is then stored
in the cows udder where it is made into milk.
Cows are ruminants or cud-chewing animals
eating hay, corn, soybeans, grass, wheat, and ensilage. Each cow eats 20 to 25 pounds of grain,
40 to 60 pounds of ensilage, 30 pounds of hay and
drinks about 15 to 25 gallons of water a day.
Cows are sedentary animals spending up to 8
hours a day chewing the cud while standing still
or lying down to rest after grazing. When going
to be milked, a certain cow in an established herd
always leads the others with the weaker and older
cattle trailing behind the group.
A typical, full grown Holstein cow weighs about
1,400 pounds and produces 60 pounds of milk per
day.
One days production is 2.6 pounds of butter or
7 gallons of milk or 6 pounds of cheese.
A dairy cow consumes 35 gallons of water, 20
pounds of grain and concentrated feed and 35
pounds of hay or silage (a mixture of corn and
grass) in just one day.
It usually takes about 20 minutes for a cow to be
milked. On average a cow is milked 2 to 3 times
a day.
Hamburger meat from a single steer will make
about 720 quarter pound hamburger patties. Thats
enough for a family of 4 to enjoy hamburgers each
day for nearly 6 months.

New Ways to Help the Planet

Farmers and ranchers provide food and habitat

for 75% of the nations wildlife.
Plant and animal biotechnology have resulted
in new antibodies for immunizations. Agriculture
has also contributed to research that has helped develop surgical techniques and pharmaceuticals that
help save lives.
Ethanol and new bio-diesel fuels made from
corn, soybeans and other grains are beneficial to
the environment and helps contribute to energy independence for the U.S.
Agriculture is Part of Your Life
Products we use in our everyday lives come
from plant and animal byproducts produced by
Americas farmers and ranchers: - Health care:
Pharmaceuticals, surgical sutures, ointments, latex
gloves, x-ray film, gelatin for capsules and heart
valves.
Construction: Lumber, paints, brushes, tar paper,
dry wall and tool handles.
Transportation: Fuel, lubricants, antifreeze, tires
and upholstery.
Manufacturing: Adhesives, solvents and detergents. Printing: Paper, ink and film.
Personal Care Products: Shampoo, cosmetics,
lotions, finger nail polish and toothpaste. Education: Crayons, textbooks, chalk, desks, pencils and
paper.
Sports: Uniforms, baseball bats, leather equipment and shoes.
5 Servings of Fruits & Vegetables A Day
Onions contain a mild antibiotic that fights infections, soothes burns, tames bee stings and re-

lieves the itch of athletes foot.

Archeologists have found evidence that humans
have enjoyed eating apples since 6500 B.C. Each
of us eats more than 19 pounds of apples annually.
Grapes are one of the oldest cultivated fruits.
They have been around for more than 8,000 years.
Americans eat about 125 pounds of potatoes
a year, about half from fresh potatoes and half in
processed foods.

Dont Be Sheepish

There are 914 different breeds of sheep in the

world. There are 35 breeds in the U.S.
Wool is a natural fiber grown from sheep.
The steps to making some of your favorite clothes:
Sheep are sheared in the spring, their wool is
removed in one piece called a fleece.
Next, the fleece is washed in big tubs to remove
dirt, grease and grass, this process is called scouring.
The clean, dry wool is then carded. Carding
means to comb the wool to straighten the fibers.
The next process is called spinning. This is when
the wool will be spun into yarn.
Finally, the yarn is knitted or woven into fabric.

Snack Time

It takes a combine 9 seconds to harvest enough

wheat to make 70 loaves of bread.
Americans consume 1.12 billion pounds of popcorn a year.
Soybean oil is the most widely used edible oil
in the United States; you can find it in mayonnaise,
salad dressing, process cheese products, dessert
frostings and much more.
Peanuts are not actually nuts. Peanuts, like soybeans, are members of the legume family.
There are 340 million M&Ms produced daily.

You May Find this Corny

One bushel of corn will sweeten more than 400

cans of pop.
There are about 600 kernels on each ear of corn.
Farmers grow corn on every continent except
Antarctica.
Each tassel on a corn plant releases as many as
5 million grains of pollen.

Americas Bread Basket

Each American consumers, on average, 53

pounds of bread per year.
Assuming a sandwich was eaten for breakfast,
lunch and dinner, it would take 168 days to eat
the amount of bread produced from one bushel of
wheat.
A family of four could live for 10 years off the
bread produced by one acre of wheat.
One bushel of wheat will produce 73 one-pound
loaves of bread.

Piggy, Piggy

Pigs cant sweat. Pigs have no sweat glands, that

is why they roll around in mud to cool off.
Heart valves from hogs are used to replace damaged or diseased human heart valves.
A pig can run a 7-minute mile.
A baby pig, or piglet, weighs about 3 1/2 pounds
at birth and will double its weight in just 7 days.

We Depend on Each Other

Farmers use computers designed and built in cities to track market information, maintain balance

spreadsheets, and monitor weather satellites.

The environment and everyone in it benefits
from research on biodegradable plant products that
break down easily in landfills.
Agriculture land provides food and habitat for
75% of the nations wildlife. Deer, moose, fowl
and other species have shown significant population increases in the past several years.
Genetic engineering with plants and animals
has resulted in new antibodies for immunizations.
Other research has developed surgical techniques
and pharmaceuticals from agriculture that help
save lives.
Ethanol and new bio-diesel fuels made from
corn and other grains are beneficial to the environment and promote energy security.

Soybeans

Soy crayons have been created to replace toxic

petroleum-wax crayons, soy crayons are sager to
use, brighter in color, and less expensive to produce.
One acre (43,560 square feet) of soybeans can
produce 82,368 crayons.
Soybean oil is the most widely used vegetable
oil. It is found in margarines, salad dressings,
canned foods, sauces, bakery goods, and processed
fried foods.

Crazy about Cotton

U.S. textile mills presently convert over half ot

the cotton they use into clothing.
The majority of cotton is used for mens and
boys clothing, with jeans, underwear, and shirts
topping the list.
If all of the cotton produced annually in the U.S.
were used to make one product, such as blue jeans,
it would make 5 Billion pair.
One bale of cotton can produce 1,217 mens tshirts or 313,600 one-hundred dollar ($100) bills.
Cottons home uses range from bedspreads to
window shades. It is by far the dominant fiber in
towels and washcloths. Cotton is also popular in
sheets and pillowcases.
Industrial products containing cotton include
wall coverings, book bindings, and zipper tapes.
The biggest cotton users in the this category are
manufacturers of medical supplies, industrial
thread, and tarpaulins.
Cotton is a food crop. Almost 200 million gallons of cottonseed oil are used in food products
such as margarine and salad dressing. Cottonseed
and cottonseed meal are used in feed for livestock
and poultry. And even products such as toothpaste,
ice cream, and the paper money used to buy them
contain by-products of the cotton seed.

The Food We Eat

In 1996, each American consumed an average

of 77 pounds more of commercially grown vegetables than in 1970, 63 pounds more grain products,
54 pounds more fruits, 32 pounds more poultry, 10
gallons more milk lower in fat than whole milk,
20.5 pounds less red meat, 73 fewer eggs, and 17
gallons less whole milk.
More than 96 billion pounds of edible surplus
food is thrown away in the U.S. Each year. It is
estimated that almost 27% of our food supply is
wasted.
Americans are eating about 14 pounds of turkey
a piece each year, more than double the rate 20
years ago.

12 The Herald Agricultural Tab

March 2015

PRECISION

AG DRAINAGE
Field Drainage Outlet Installation
Ditch Cleaning Excavating

Scott Deitering
Call for Estimates

419-615-7305

Hemker Grain Inc.

Grain
Custom Application
Ag Chemicals & Fertilizer
15970 Jonestown Road, Venedocia, Ohio 45894

419-667-3055 888-667-3055

Locally Owned

ave
We H d
Woo !
ts
Pelle

Enjoy The Warmth Of Alternative Heating

Check out our Special Savings!
Sales Service Satisfaction

Stoves Inserts
Fireplaces Furnaces Boilers
Corn Pellet Gas Coal Wood

We also sell wood pellets and coal, stoveboards, venting,

chimney liners and much more!

RURAL ENERGY PRODUCTS, LLC

9296 Van Wert-Willshire Rd., Van Wert, OH

800-546-3319 419-238-4580
www.ruralenergyproducts.com

March 2015

SALUTES THE AMERICAN FARMER

For all your CROP PRODUCTION NEEDS.

www.cpsagu.com

Delphos

Ottoville

419-695-1931

419-453-3319

Buy RightBuy Now!

Are you looking to expand your grain storage facility?
The time to buy is now, and the bin to buy is Sukup!
There is a difference in bins. Call or stop in today to find out what
makes a Sukup Bin more than your ordinary steel tank and take
advantage of great winter discounts.

The Herald Agricultural Tab 13

OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

IN ROOFING AND PAINTING!

METAL BUILDINGS
GRAIN BINES
METAL ROOFS
WOODEN BUILDINGS

TOOMAN

ROOFING & PAINTING

3125 Road 151, Grover Hill, OH 45849 | 419.587.3200

PITSENBARGER
SUPPLY INC.

AUTO PARTS

234 N. Canal St., Delphos Phone 419-692-1010

Quality

& Welding Inc.

Fabrication
419-339-0110
GENERAL REPAIR - SPECIAL BUILT PRODUCTS

TRUCKS, TRAILERS
FARM MACHINERY
RAILINGS & METAL
GATES

CARBON STEEL
STAINLESS STEEL
ALUMINUM
Larry McClure

5745 Redd Rd., Delphos

419-943-2828 Cell 419-235-2756

Woodburn, IN Archbold, OH
260-632-4242 419-445-1565
Van Wert, OH Edgerton, OH
419-238-1299 419-298-2302
Coldwater, OH Napoleon, OH
419-678-2375 419-592-3075

Your local John Deere Dealers

kennfeldgroup.com

14 The Herald Agricultural Tab

March 2015

Hamburger Pickle On Top!

Go Flippity Flop!

R E B AT E

R E B AT

R E B A T EE

Makes Your

Dont miss the KiCK DiRt Rebate on FiRestone RaDiaL

Dont miss the KiCK DiRt Rebate on FiRestone RaDiaL

tRaCtoR anD Destination FaRm RaDiaL impLement tiRes!
tRaCtoR anD Destination FaRm RaDiaL impLement tiRes!

Since 1928

January 1, 2015, through March 31, 2015, get money back on top-performing
Firestone
available
at your
Certified
Farm Tire Dealer.
January
1, farm
2015,tires
through
Marchonly
31, 2015,
get
moneyFirestone
back on top-performing

Firestone farm tires available only at your Certified Firestone Farm Tire Dealer.

$50 back on select Destination Farm aD2* technology implement radials**

$100
backononselect
selectDestination
standard tractor
$50 back
Farmradials**
aD2* technology implement radials**
2 technology rear tractor radials**
$125
back
on
select
aD
$100 back on select standard tractor radials**

$125 back on select aD2 technology rear tractor radials**

Offer limited to 16 eligible Destination Farm radial implement tires and any combination
Dont miss the KiCK DiRt Rebate on FiRestone RaDiaL
of 16 eligible standard radial and AD2 radial rear tractor tires per address.

Offer
limited toanD
16 eligible
Destination Farm
radialRaDiaL
implement
tires and any combination
tRaCtoR
Destination
FaRm
impLement
tiRes!
2 radial rear tractor tires per address.
ofYour
16 eligible
standard
radial
and
AD
Certified Firestone Farm Tire Dealer has the tires you want and the Kick Dirt
January
1, 2015,
through
31, 2015,
get money back
on more.
top-performing
rebate form
for your
moneyMarch
back. Visit
FirestoneAg.com
to learn
Rebate paid with

Your
Certified Firestone
Farm Tire Dealer has the tires you want and the Kick Dirt
tiresmasterCard
available.only at your Certified Firestone Farm Tire Dealer.
aFirestone
Firestonefarm
prepaid
rebate form for your money back. Visit FirestoneAg.com to learn more. Rebate paid with

a Firestone$50
prepaid
.
back onmasterCard
select Destination
Farm aD2* technology implement radials**
$100 back on select standard tractor radials**
$125 back on select aD2 technology rear tractor radials**

Burgers & More

We grind our
meat fresh daily!

STOP IN AT ONE OF OUR

3 LOCATIONS

Offer limited to 16 eligible Destination Farm radial implement tires and any combination
of 16 eligible standard radial and AD2 radial rear tractor tires per address.

*Advanced Deflection Design (AD2)

**Limited-time offer
valid fromCertified
1/01/15 through 03/31/15,Firestone
subject to product availability.
RequestsTire
must be postmarked
on or beforehas
04/30/15. the tires you want and the Kick Dirt
Your
Farm
Dealer
Once submitted rebate requests are validated, rebate will be issued in the form of a prepaid card. Prepaid card is given to you as a rebate

rebate
money
to learn more. Rebate paid with
and noDeflection
money has
been paid(ADby2)youform
for the card.for
Prepaidyour
card is issued
by MetaBank back.
, Member FDIC,Visit
pursuant toFirestoneAg.com
license by MasterCard
*Advanced
Design
be postmarked
International
MasterCard
is a03/31/15,
registered
trademark
ofmasterCard
MasterCard
International
or recurring
**Limited-time
offerIncorporated.
from 1/01/15
through
subject
to product
availability.
RequestsIncorporated.
must
on or before
04/30/15.
avalidFirestone
prepaid
. No cash access
validrequests
for up toare12 months;
be forfeited
EST thecard.
last day
of thecard
monthis given
of thetovalid
Oncepayments.
submittedCard
rebate
validated,unused
rebatefunds
will bewillissued
in theatformmidnight
of a prepaid
Prepaid
youthru
as adate.
rebate
termshasandbeen
conditions
cannot
combinedtowith
any byother
offers,
and noCardmoney
paid byapply,
you forseetheMyPrepaidCenter.com/site/mastercard-promo.
card. Prepaid card is issued by MetaBank,Offer
Member
FDIC,bepursuant
license
MasterCard
promotionsIncorporated.
or discounts.MasterCard
Offer limitedistoa16registered
eligible Destination
radial implement
tires andIncorporated.
any combination
of 16access
eligible orstandard
International
trademarkFarm
of MasterCard
International
No cash
recurring
2 radial rear tractor tires per address visit FirestoneAg.com for eligible tire list. Offer subject to Terms and Conditions available on
and ADCard
payments.
valid for up to 12 months; unused funds will be forfeited at midnight EST the last day of the month of the valid thru date.
official Claim Form and at FirestoneAg.com. Offer valid only for purchases of eligible tires at participating Certified Firestone Farm Tire
Cardtheterms
and conditions apply, see MyPrepaidCenter.com/site/mastercard-promo. Offer cannot be combined with any other offers,
FirestoneAg.com
Dealers in the 50 United States and DC and void where prohibited, taxed or restricted. This is a limited-time offer and may be subject to
promotions or discounts. Offer limited to 16 eligible Destination Farm radial implement tires and any combination of 16 eligible standard
change
at
any time at the sole discretion of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC.
2

and AD radial rear tractor tires per address visit FirestoneAg.com for eligible tire list. Offer subject to Terms and Conditions available on
the official Claim Form and at FirestoneAg.com. Offer valid only for purchases of eligible tires at participating Certified Firestone Farm Tire
Dealers in the 50 United States and DC and void where prohibited, taxed or restricted. This is a limited-time offer and may be subject to
change
at any time
at theDesign
sole discretion
*Advanced
Deflection
(AD2) of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC.
**Limited-time offer valid from 1/01/15 through 03/31/15, subject to product availability. Requests must be postmarked on or before 04/30/15.
Once submitted rebate requests are validated, rebate will be issued in the form of a prepaid card. Prepaid card is given to you as a rebate
and no money has been paid by you for the card. Prepaid card is issued by MetaBank, Member FDIC, pursuant to license by MasterCard
International Incorporated. MasterCard is a registered trademark of MasterCard International Incorporated. No cash access or recurring
payments. Card valid for up to 12 months; unused funds will be forfeited at midnight EST the last day of the month of the valid thru date.
Card terms and conditions apply, see MyPrepaidCenter.com/site/mastercard-promo. Offer cannot be combined with any other offers,
promotions or discounts. Offer limited to 16 eligible Destination Farm radial implement tires and any combination of 16 eligible standard
and AD2 radial rear tractor tires per address visit FirestoneAg.com for eligible tire list. Offer subject to Terms and Conditions available on
the official Claim Form and at FirestoneAg.com. Offer valid only for purchases of eligible tires at participating Certified Firestone Farm Tire
Dealers in the 50 United States and DC and void where prohibited, taxed or restricted. This is a limited-time offer and may be subject to
change at any time at the sole discretion of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC.

DOWNTOWN
111 N. Elizabeth St.

FirestoneAg.com

FirestoneAg.com

EAST
1350 Bellefontaine Ave.

WEST
2111 Allentown Rd.

March 2015

The Herald Agricultural Tab 15

16 The Herald Agricultural Tab

March 2015