VW independent staff/submitted information
FORT WAYNE — The Fort Wayne Farm Show, one of the Midwest’s premier agricultural events and Indiana’s largest indoor farm show, is set to welcome over 30,000 farmers and industry professionals once again this year. The 36th annual event, which will be held at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, will feature cutting-Edge technology, educational seminars, and community support Initiatives
Known for showcasing the latest in farm technology and innovation, the show provides attendees with access to the region’s largest variety of farm equipment and services, all conveniently located under one roof. The Northeastern Indiana Soil and Water Conservation District, in collaboration with Purdue Cooperative Extension Services, will offer daily educational seminars designed to address key topics in modern farming.
This year’s show is also highlighted by two grand prize giveaways: a Toro MyRide Zero Turn Lawn Mower and Toro SnowMaster Snow Blower, both generously provided by Plevna Implement, located at 1503 Wiant Dr., Garrett, Indiana. Entry for both grand prizes is free.
Supporting the future of agriculture, the Indiana FFA Scholarship Foundation will hold a fundraising auction at 1 p.m. on both Tuesday and Wednesday of the show. A wide range of donated items will be up for bid, with proceeds benefiting the scholarship program. Last year’s auction raised more than $21,000 for FFA scholarships.
Farm Show dates and times are Tuesday, January 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday, January 15, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Thursday, January 16, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
POSTED: 01/09/25 at 11:05 pm. FILED UNDER: Farm
Submitted information
Farm Credit Mid-America is now accepting applications for its Customer Scholarships and Farm Credit Mid-America Scholars Program. Over the past decade, Farm Credit Mid-America has awarded more than $2 million in financial and educational support to deserving students pursuing careers that promote agriculture and rural communities.
Customer Scholarships are available to the children or grandchildren of Farm Credit Mid-America customers pursuing careers related to agriculture or rural communities. Applicants can attend an accredited two- or four-year college, university, vocational school or trade school.
“We want to encourage young people to pursue these careers and support them in their journey because we recognize they will be the future of our industry,” said Randy Barbee, community investment manager at Farm Credit Mid-America. “Through direct financial support, we are working to secure the future of agriculture and rural communities.”
The Farm Credit Mid-America Scholars program is available to rising college sophomores and juniors pursuing careers in agriculture. Each year more than 25 students receive $5,000 in financial support over two academic years. In addition to financial aid, recipients also participate in onsite learning and travel experiences aimed at developing leadership skills and enhancing financial literacy.
“The financial support provided through the scholarship is extremely helpful, but on top of that, you get to meet great people in the field,” said Victoria Holliday, a recent Farm Credit Mid-America Scholar. “It’s nice to be surrounded by others who have similar goals to you and bounce ideas off of each other.”
Students who meet the eligibility requirements for a Farm Credit Mid-America scholarship are encouraged to apply before the December 15, 2024, deadline. Customer Scholarship applicants are encouraged to apply before the January 15, 2025 deadline. Recipients for both programs will be announced in 2025.
“It’s important to support college students who are interested in agriculture because we’re the future of the industry,” said Daniel Lester, a recent Farm Credit Mid-America Scholar. “If I could talk to other students, I would tell them to apply for the program in a heartbeat. It opens many doors to new friends, experiences and opportunities.”
To learn more about Farm Credit Mid-America’s scholarship programs or to submit an application, visit www.fcma.com/scholarships.
Submitted information
REYNOLDSBURG — The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) has received a presumptive positive test result of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in an Ohio dairy cattle herd and is awaiting confirmation from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL).
The dairy operation in Wood County received cows on March 8 from a Texas dairy, which later reported a confirmed detection of HPAI. Ohio’s animal health officials were notified when the livestock began showing clinical signs compatible with sick, lactating dairy cows in other states.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state veterinary and public health officials, continue to investigate the emerging illness among dairy cows that is causing decreased lactation, low appetite, and other symptoms.
On Monday, March 25, state animal health officials were notified when federal agencies confirmed the detection of HPAI in dairy herds in Texas and Kansas that had cattle exhibiting these symptoms. USDA’s NVSL has since confirmed the presence of HPAI in additional dairy cattle herds in Idaho, New Mexico, and Michigan.
Federal and state agencies continue to conduct additional testing from sick animals and in unpasteurized clinical milk samples from sick animals, as well as viral genome sequencing, to assess whether HPAI or another unrelated illness may be underlying any symptoms. Clinically sick dairy cattle from affected herds range from 1%-20%, with an average of 10% of the milking herd affected. There are no confirmed reports of death loss in dairy cattle directly attributed to these detections. Most sick cows begin recovering within a few days.
According to the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease and Prevention, there is no concern about the safety of commercially pasteurized dairy products due to both federal animal health requirements and pasteurization and the public health risk associated with HPAI remains low.
ODA is working with state industry partners and federal agencies to encourage farmers and veterinarians to report cattle illnesses quickly, to monitor potential additional cases and minimize the impact and risk to farmers, farmworkers, consumers, and other animals.
Producers are urged work with their veterinarian to practice enhanced biosecurity measures and review and limit cattle movements within production systems to avoid disease spread or bringing in cattle from known disease areas or infected herds. More information on biosecurity measures can be found here.
At this current time, no quarantines or movement restrictions on livestock are being issued by ODA. As officials continue to assess the risks of the emerging disease, and assess epidemiological information, further regulatory control actions may be implemented. If dairy producers in Ohio should see unusual clinical symptoms similar to those described, they are to contact their herd veterinarians.
For more information on the detections of HPAI in cattle, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website.
POSTED: 04/02/24 at 7:19 pm. FILED UNDER: Farm
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FOSTORIA — AgCredit — one of northern Ohio’s largest lenders for farmers, rural homeowners and agribusiness — announced it will distribute $22 million to its borrower-owners through its patronage program.
Each year, AgCredit’s Board of Directors reviews the cooperative’s net income and determines how much to return to the cooperative’s borrower-owners in the form of patronage. Qualified borrower-owners will receive their share during events at their local offices, through the mail or through direct deposits into their bank accounts. This is the 37th consecutive year AgCredit has distributed patronage with a total of over $444 billion returned during that time.
“Our ability to return patronage dividends to eligible borrower-owners in our territory for 37 consecutive years demonstrates the commitment of our cooperative,” said AgCredit President and CEO Brian Ricker. “I invite all AgCredit borrower-owners to stop into their local office on Thursday, April 4, 2024, to celebrate with our team. Checks will be available for pick up and refreshments will be served.”
How do patronage refunds benefit AgCredit borrower-owners? They reduce their cost of borrowing. AgCredit already offers competitive rates on loans, but on average over the past five years, the patronage program has reduced rates by an additional 1.67%. Dividends are distributed based on the amount of interest accrued on your loan with a patronage return of 20.46% for 2023. The more business you do with AgCredit, the larger your potential patronage refund!
Simply put, it pays to be a member of AgCredit.
AgCredit is a member of the nationwide Farm Credit System. For more information about the Association and its patronage dividend program, visit www.AgCredit.net.
POSTED: 04/01/24 at 3:12 pm. FILED UNDER: Farm
Submitted information
Farm Focus Inc. was founded in 1974 to promote agriculture in Van Wert County and the surrounding area. It is their continued mission to assist Van Wert County students through a scholarship program that will enable them to pursue a degree in an agricultural related field.
Farm Focus Inc. is offering a minimum of two scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000 to high school seniors interested in majoring in an agricultural related program at a university, college, or technical school. In addition to seniors, full time students already enrolled in an undergraduate program in agriculture are eligible to apply. This also means that a successful applicant from previous years can reapply again this year. The applicant must be a Van Wert County resident. Minimum grade point is 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Scholarship funds will be submitted directly to the educational institution by Farm Focus Inc. upon receipt of proof of enrollment or a copy of a tuition invoice.
Scholarship applications have been sent to all nine area high schools where Van Wert County students may be enrolled, so students should contact their guidance counselor or agricultural education/FFA instructor for an application.
The application is available at the OSU Van Wert County Extension Office, 1055 South Washington Street, Van Wert, or by email, FarmFocusScholarship@gmail.com. The scholarship application is in a PDF and Word formats and can be emailed or put on a jump drive. Questions should be emailed.
All completed applications must be emailed, mailed and postmarked or delivered in person no later than March 29 to the OSU Van Wert County Extension Office.
VW independent staff/submitted information
REYNOLDSBURG — The Ohio Department of Agriculture has released the official dates for the 2024 fair season, which includes Ohio’s 94 county and independent fairs and the Ohio State Fair.
The Paulding County Fair will kick off the 2024 fair season June 8-15, and the season will wrap up on October 12 with the Fairfield County Fair. In between, the Putnam County Fair will run from June 24-29, followed by the Auglaize County Fair (July 28-August 3), the Mercer County Fair (August 6-14), the Allen County Fair (August 16-24) and the Van Wert County Fair (August 27-September 2). For a complete schedule, click here.
In addition to setting and approving the dates for the independent and county fairs, ODA is responsible for helping to assure the safety of fair amusement rides, monitoring livestock shows to help assure honest competition and coordinating animal health efforts with local veterinarians.
Submitted information
The Van Wert Soil & Water Conservation District held its 74th annual meeting by co-hosting with the Van Wert Farm Bureau at the ag banquet at Life House Church on Tuesday.
A SWCD election was held for one supervisor position on the SWCD Board of Supervisors five member board, and Dave Kemler was elected to serve a three-year term commencing January 1, 2024.
Hanna Scaggs was the SWCD scholarship recipient and Renner Family Farms was recognized by the SWCD and received the Conservation Farmer Award. The award is given to honor individuals for their conservation achievements.
Farm Bureau presented membership ag awards. The Van Wert Ag Hall of Fame Award was presented to Bruce Kennedy for his many agricultural Accomplishments.
The SWCD staff gave updates on programs and Farm Bureau went over their year in review. Ag Credit provided centerpieces of flower arrangements that were given as door prizes.
Sponsors for the evening were: Farm Bureau, the Van Wert Soil and Water Conservation District and Ag Credit.
Submitted information
The Van Wert Farm Bureau and Soil & Water Conservation District are co-hosting their annual ag banquet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, August 15, at Life House Church in Van Wert.
The evening will begin with an election for two supervisors on the SWCD Board from 5-6 p.m., followed by dinner catered by Streetlight Catering at 6 p.m., and meeting following.
There will be no charge for the meeting this year, however you will need to RSVP by August 1. You may call the office at 419.238.9591 or email Becky at rebekkah.dowler@nacdnet.net.
VW independent staff
The Van Wert County Junior Fair Coronation Committee has announced that applications are now available for 2023 Jr. Fair royalty.
King and queen candidates must be between 16-19 years of age as of January 1 of this year, and species/project royalty candidates must be between 13-19 years of age. King and queen winners will receive a $500 scholarship, with runners-up receiving $100.
Applications are online only and must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. July 10. Interviews will take place on Sunday, August 13 and winners will be crowned during the celebration Sunday event on August 20.
King/queen and species/project applications can be accessed via the Van Wert County Junior Fair Facebook page.
VW independent staff/submitted information
The recipients of the 2023 Farm Focus Inc. scholarships have been announced as Luke Hefflefinger and Hanna Scaggs, who were awarded $1,000 each. Emma Wells and Wyatt Friedrich awarded $500 each.
Heffelfinger will graduate from Lincolnview High School this Sunday and will attend the Ohio State University Agriculture Technical Institute (ATI) in Wooster. He plans to major in beef management and agricultural systems Management. His career goal is to return to the family farm.
Scaggs is a 2020 Lincolnview High School graduate and is completing her third year at Wright State University Lake Campus, majoring in agribusiness. Her career goal is agricultural financing and loans.
Friedrich will graduate from Lincolnview on Sunday. He plans to attend the Ohio State University Agriculture Technical Institute in the fall, majoring in turfgrass management.
Wells will graduate from Crestview High School May 27. She plans to attend Purdue University in the fall and major in agri-science education.
Farm Focus Inc. was founded in 1974 to promote agriculture in Van Wert County and the surrounding area. It is their continued mission to assist Van Wert County students through a scholarship program that will enable them to pursue a degree in an agricultural related field.
