Farm and Dairy’s week in review: 10/24

Here are this week’s top stories from Farm and Dairy

1. Crop harvest ahead of usual, but yields are down

Weather and field conditions in Ohio and western Pennsylvania are almost ideal, putting harvest ahead, but the crops aren’t looking as good. Some farmers are facing reduced yields due to early maturity of crops.

Farm and Dairy reporter Chris Kick joined J.R. Rosenberger, a Stark County farmer, in the combine to discuss harvest progress. He also talks to Greg McNaull of McNaull Family Farms in Ashland County about the quality and quantity of this fall’s crops.

2. Growing hops

Ohio’s hop industry is growing. To supply the state’s craft brewers’ needs, 6,000 acres of hops would have to be planted. Currently, Ohio’s beer manufacturers send about $30 million worth of hops purchases and related jobs out of the state.

Several hops farmers explain the labor that goes into growing the crop — from using the harvesting machine and completing the drying process to cooling the hops and putting them through the pellet machine. While expenses and challenges face all farmers, hops growers look to fellow producers in The Ohio Hop Growers Guild for advice and ideas.

3. Better farm management in 30 seconds

One way to make the business analysis process easier for farmers is to make 30-second investments, according to Dianne Shoemaker, OSU Extension field specialist in dairy production economics.

While acres, costs and yields seem to be simple numbers, some farms don’t have systems for capturing them. Taking 30 seconds to track these numbers could make the business analysis process much easier and more reliable.

4. Homemade stock for body and soul

In food history, stock has had an important place in the kitchen. From being prescribed for sore throats and building strength, the health qualities of stock make it a nutritious and delicious ingredient to have on hand.

Farm and Dairy online columnist Ivory Harlow explains how stock differs from broth, directions for preserving homemade stock and also gives recipes for homemade beef stock and easy crockpot chicken stock.

5. Ohio lawmakers to hear plans for water quality bond issue

The Lake Erie Legislative Caucus will hold a forum at the Ohio Statehouse Oct. 27 to hear about the creation of a state trust that would be used for a number of water quality improvements. These improvements could include upgrading failing water and sewer lines, dams, farm manure storage and education about improving the state’s water quality.

One of the proposals that lawmakers are waiting to hear about is the Healthy Water of Ohio report. Another proposal is Senate Joint Resolution 3, a statewide bond proposal put together by Sen. Joe Schiavoni, D-Boardman.