Farm Facts for Fairfield County

for December 28, 2001; also seen on Fridays in the Lancaster Eagle Gazette

If you're involved in a family business, as most area farm families are, you can certainly relate to the challenges that are involved. The fact is, more than 90% of U.S. businesses are family owned and most of our population shares in the challenge of learning "How to Work With Your Family and Still Enjoy Sunday Dinner." That's exactly why Nationally respected expert, Dr. Bernie Ervin, will discuss this very issue at a Building Family Business Relations workshop Monday, January 21 in the Fairfield County Ag Center. The day will begin with registration at 9:30 a.m. and continue until 2:30 p.m.

Dr. Ervin is an OSU Extension Specialist and professor in the Department of Agriculture Economics. During the program, Dr. Ervin will explore in-depth the challenges experienced by family members that are in business together, and also alternatives for identifying techniques that improve the experience as well as profitability. Participants will be encouraged to identify their own strengths that they bring to the business relationship, and also gain respect for the value that other family members bring to the table. Whether you're the employee, employer, parent, partner, or partner to be, you will gain an understanding of the role that each plays in a successful family business.

Reservations are not necessary, but a $10 registration fee will be collected at the door. Registration includes lunch and all handout materials. For more information, contact the OSU Extension office at 740.653.5419.

2002 Market Beef (Steer & Heifer) Nose print Cards

Any 4-H or FFA member planning to exhibit a market steer or a market heifer at the 2002 Ohio State Fair must submit a legible noseprint card to Virgil Strickler, Ohio State Fair Livestock Office, 717 E 17th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43211, postmarked no later than January 15, 2002. Please remember that sending in a noseprint is only part of the "paperwork" that needs to be completed. Also, the youth participant must be enrolled in a 4-H or FFA market steer or market heifer project, through their county or school, and must submit an entry to the Ohio State Fair prior to June 20, 2002.

Questions regarding eligibility requirements should be directed to Virgel Strickler (614) 644-4047 at the Ohio State Fair. The steer noseprint cards are available free of charge by contacting an Ohio State University Extension office.

OCA Celebrates 50 Years

The Ohio Cattlemen's Association annual convention is set for January 19 and 20th and will take on a unique theme this year - "A Golden Tradition Past, Present and Future." This is a celebration of OCA's 50th year.

While nostalgia of all that's past will intrigue many, it will be especially exciting to take a critical look to the future during the Cattlemen's College on Sunday the 20th. At 9:00 a.m., Ron Bolze of Smithfield Foods will offer his insight into where the beef industry is headed within the next few years. You will recall that Smithfield has become a major player in the Midwest beef cattle industry with it's recent purchases of Moyer Packing, the Ohio Feedlot, and other packing facilities.

Following Bolze to the podium will be Ron Lemenager, Executive Director of the 5 State Beef Initiative. Lemenager will offer his vision on how the 5 State will create opportunities for smaller producers to remain profitable during these times of dramatic evolution within the industry. Contact the OCA office (614.873.6736) for OCA Convention registration details.

Risk of Terrorism to Ohio's Crop Industry

The tragedy of September 11, and the subsequent anthrax infections, are cruel reminders that the US is vulnerable to attack by terrorists. There is also concern that crops and livestock are vulnerable to biological attack. Countries such as Iraq are known to have had large programs in developing biological weapons against crops such as wheat. Some officials in the US government have been worried about this threat for a while, but serious attention has only been paid since September 11. Unlike the case with animals, it is not clear which crop pathogens might be the most serious threats to crops. Work being done at Ohio State University by Larry Madden is attempting to help determine which pathogens are of greatest concern for Ohio and US farmers. Madden is developing risk assessment models, based on epidemiological theory, for evaluating potential threats.

The impact of a biological attack against crops would be economic, both in terms of reductions in yield and increased cost to control diseases. However, the probability of any one grower, or even a food consumer, being impacted is very low. It is a legitimate responsibility of the government to protect the country from attacks such as this. In terms of protecting our crops, there is little growers need to do that they are not already doing in terms of sound disease management practices.

Plans Complete for 2002 "Seedstock Improvement Sale"

The Ohio Cattlemen's Association is actively seeking consignments for the April 6, 2002 Seedstock Improvement Sale held at the Union Stock Yards Company in Hillsboro, Ohio. The Seedstock Improvement Sale is open to consignments from all members of the Ohio Cattlemen's Association and all breeds of cattle. If you are not currently a member of the OCA consider this an invitation to join the organization that works for all Ohio Beef producers each and every day.

Bulls are required to have current Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs). They will be ranked based on a 4 star grading system using EPDs for birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, and milk. Bulls can be one, two, or three years of age, but history of the sale shows, 18-24 month old bulls command a higher sale price. Each bull must also pass a Breeding Soundness Exam to be done upon arrival at the sale facility, have proper health documentation, and completed a required set of vaccinations.

The 2002 OCA Seedstock Improvement Sale provides commercial and purebred producers the opportunity to attend a multiple breed sale that features bulls with the predictability of EPDs and the assurance of turning out a bull that has passed a Breeding Soundness Exam. Consignments must be postmarked by Friday January 25, 2002.

For more information and to obtain a consignment form contact Justin Lahmers at the OCA, 614.873.6736 or jlahmers@ohiobeef.org.

For a listing of upcoming programs, meetings and events, visit the AG CALENDAR

Previous Issues of Farm Facts

updated on December 26, 2001 by Stan Smith

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith, Director, Ohio State University Extension.
TDD # 1 (800) 589-8292 (Ohio only) or (614) 292-1868