Good Weather, Innovation Drive Farm Science Review Attendance

Writer(s): 
Farm Science Review. Photo: FSR.

LONDON, Ohio – Sunny skies and warm temperatures ushered in strong attendance at the annual Farm Science Review held Sept. 20-22 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center near London, Ohio, which saw some 125,790 visitors over its three-day run.

Sponsored by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University, the Review offered farmers and growers a wonderful opportunity to learn about the latest agricultural research and innovation, said Matt Sullivan, superintendent of the Molly Caren center.

Some 24,200 visitors attended the show Thursday (9/22), with 46,680 in attendance for Tuesday’s (9/20) opening day, while Wednesday (9/21) was the highest-attended day with 54,910 visitors, he said.

“When you look at the overall Farm Science Review, we had the largest number of exhibitors ever, the weather was awesome, and we had great attendance,” Sullivan said. “Exhibitors’ feedback has also been very positive.

“Our field demonstrations went extremely well, with the most corn and soybean combines that we’ve ever had at Farm Science Review. We’ve had an outstanding year installing field drainage, and we’ve generated some of the best corn and soybean yields we’ve ever had.”

Sullivan said the educational programing offered at the Review by Ohio State University Extension was also very beneficial for farmers and growers.

“From water quality to farm management to health and lifestyle improvements, the Review offered producers information that can benefit their overall financial bottom line,” he said. “Also, the Gwynne Conservation Center had a lot of visitors and offered new exhibits that were well received by attendees.

“We look forward to the 2017 show.”

Highlights of the review included:

  • An update on Zika in Ohio – While the mosquito known as the main carrier of Zika virus doesn’t live in Ohio, another carrier, the Asian tiger mosquito, is found in nearly half the state’s counties now. Those mosquitoes haven’t been found to have Zika, however.
  • Matt Roberts of Ohio State’s Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics led a discussion on the labeling of genetically modified foods from an economic perspective.
  • Roberts also provided a 2016 grain market update. He said that based on early harvest data, Ohio is on track to have a mediocre at best grain crop this year, while Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota are all forecast to have record grain yields.
  • Terry Howell and, posthumously, John Rockenbaugh, were inducted into the Farm Science Review Hall of Fame during the Celebration of CFAES luncheon.
  • An update on the College’s Field 2 Faucet water quality initiative, Ohio State’s program to ensure safe drinking water while sustaining an economically productive agricultural sector. The project includes information on research on water quality and nutrients, nutrient use efficiency for nitrogen and phosphorus, precision agriculture and compaction, and high-yield factors.
  • Information on the Ohio State–Beck’s Hybrids Joint Research Projects on Water Quality. The joint research projects are part of the Field to Faucet initiative, Beck’s Hybrids Practical Farm Research has a site on Rt. 40.
  • Early harvest results showed above-average yields for corn and soybeans from fields on the Farm Science Review grounds.

The 2017 Farm Science Review will be held Sept. 19-21. For more information, go to fsr.osu.edu/.

Writer(s): 
Tracy Turner
614-688-1067
For more information, contact: 

Matt Sullivan
614-292-4278
Sullivan.64@osu.edu