Farmland Preservation Summit set

staff report

COLUMBUS — The 10th annual Ohio Farmland Preservation Summit will take place from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center on the Ohio State University campus.

Citizens, farmers, landowners, local officials, land trusts and other interested parties are invited to attend. Registration for the event closes Oct. 22.

“Planting the Seeds of Future Prosperity” is the theme of the 2009 summit, the largest farmland-preservation gathering in the state. It will feature panels on a variety of topics, including food policy, climate change and land-access barriers. Attendees will receive a welcome address from Ohio State University President Gordon Gee as well as a video message from U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan.

An added feature to this year’s event is an Ohio Proud Farmers’ Market, highlighting products made or grown in Ohio.

Registration forms and a $40 fee, which includes lunch, are due Oct. 22. Forms are available at www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/FarmLand/FarmLand.aspx or by calling (614) 728-6210.

For more information about the 2009 Farmland Preservation Summit, visit www.agri.ohio.gov.