Farming

Lame Duck Session Produces Election Changes, No Abortion Language Clarification; Local Filmmaker Movie in National Registry; CSU / USDA Training Partnership

This upcoming winter a cohort of students from the Central State University incubator farms will finish up the beginning farmers program. Now, some are establishing their own farms in communities lacking access to healthy and affordable foods.

Ohio has over 10 million acres of crop land. For decades much of it has been over-plowed, sprayed with fertilizers and stripped of its nutrients. Although recently, more farmers have seen the economic benefit of shifting their practices and being part of the climate change solution.

President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act on Tuesday. The historic legislation includes about $40 billion toward federal climate change and agriculture investments.

The third annual Black Farming Conference hosted by Agraria Center for Regenerative Practice is next month. This will be the first time it will be held in-person.

Gas prices continue to soar to record highs. Diesel climbed to an average of $5.52 per gallon on Friday in Ohio, according to AAA.

Beginning farmers in Ohio received a grant from the OEFFA this week.

Ohio Senators are saying there is a possibility that sports gambling could begin this fall in Ohio. Local grocer pledges profits to the surrounding community

The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association held its first farm bill listening session Thursday. The meeting at the Yellow Springs community center was the first of four sessions where farmers can express what they want to see in the bill, which is up for renewal in 2023.

Thursday, local farmers heard a pitch about the benefits of regenerative farming from Ray Archuleta, a soil health expert recently featured in the Netflix documentary Kiss the Ground. The film focuses on how modern, industrial farming is harming the planet, and how the industry can be improved.

Since the pandemic began, major meat packing facilities have temporarily closed due to COVID outbreaks among workers. This resulted in shortages at grocery stores. However, Ohio farmers have seen an uptick in orders for their meat. The demand is so high some small meat processors can barely keep up.

For some, the point of an urban garden is about addressing food scarcity, for others it means connecting neighbors with other neighbors. While others might just do it as a hobby. But it can also be a major undertaking.