COLUMBUS — Ohio’s farmers and rural communities will benefit from reforms to the state’s farmland tax policy, culminating a three-year effort led by Ohio Farm Bureau. The reforms were included in the new state budget signed by Gov. John Kasich.

Chandler King (from left), 2, Hayden Lane, 6, and Corbin Lane, 4, check out a goat at a petting zoo last Tuesday during an event put on by the Upper Sandusky Community Library as part of its summer reading program.

The Upper Sandusky team of Alec Ogg (from left), Monte Boes, Katelyn Lewis, Rachael Herring and Niki Young won the top rookie team award and placed fourth overall in the state envirothon competition. The adviser for the team was Upper Sandusky High School agricultural education teacher Anna Creswell.

In order to comply with FSA program eligibility requirements, all producers are encouraged to visit the Wyandot County FSA office to file an accurate crop certification report by the applicable deadline. The following acreage reporting dates are applicable for Wyandot County for 2017 crops: July 5, final day to report prevented planted soybean; July 15, final day to report all corn, grain sorghum, spring oats, popcorn, potatoes, soybeans, tomatoes and all other crops.

Three students from the Upper Sandusky FFA traveled on an eight-day trip to Honduras to learn about the Honduran culture and to help teach vocational students about agriculture.

Carey High School graduate Carley Coppler recently made history for Carey FFA being elected to serve as an Ohio FFA state officer. Coppler is the first Carey FFA member to be elected to serve as one of the 11 state officers.

REYNOLDSBURG — A team representing the Wynford FFA chapter recently took second place at the 2017 Ohio Envirothon competition June 12-13 at Ohio Christian University. The team of Luke Scott, Aaron Hand, Ethan Stuckey, Annika Gerlach, Kymber Sand and Kathy Bash competed against 19 other teams after winning the Area 1 Envirothon Contest in May.

Corn along CH 95 south of Kirby soaks in the morning sunlight. Despite an abundance of rain and flooding during a large part of planting season in May, farmers are beginning to see corn crops grow to noticeable size in Wyandot County.

REYNOLDSBURG — The Ohio Department of Agriculture will begin aerial treatments designed to disrupt gypsy moth mating on 8,380 acres in Wyandot and surrounding counties. To help protect Ohio’s diverse habitat, the Ohio Department of Agriculture operates multiple programs aimed at managing the gypsy moth in Ohio.

The nomination period for local Farm Service Agency county committees begins Thursday. It is important for county committees to reflect America's diversity, all eligible farmers and producers, including beginning farmers are encouraged to get involved in this year's elections.