Here are this week’s top stories from Farm and Dairy:
1. New Holmes County Fairgrounds making progress
The Holmes County Fairgrounds move has been in the works for at least five years, and it’s well underway now in preparations for next year’s fair.
The new fairgrounds location is on higher ground a few miles away from the old property. The old fairgrounds were located in a floodway, leading to costly and even dangerous damages in years past.
2. Vermicomposting: How to turn waste into compost over winter
Composting typically comes to a halt every year when the weather turns cold, but you can compost indoors. Vermicomposting involves the use of worms to break down food and other organic waste into nutrient-rich compost.
Farm and Dairy online columnist Ivory Harlow explains how to start an indoor worm farm to keep composting through the winter.
3. Life on a dairy farm
Ashland County third-graders had the opportunity to experience farm life firsthand when they took a field trip to J-Lynn Jerseys Dairy Farm in Shiloh, Ohio.
The students learned about cow nutrition, the milking parlor, animal and human safety and other aspects of farming. The visit taught the students where their food comes from, and it gave them an appreciation for farmers.
4. Preserving the birds of the past: Poultry conference promotes heritage poultry breeds
A Sustainable Poultry Network (SPN-USA) conference held in Wilmot, Ohio, brought together backyard enthusiasts and producers of heritage poultry breeds Oct. 5-7. Attendees networked to learn about success stories and challenges, plus ideas from industry experts.
Jim Adkins, SPN-USA president, said, “We are feeding the future with the birds from the past.”
5. Co-ops set records for fourth consecutive year
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that the country’s farmer, rancher and fishery cooperatives once again posted record income and revenue last year. A USDA report shows $6.5 billion in net income and $246.7 billion in revenue for cooperatives in 2014.
While ag co-op employment increased last year, the total number of ag co-ops decreased. Out of the country’s top 100 co-ops, Ohio has four: United Producers, Trupointe Cooperative, Heritage Cooperative and Sunrise Cooperative.
