Ohio Farm News
By Roger Bender

The Farm Science Review’s three-day run is just around the corner, Sept. 21-23. This annual event seemingly grows every year, offering new events on the agenda, new ideas shared by various speakers and, of course, New Paint!

Located on Interstate 70 near London, Ohio, the site can be easily accessed by all road warriors, farmers and everyone else from the Midwest, Canada and beyond.

Nothing excites farmers more than seeing the latest in farm equipment on display and in the field. The 80-acre exhibit area hosts all of the major equipment manufacturers and countless smaller ones. Bright red, deep green, dazzling yellow, eye-catching orange, dark blue and several other shades of those colors will be on exhibit.

Much of the equipment checked out in stationary position is examined even more critically during the field demonstrations. Weather permitting, at least four hours of each day is slated for farm equipment to rumble across 600 acres. Harvesting corn and soybeans, different-colored combines compete for farmer attention.
Producers looking at $4 corn and $10 soybeans will critically analyze not only the speed of harvest, but also note any small portion of the grain that might be missed by the massive harvesters.

Dozens of tractors are kept busy for all three days. First, a number of light- and medium-duty tractors pull shuttle wagons filled with adults and FFA members to the equipment demonstrations, the grain bin setup and Gwynne Conservation Area.

Then, anyone interested can really see the horsepower put to work pulling around 20 pieces of tillage equipment, half a dozen or so manure spreaders, planters and strip tillers. Much of the field machinery is equipped with GPS technology for operational efficiency, data collection and easing operator fatigue.

As in past years, drainage improvements are going to be made by members of the Ohio Land Improvement Contractors Assoc. Many research projects have shown that internal and surface drainage is one of the best ways to enhance a farm’s productivity.

Now, with the advances made in controlled drainage technology, farmers may want to take another look at the latest and greatest equipment on the market.

The large trade show area is packed with seed, crop protection product and fertilizer companies, as well as grain-buying and financial firms. Many of the state agencies that deal with agriculture are also represented.

Want to see livestock equipment, farm safety add-ons, hand tools and lawn and garden items? How about a biodigester that turns manure into methane, sized for a 150-cow dairy? All of that is at the Farm Science Review.

I mentioned the Gwynne Conservation Area earlier. Our natural resources friends tell me an entire day can be spent exploring the site and hearing presentations of wildlife, water and woodlands. The Utzinger Garden, at the main exhibit site, is home to numerous horticultural and garden plants and layouts.

What about food? From breakfast throughout the remainder of each day, feast on many commodity group or local community group food offerings.

With an early harvest this year, planning your attendance at the Farm Science Review may be challenging. No doubt, one could spend all three days at the FSR and not see all that is offered by not only Ohio State University researchers and extension folks, but also by our greatly appreciated Purdue University professional counterparts.

Save $3 per ticket by purchasing them in advance at any Ohio county extension office, or many ag businesses. For more information, check out all of the details at http://fsr.osu.edu

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Roger Bender may write to him in care of this publication.