LONDON, Ohio — Information on new agricultural technologies and innovation awaits farmers who plan to attend this year’s Farm Science Review Sept. 16-18 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio.
The 52nd annual event will showcase the latest technological advances in agriculture, and offer the opportunity to learn the latest research on how to improve their farm operations’ financial bottom line.
The show is sponsored by Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
“When you talk about technology and innovation, that’s what farmers are looking for and what we have to offer,” said Chuck Gamble, show manager .
“For example, the Review was the first farm show to demonstrate an unmanned aerial vehicle and will offer even more demonstrations on how farmers can use this technology to advance their farm operations,” Gamble added.
More than new paint
The Review features educational workshops, presentations, demonstrations and other opportunities delivered by experts from Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, which are the outreach and research arms, respectively, of the college.
The Review is also celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its partnership with Purdue University. Researchers and educators from Purdue will also present educational workshops and demonstrations to Review participants.
More exhibitors
Each year, the Review draws more than 130,000 farmers, growers, producers and agricultural enthusiasts, Gamble said.
An estimated 620 exhibitors with some 4,000 product lines will set up shop in the 80-acre exhibit area at the three-day farm show, an increase from 608 exhibitors last year, Gamble said, and there is a waiting list of about 40 more companies who want to participate.
Some other Review highlights include:
- Daily field demonstrations by members of the OSU Extension Agronomic Crops Team on corn, soybean and wheat crops in plots established outside the eastern edge of the Review exhibit area. The plots are just outside Gate C.
- Demonstrations of an unmanned aerial system for real-time crop maintenance and precision agriculture. The drones can be used to provide useful local site-specific data including crop scouting and geo-referencing to allow growers to monitor pesticides dispersion and fertilizer usage, and to monitor crop health parameters including soil moisture.
Antique tractors relocated
This year, the antique tractor associations have been moved to the plot areas, to accommodate a long-term plan to create more commercial space within the existing 80-acre exhibit area.
Gamble said the relocation of the antique tractor associations allows the groups to grow without incurring additional costs for exhibit space and spotlights their involvement at the Farm Science Review.
One of the antique tractor associations, the Buckeye Allis Club based in Jeffersonville, Ohio, has been exhibiting at the Farm Science Review for many years, which has generated additional interest in the club, according to George Schulz, past trustee and co-founder.
“The Farm Science Review gives our club good exposure and helps us financially because we take in a lot of memberships at the show that we normally wouldn’t,” said Schulz. “We get a lot of contacts there, even from outside the state of Ohio.”
More history in buildings
The Farm Science Review has two buildings on the grounds dedicated to antique equipment and farm machinery, the Leeper Antique Building and the George Antique Building.
