A1 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Linndale Equipment COLUMBUS, OH PERMIT NO. 1070 40 S. Webb Rd., Wilmington, OH 45177 www.linndaleeq.com • 937-382-4549 40831919 Rural Life Today Serving the Agricultural Community in 66 Ohio Counties • RuralLifeToday.com VOLUME 5, ISSUE 10 OCTOBER 2016 Southwest Ohio Highland High marks for Farm Science Review Ag Secretary at farmers Wilmington ag facility honored Vilsack: USDA can boost By Gary Brock #1 SOURCE FOR [email protected] rural communities By Gary Hu enberger QUALITY HARVESTING LONDON – Highland ghu [email protected] County farmers Tim and EQUIPMENT Sandy Shoemaker and WILMINGTON — The ST. RT. 68 & I-71 Howard Grabill of Mill- role government can play to stone Creek LLC farm strengthen America’s rural WILMINGTON, OH were one of fi ve Ohio areas was stressed during US farm families to receive 937.382.5717 Agriculture Secretary Tom the 2016 Conservation Vilsack’s visit to Wilmington WWW.MFEAG.COM Farm Family Award. College Sept. 22. The awards were pre- Vilsack toured the college’s EMAIL: sented the fi ve family newly upgraded and expanded farms during ceremonies Center for the Sciences and [email protected] Sept. 22 during the Submitted photo Agriculture, and the facil- annual Ohio Farm Sci- Attendees watch a demonstration at Trotter Field during the final day of the Farm WE SPECIALIZE IN JOHN DEERE EQUIPMENT Science Review on Thursday. ity’s agriculture and science AND CARRY A WIDE VARIETY OF OTHER ence Review in Madison classrooms and laboratories. County. BRANDS INCLUDING CASE IH, NEW More than 125,000 attend annual three-day event The renovation and expansion HOLLAND, GLEANER AND CATERPILLAR. In receiving the award, project was funded by a $19.7 40906315 Sandy Shoemaker said, By Gary Brock meet and talk to FFA members million rural development, low- [email protected] “Thank you, this means from all parts of Ohio.” interest, 32-year loan from the a lot. We would be doing Over the three days of the U.S. Department of Agriculture this whether we received LONDON — Pennsylvania Farm Science Review Sept. More Than farmer Larry Gill and several (USDA). an award or not. We are 20-22, more than 125,790 visi- In remarks prior to introduc- both retired, but that title friends drove nearly four hours tors attended. This is according Just Tires... Sept. 22 to attend the annual ing Vilsack, Wilmington Col- isn’t appropriate for us to the sponsor, the College of lege President Jim Reynolds We Are A — we have just changed Ohio Farm Science Review in Food, Agricultural, and Envi- Madison County near London. said without the USDA’s help, jobs. We are going to con- ronmental Sciences at The Ohio the extensive renovations and Resource tinue this job for the rest “It’s quite a drive, but well State University. There were worth it,” Gill said while walk- new wing would not have been of our lives.” also more than 600 vendors and possible. During the eight years This was the 33rd year ing through the many exhibit exhibitors. buildings on the grounds of the Vilsack has been the agricul- of the awards program. The Review offered farmers ture secretary under President In addition to the High- Molly Caren Agricultural Center. and growers a “wonderful oppor- Gill, who grows grain and Obama, the USDA has awarded land County farm family, tunity to learn about the latest $6.9 billion in loans and grants the other four families raises beef on 230 acres between agricultural research and innova- Pittsburgh and Erie, doesn’t for education and healthcare honored were: Robert Lill tion,” said Matt Sullivan, super- facilities in rural regions. Serving all of Marion County; Justin mind the long drive at all. “I intendent of the center. really enjoy coming here. It is One intended effect of those and Lowell Wolff of Medi- “When you look at the overall USDA infrastructure invest- your na County; Edward and encouraging to see so many Farm Science Review, we had people here in farming and all ments, said Vilsack, is to stem Agricultural Karen Bay of Guernsey the largest number of exhibitors the rural brain drain such that County; and William and the new technology,” he said. ever, the weather was awesome, Ansonia FFA member Aric youth who live in small towns Tire Needs Shauna Wilkins of Miami and we had great attendance,” have options, and “don’t neces- County. Barga agrees. While walking Sullivan said. “Exhibitors’ feed- throughout the exhibits and dis- sarily have to go to a big city “Farmers were the fi rst back has also been very positive. to run a business and make a conservationists, and to plays, the Darke County agricul- “Our fi eld demonstrations Wilmington ture student was quick with his difference.” 603 McCoy Rd. this day the conservation went extremely well, with the In part, he attributed the efforts they employ will assessment. “This is awesome. most corn and soybean combines 937-382-2300 There are lots of new experi- brain drain to a lack of collec- allow the land to be the that we’ve ever had at Farm tive foresight while the number most productive it can be ences here and new technology Science Review. We’ve had an to see,” he said. “And lots of free of U.S. farmers dropped from Hillsboro to provide food, fi ber and outstanding year installing fi eld 25 million to 2.3 million. fuel for generations to stuff,” he said, as he placed some drainage, and we’ve generated 108 Willettsville Pike items from a vendor into his bag “We didn’t stop and think, come,” said Ohio some of the best corn and soy- ‘Golly, where are those [rural] 937-393-3520 Department of Agri- while walking with a group of bean yields we’ve ever had.” 40878530 fellow Ansonia FFA students. See WINNERS | 5 “It’s also a good chance to See SCIENCE | 8 See COLLEGE | 5 WILMINGTON SOUTH 937-382-2566 BUCKLEY BROS., INC BLOOMFIELD 740-983-8900 WASHINGTON CALL TODAY FOR ALL YOUR FEED NEEDS! COURT HOUSE MORROW 740-335-4401 513-899-0304 MIDDLETOWN THE PLAINS 40923584 513-360-0267 WWW.BUCKLEYBROSINC.COM 740-797-3032 A2 2 Rural Life Today – Southwest Ohio – October 2016 The November election and Ohio farmers By Gary Brock for Ohio’s farmers. The federal Trump said, “By the way, for couple is taxed at a flat rate of taxes, partly because large tax [email protected] EPA, for example, has come the family farmers, Hillary Clin- 40 percent. bills can force families to sell under a lot of fire while under ton’s plan proposes an estate Clinton’s proposal would their farms and/or businesses. XENIA — How significant the Obama Administration tax of 65 percent, 65 percent. lower that threshold: Estate This whole “estate taxes” an impact will the presidential for expansion of regulations So you are going to have an taxes would apply to inheri- issue is about the only farm- election next month have on impacting farmers. estate tax of up to 65 percent. tances worth more than $3.5 ing and agriculture issue being rural Ohioans? Come January, However, Obama has Lots of luck having your kids million from an individual or $7 debated by the two major can- will Ohio farmers need to been a major advocate for hold on to your farms — not million from a couple, and the didates. be A: Concerned; B: Very the Trans-Pacific Trade going to happen.” rate would range from 45 per- The reality of the election for concerned; or C: Terri- Agreement, a measure Under Clinton’s proposed cent to 65 percent. Ohio’s farm and rural families is fied, depending on which that would benefit Ohio tax plan, inheritances worth Family farms worth less than that the choices aren’t so much presidential candidate’s farmers immensely. more than $500 million from $3.5 million or $7 million from about how either of the candi- hand is resting on the I think the same might an individual or $1 billion from a couple would be exempt from dates rate on “farm” issues, but Bible Inauguration Day? happen in the next four a couple would be taxed at a Clinton’s estate tax, at least how they rate on issues com- To be sure, the last Gary years regardless of who is 65 percent rate. But, as ABC under her current plan. mon to all Americans such as eight years of the current in office — a mix of good reported, almost certainly no The higher rate would raise national security, job growth, administration haven’t Brock Rural Life and bad for Ohio farmers. family farm would fall under an extra $75 billion over a personal freedoms and leader- been all roses and candy Today Editor Take the Democratic the top rate. decade, Clinton’s campaign ship. if you ask a lot of Ohio party nominee’s proposal “In previous discussions of estimates. Those voters in the farming farmers. Over the last few to increase estate taxes. this issue, opponents of the We all know how much farm and agriculture communities years, when I have accompa- On Sept. 28, Donald Trump estate tax were unable to find a families hate the idea of estate here in Ohio and across the nied Ohio farmers to Washing- suggested to an audience in single case where a family farm or “death” taxes. The reality is country will make their choices ton D.C. to meet their elected Iowa that family farmers would had to be sold to pay estate that many farmers here in Ohio next month on a broad spec- representatives and lobby pub- pay a 65 percent estate tax taxes,” Roberton Williams from wouldn’t pay estate taxes under trum of positions and issues lic officials in a host of federal rate under Hillary Clinton’s the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy the current system or the pro- important to them, not just a agencies, the biggest complaint proposed tax plan, making it Center told ABC News.