CHRISTMAS ON A DAIRY FARM
Column written by John Parker, published in the Gazette - December 21, 2011
John Parker is retired from The Ohio State University, serves on a local farm bureau board, and is an independent agricultural writer.

"During the Christmas Holiday, we all like to find time to be with family and to be at special worship services. But there are some essential jobs that have to be done, regardless of the day or season. One of these is the job of a dairy farmer who produces the essential product, milk, for us to enjoy. And that milk comes from well-cared for cows that have to fed, cared for and milked twice or three times a day."
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OIL AND GAS LEASES
Column written by John Parker, published in the Gazette - October 12, 2011
John Parker is retired from The Ohio State University, serves on a local farm bureau board, and is an independent agricultural writer.

"An oil and gas lease can have a long term impact on your property. And because of all the implications of these leases, land owners should get the advice of an attorney before signing such a lease. This was advice that Judge Tim Grendell from Geauga County gave to the group at the Food and Ag Committee breakfast meeting in Gustavas last Friday."
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DAIRY PAST & PRESENT
Column written by John Parker, published in the Gazette - May 25, 2011
John Parker is retired from The Ohio State University, serves on a local farm bureau board, and is an independent agricultural writer.

"Some of my friends who live in town have been worried about how they are going to be able to mow their lawns with all the wet weather we are experiencing. They walk over their lawn and feel the wet, soggy ground underneath and wonder if their mower will make tracks or get stuck.If you are one of those, just think about area farmers who may have 100s of acres of fields to plant."
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MARCHESE TALK
Column written by John Parker, published in the Gazette - May 11, 2011
John Parker is retired from The Ohio State University, serves on a local farm bureau board, and is an independent agricultural writer.

"Some of my friends who live in town have been worried about how they are going to be able to mow their lawns with all the wet weather we are experiencing. They walk over their lawn and feel the wet, soggy ground underneath and wonder if their mower will make tracks or get stuck.If you are one of those, just think about area farmers who may have 100s of acres of fields to plant."
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POOR WEATHER
Column written by John Parker, published in the Gazette - April 27, 2011
John Parker is retired from The Ohio State University, serves on a local farm bureau board, and is an independent agricultural writer.

"Some of my friends who live in town have been worried about how they are going to be able to mow their lawns with all the wet weather we are experiencing. They walk over their lawn and feel the wet, soggy ground underneath and wonder if their mower will make tracks or get stuck.If you are one of those, just think about area farmers who may have 100s of acres of fields to plant."
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FARMER DECISIONS
Column written by John Parker, published in the Gazette - April 6, 2011
John Parker is retired from The Ohio State University, serves on a local farm bureau board, and is an independent agricultural writer.

"Decisions made by local farmers and those across the United States have an impact on what we have on our dinner tables. And right now farmers are making major decisions, or perhaps have already made them, that indicate what they will grow this spring and how much. Looking at the major crops planted in our area, many farmers were considering both corn and soybeans. When they push the pencil to see which one can make the most profit for their labor and expense, corn comes out on top."
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FARMER CONCERNS
Column written by John Parker, published in the Gazette - March 9, 2011
John Parker is retired from The Ohio State University, serves on a local farm bureau board, and is an independent agricultural writer.

"There are a lot of people out there today wanting to tell us how to farm who don't know a thing about today's agriculture," one of my friends commented recently. He went on to add that information from reliable sources that base what they say on facts and research can be very helpful. Increased interest in our farms and where our food is produced can be a good thing. But those interested in today's agriculture need to have good factual information to fully understand what a modern farming operation is really like. Some sources of information such as TV and big city newspapers may not know enough about or understand agriculture to be accurate."
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EPA REGULATIONS AND THE AFBF
Column written by John Parker, published in the Gazette - March 2, 2011
John Parker is retired from The Ohio State University, serves on a local farm bureau board, and is an independent agricultural writer.

"Recently the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) filed a lawsuit in federal court to stop the Environmental Protection Agency's pollution regulatory plan for the Chesapeake Bay. They are doing this to protect the rights of farmers and the six states in the Chesapeake Bay area. More than that, if EPA is successful in this area, they are expected to try to use the same regulations in every watershed in the United States, including those in our local area. The Clean Water Act, AFBF says, allows states to decide how to improve water quality and lets them consider economic and social impacts of regulations. EPA regulations, however, ignore that fact and unlawfully override state actions, imposing laws that would dictate activities even down to the local business or farm."
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MAYFIELD ROAD CREAMERY
Column written by John Parker, published in the Gazette - January 19, 2011
John Parker is retired from The Ohio State University, serves on a local farm bureau board, and is an independent agricultural writer.

"When we go to the grocery store, we find an unlimited number of food products to stock up our pantries at home. More recently we find an increased interest in buying from local farmers, a good trend for the farmers and those who like the idea of finding food that comes direct from the farmer. One of the local farm operations that is doing well is the Mayfield Road Creamery located on Route 322 east of Orwell. Owned and operated by Kevin and Susan Morris, this creamery uses milk from the farm to make several interesting and innovated kinds of cheeses."
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ALL SIZE FARMS ARE IMPORTANT
Column written by John Parker, published in the Gazette - January 12, 2011
John Parker is retired from The Ohio State University, serves on a local farm bureau board, and is an independent agricultural writer.

"Farmers in our area and across the country are all in the same boat--and they all need to row together to keep the boat afloat to provide the abundance that we enjoy. Right here in this county we have family farms of all sizes, kinds and types of agriculture. The variety of farms and people who operate them is interesting and they all have reasons for farming the way they do."
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THE NEW YEAR AND FAMILY FARMS
Column written by John Parker, published in the Gazette - January 5, 2011
John Parker is retired from The Ohio State University, serves on a local farm bureau board, and is an independent agricultural writer.

"As we approach the New Year, we all tend to look ahead wondering just what the year will bring. Local farmers are no different. In fact, they may have more questions and concerns than most of us. What kind of weather will we have to get crops in the ground? With higher fertilizer and seed prices, will we get enough for our crops to make a reasonable profit? What price will we get for our milk, improved like it was in 2010 or disastrous prices like '09? What kind of unnecessary governmental regulations will be imposed on us that cost money and make farming more difficult?"
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