Photo Cutline: 2008 Ohio Ag Day

Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Robert Boggs, along with local farmers and community officials, celebrated Ohio Agriculture Day on March 20 and recognized a forward-thinking local farmer and industry leader. Ralph Dull received the department’s Ambassador of Ohio Agriculture award for his innovative and sustainable agricultural initiatives. The farm, located in Montgomery County, is a prime example of how one operation can combine many elements – large livestock farming, renewable energy, preservation, and enterprise diversification – into an exemplary sustainable venture. Ohio Agriculture Day is celebrated each March to help educate Ohioans about the industry and its importance. In Ohio, the food and agriculture sectors comprise the state’s No. 1 industry, adding more than $93 billion to the economy each year. The industry provides Ohioans with food, shelter, clothing, fuel, energy and jobs – a noteworthy contribution to recognize during National Agriculture Week.

Photo Cutline: Israeli Delegates Visit Ohio Department of Agriculture

Israeli delegates, Moshe Goren and Yakov Poleg, met with Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Robert Boggs to discuss potential opportunities for agricultural trade between Ohio and Israel. Goren is the Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Extension Service. Poleg is the Agricultural and Science Attaché for the Israeli Embassy. (L to R: Poleg, Goren, Dr. Sarah Horowitz with The Negev Foundation, Boggs)

The visit was sponsored by the Cleveland-based Ohio-Israel Agricultural Initiative of the Negev Foundation (www.negev.org). This foundation is dedicated to improving agricultural trade and research and development ties between Ohio and Israel by working with government, academic, and business entities and growers in both regions.

12/07

Photo Cutlines: Operation Evergreen

Photo 1: As part of Operation Evergreen, Ohio Department of Agriculture nursery inspectors examined more than 300 Christmas trees to ensure they were free of pests and diseases before they were shipped to troops across seas. The trees were donated by Ohio Christmas tree growers.

Photo 2: In addition to Christmas trees donated by Ohio growers, local school children, churches, and veteran’s groups donated decorations so each military unit received everything needed for the holidays.

Photo 3: Operation Evergreen collected, packed and shipped live, Ohio-grown Christmas trees to soldiers serving in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan. The annual event was organized by the Ohio Christmas Tree Association and hosted by the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Photo Cutline:  POET Groundbreaking

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (May 18, 2007) – Ohio Agriculture Director Robert J. Boggs (fourth from left) participated in a groundbreaking ceremony near Marion on May 16 for POET Biorefining’s second Ohio ethanol production facility. When construction is completed in approximately one year, the facility will produce 65 million gallons of ethanol annually from 21 million bushels of Ohio corn.