Summer Farm Tour Series: Visit organic dairy farm Aug. 6

COLUMBUS – The annual Farm Tour Series is intended to foster sustainable food systems in Ohio.
The 2005 series offers farmers and the general public a unique opportunity to visit a wide range of organic and sustainable farming operations throughout Ohio.
Host farmers will provide walking and wagon tours and answer questions about organic and other forms of ecological food production. Tours are free and open to the public.
Next farm. The next stop on the tour is 10 a.m. Aug. 6 at Larksong Farm, 8940 County Road 235, in Fredricksburg, Ohio.
“Organic Dairy and Intensive Rotational Grazing” will be the theme at David Kline’s family-operated, 120-acre organic dairy in Holmes County.
The farm practices intensive rotational grazing from April 20 to Thanksgiving Day, and aims to produce all the feed for the dairy on the farm.
Besides the pastures and hay, the operation grows 18 acres of corn and 12 acres of oats.
On the tour, attendees may walk the fields and share observations on grazing management, herd health, weed control in row crops, and other farming techniques.
In addition to being a farmer, Kline is the editor of Farming Magazine, which began after he and his family realized the need for a publication with information on small-scale diversified farming that focuses on livestock.
Series. The series highlights organic and ecological production of vegetables, dairy, and grains, and runs through early October.
Topics covered will include production and marketing strategies used by ecological growers to market their products, organic- and pasture-based dairy systems, and the use of gardens and farms for education.
Several of the farm tours are hosted by farmers who sell directly to area restaurants, and will include discussion of the challenges and opportunities of chef-grower partnerships.
For a full listing of tours, including maps, times, and descriptions of the featured farms, call 614-421-2022 or visit www.oeffa.org.