Here are this week’s top stories from Farm and Dairy:
1. Can you find a new farm owner who is not a family member?
When farmers approach retirement and their children are not interested in taking over management of the farm, farm owners look to individuals outside of the family to hand over the reins.
Chris Zollar, Tuscarawas County agricultural extension educator and OSU Extension Dairy Excel member, addresses how to go about transitioning the farm to a new farm owner, including evaluating potential owners.
2. Return of an American favorite: How to grow and enjoy chestnuts at home
While a fungal disease wiped out American chestnut trees over 100 years ago by a fungal blight, efforts are being made to bring back a disease resistant tree by crossing American and Chinese chestnut trees.
Farm and Dairy online columnist Ivory Harlow grows Chinese-American chestnut trees on her farm. She explains how to plant and care for chestnut trees, as well as information about harvesting, curing and storing chestnuts.
3. Leaders in change: Ohio farm families recognized for their conservation efforts
On Sept. 24, the 2015 Conservation Farm Family Awards were given to five Ohio farm families.
The families who received the award include: Ron and Barb Snyder of Wood County; Richard Thompson of Trumbull County; John and Cindi Quinn of Muskingum County; Dan and Tawni Batdorf of Miami County; and Dr. Patricia Speck of Vinton County.
4. Organic strawberries are often profitable, but risky
Growing organic strawberries is more difficult than it may seem. In the Central Coast region of California, growing organic strawberries costs an average of $49,044 per acre. Along with high initial investment and management can be complex, a shortage of workers can result in problems at harvest.
Many strawberry farmers are transitioning to organic production, though. In California alone, there was a 62 percent increase in organic strawberry acreage between 2009 and 2012.
5. Wayne County Fair sale results 2015
See photos and results from this year’s Wayne County Fair sale, held Sept. 17, 2015. The sale totaled $807,833.66 for 707 lots.
