Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Pelanda meets with local agriculture leaders

WOOSTER - Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Dorothy Pelanda and the Wayne County Commissioners recently met with local ag leaders at the Buckeye Agricultural Museum and Education Center to hear their take on the state of the local ag economy.

Pelanda talked about the collaboration between the Kroger grocery store chain and the Daisy Brand of dairy products and the importance of establishing relationships in all aspects of agriculture prior to hearing from local business people.

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Many topics were discussed, including milk prices and the concern over the shrinking amount of farmland.

Jack Gant of Gant Realty expressed dismay at the current cost of local farmland.

“I never thought, in my wildest dreams, that farmland would be bringing the prices that they are today,” he said. “Back in the ’80s, I could have bought any parcel of farmland for about $1,000 an acre.”

Gant said that today’s farmland is going for anywhere around $17,000 to $40,000 per acre.

“For a young person to go out and start farming today, there is just no way they can make it — no way,” Gant continued.

Farmers view the current land values as a time to sell

On the flip side, some farmers view the current land values as a time to sell, thereby further reducing farmable acreage.

Inflation was also a hot topic of discussion. Dave Colvin of Lowe and Young said that inflation for equipment is up 13% to 20%.

David Benavides of Farmers National Bank said that one of the challenges he faces is rising interest rates. “We have to, unfortunately, tell people that rates are going up,” he said. “We are one of the banks that farmers come to for financing, and (the rates) have caused a slowdown.”

Matt Martin, Wayne County Fairgrounds manager, said that “Agriculture is our roots, and we are challenged with a decline in the interest in agriculture. We are faced with trying to do more with fewer resources.”

Bruce Keener was raised in Wayne County and has been in the feed business since 1978. “Our core business is no longer in Wayne County,” he said. “We feed 150,000 dairy cows in Ohio, but Wayne County is not where they are. That bothers us.”

Keener also said that the supply chain was a big challenge. “We always worried about price; now it is service. We are buying (further out) so people can stay in business. I would love every small farm to stay in business, but we are concerned it is going to the next level. The larger you are, the more efficient you can be. I hope the small farmer can figure out their niche.”

Pelanda presents Ron Grosjean with 2021 Ohio Fair Managers Association Outstanding Volunteer award

At the end of the discussion, Pelanda presented Ron Grosjean with the 2021 Ohio Fair Managers Association Outstanding Volunteer award.

In 1963, Grosjean started his agricultural career with the Franklin Guys and Gals 4-H Club and later with the Triway FFA. Grosjean then began volunteering for the Wayne County Fair and initiated the building patrol program. He was responsible for clearing the animal manure away from fairground buildings that housed the animals. His undertaking has now evolved into a staff of members dedicated to the effort.

Grosjean is an active farmer and the President of Friends of Wayne County Fair, which operates the Buckeye Agricultural Museum and Education Center.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: State director, Wayne County Commissioners hear ag concerns