By CELESTE BAUMGARTNER
Ohio Correspondent

DUBLIN, Ohio — Gov. Ted Strickland asked him to get out of Columbus and visit the farms, fairs and rural communities of Ohio, said ODA Director Robert Boggs at the Ohio Farmers Union annual convention.

“I’ve been to over 68 counties, so far, and I have observed a great deal of optimism about the status of agriculture in Ohio,” he said.
In 2007, Ohio dairies exceeded 5 billion pounds in milk production. That hasn’t happened since the 1960s. The corn harvest of 541 million bushels was the largest in the history of the state.

“That represents a 15 percent increase over the harvest of the year before,” Boggs said. “This year we’ll be diverting 20 percent of the corn crop for biofuels.”

Some people are saying there is not enough corn but if the state can increase production a little each year, there will be, he said.
“What is happening is that farmland that has been left fallow and vacant for a generation is now being put back into production, and that’s good for the communities,” Boggs said. “Farmers in Ohio are very good producers; and if they have a market there, they will grow to that market.”

Yet, there are challenges such as the rbST issue, which is not just about labeling but whether producers will be able to use biotechnology that is safe and sound, he added.

“Are we as members of the agricultural community going to be able to use the latest advances in technology?” he questioned. “Or are there going to be consumer groups that are going to threaten to boycott retail outlets and prohibit us from being as productive as we possibly can?

“That is a major issue that ag has got to confront. People have a right to believe what they want to believe, but we should stand – I believe – forthrightly for using safe, secure biotechnology in all of its forms.”

Back to the plus side, Boggs said the department is setting up the wheat program that has been enacted and the Food Advisory Council, established by executive order of the governor, to advise the department on important food issues. The department has a grant from USDA to fund a farm-to-school program exploring how to help children not from rural communities have a better understanding of agriculture, and also working on school nutrition.
And, there are other issues. The department expects to lose between 17-31 employees; it will have a fiscal cut of $1.6 billion for 2009. Boggs said.

“Right now, we’re really focused on living within the budget which had been put back and we’re working out the way we’re going to come up with the savings that are needed to balance the budget,” he said. “It’s doable, but it will be challenging.

“It’s going to be a busy year. It’s going to be an exciting year.”