SALEM, Ohio — Ohio truly is ‘the heart of it all,’ especially if you’re an alpaca breeder.
The Buckeye State is home to 17,000 alpacas — the biggest state herd in the nation. And nationally, breeders and backyard enthusiasts own 93,000 of the fuzzy animals, according to one Ohio legislator’s research.
Now, at least in Ohio, […]

SALEM, Ohio — The State of Washington has finalized its cease and desist order against the Canadian company Pigeon King International.
That state’s securities division entered the final consent order May 2.
Investigation showed pigeon breeder Arlan Galbraith and his company violated the state’s Business Opportunity Fraud Act and were not registered with the state to offer […]

SALEM, Ohio — Ohio’s farmland preservation goals have been strengthened, thanks to recent changes and clarifications to the law that lays out the Agricultural Security Area program.

House Bill 289, sponsored by Rep. Tony Core of Rushsylvania, was signed by Gov. Ted Strickland April 18.
What’s the concept?
Agricultural Security Areas, or ASAs, allow one or more […]

SALEM, Ohio — The woman who cried ‘animal abuse’ and summoned national attention to a Wayne County hog farm has dropped her civil lawsuit against the farm owner.
Ingrid DiMarino, a former employee on the Wiles hog farm near Creston, dropped her case against Ken Wiles April 30.
However, Wiles may not be in the clear yet.
“Any […]

SALEM, Ohio — Demand for quality beef stocker cattle has sparked renewed interest in Pennsylvania’s calf pool program.

This spring, western Pennsylvania cattlemen will have the opportunity to learn more about getting involved in the state program that helps put more money in producers’ pockets.
Growth
The program, modeled after the successful West Virginia calf pool program, […]

SALEM, Ohio — The woman who cried ‘animal abuse’ and summoned national attention to a Wayne County hog farm has dropped her civil lawsuit against the farm owner.

Ingrid DiMarino, a former employee on the Wiles hog farm near Creston, dropped her case against Ken Wiles April 30.

DiMarino has up to one year to refile her […]

SALEM, Ohio — The state of Washington has ordered Arlan Galbraith and his company, Pigeon King International, to cease and desist operations there.
Washington’s securities division filed the order March 19 after it determined the company violated the state’s Business Opportunity Fraud Act.
Any company that offers a business opportunity in that state must register with the […]

SMITHVILLE, Ohio — Learning the steps to the scientific method — predictions and tests and controls and formulating hypotheses — can be downright complicated and boring.
But not in Tony Stoller’s classroom.
In the agriscience lab at Smithville High School, the educator walks his students through the process one step at a time as they devise poultry […]

SALEM, Ohio — Rain showers. Tile washouts. Mud.
Thanks to Mother Nature, you’re already falling behind schedule with spring tillage and planting.
In the past week, farmers have been spotted chisel plowing, planting oats and making progress across parts of the Farm and Dairy coverage area.
It’s been slow going, though, with USDA data showing roughly 20 percent […]

SALEM, Ohio — Craig Zamary says he’s passionate about the environment.
The 30-something from Mahoning County, Ohio, drives a hybrid Toyota Prius and uses geothermal energy to heat his home, which is filled with energy efficient appliances.
He calls his office in the Youngstown business incubator green, too: With only a laptop and telephone, he’s aiming for […]