Ohio Department of Agriculture

The mission of the Ohio Department of Agriculture is to provide regulatory protection to producers, agribusinesses, and the consuming public; to promote Ohio agricultural products in domestic and international markets; and to educate citizens of Ohio about our agricultural industry.

Ohio agriculture is a strong industry. In addition to its many social and environmental benefits, agriculture is a key to Ohio’s economic success. The raw materials produced on Ohio’s nearly 77,000 family farms are the basis for the state’s more than 1,000 food processing businesses and other manufacturers, including Bob Evans, Dannon, and Smuckers. Because of agriculture’s major role in manufacturing and other sectors, one in seven Ohio residents have a job dependent on farming. The farm-to-table sector adds $79.5 billion to Ohio’s economy annually.

From the great lakes to the Ohio River, Ohio is a diverse agricultural region that produces more than 200 crops. Ohio leads the U.S. in the production of Swiss cheese and is second in the production of eggs. In addition, Ohio is a top producer of corn and soybeans, is the largest sheep producing state east of the Mississippi River, and has the third largest number of sheep farms in the country. Ohio is also a producer of award-winning wines and is known for its hardwood industry.

Ohio Department of Agriculture fosters this success by supporting responsible players in the industry and protecting the consumers of agricultural products. This is accomplished for the most part by enforcing state laws in such areas as food safety, dairy, meat inspection, animal health, weights and measures, amusement ride safety, livestock environmental permitting, grain handling, plant health, and pesticide use. The department also houses the state’s top food safety laboratory and nationally-accredited Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, which includes a Bio-Safety Level 3 Lab. As a primarily regulatory agency safeguarding the health and welfare of Ohio residents, the department works to assure that rules are clear, fair and properly enforced so that agricultural law is also not an impediment to responsible economic development.

In addition to its regulatory function, the department also preserves the industry through preservation programs and promotional activities. Over the past five years, more than 20,000 acres of land have been preserved through three farmland preservation programs administered by the department. The agency’s promotional activity helps build marketing opportunities at home and abroad for Ohio farmers, food processors, and other agricultural product manufacturers.

http://www.ers.usda.gov/StateFacts/OH.HTM 

http://www.ohioproud.org

http://www.ohioagriculture.gov/