Ohio is a state with great importance in the agriculture industry. For one, Ohio is a gateway to the Midwest, offering an array of commodities that mark characteristic ag products from the region. Additionally, as part of the Great Lakes Region, Ohio is at a crossroads of transportation and commerce in the U.S. Explore the diverse ag offerings of the Buckeye state below.
When many think of ag news, they typically think about what’s going on in the U.S. in terms of weather conditions, pests and diseases, governmental legislation, food safety, pricing and more. However, the U.S. is a major exporter of agriculture goods to all corners of the world. You can stay abreast of ag news both stateside and overseas with the USDA. See some of the most recent highlights concerning agriculture trade below.
The equipment and machinery used on a farm are as important as the inner cogs and gears of a clock, and everything can grind to a screeching halt on any ag operation when an important piece of equipment is in need of repair. At such a point in time, a farmer or rancher will need to consider whether it makes sense to repair the piece of equipment or to trade it in for new equipment.
This winter’s unseasonably warm weather due to the El Niño pattern has been greatly welcomed by most, but not so for some ag producers in the southeastern portions of the country. Producers such as blueberry and pecan growers have experienced a packet of woes from the warm weather that spread across the Southeast in December and January.
The National Cattleman’s Beef Association Convention and Trade Show wrapped up January 29 in San Diego, California, offering all those in the beef and cattle industry the opportunity to come together and tackle the topics and issues that affect the industry. Amongst the fun and entertainment— the Red, White and Brew Afterparty, a concert by Martina McBride, an event on the USS Midway and more— the event found attendees getting down to business.
Cattle is one of the country’s largest ag commodities, so it’s no surprise that this year’s National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Convention & Trade Show is the oldest and largest convention for the nation’s cattle industry. Held January 27th through 29th in San Diego, California, the 118th annual convention featured both serious work and serious fun. Also in attendance were accompanying industry organizations, such as the American National Cattlewomen, Inc. and CattleFax.
The Sunshine State has always been about citrus, and with the dark cloud of HLB— citrus greening— hanging over the industry for the last 10 years, it will surely be a main topic of conversations and presentations alike at the 2016 Florida Citrus Show. Held on January 27th through the 28th in Fort Pierce, Florida, the show narrowly focused on citrus greening and other issues affecting the citrus industry.
Peanuts are king in Georgia, and Georgia’s the national commodity leader when it comes to peanut production, so it only makes sense that the Georgia Peanut Farm Show & Conference is a big deal. According to the event’s host, the Georgia Peanut Commission, they welcomed almost 2,000 growers to the January 21st event held on the UGA Tifton Campus.
To make it in the agriculture industry requires tough skin and an even tougher work ethic, but it is also an industry that abounds with possibilities. Take organics; once seen by many in ag as in conflict with conventional growing methods, many producers have embraced the organics movement. With organic certification, a farm or ranch rejects the use of most synthetic materials, such as pesticides, hormones or antibiotics.
