By Tom Dayton
In a recent visit to Walters Gardens, I visited their beautiful display gardens of perennials that were recently released and old favorites.
Then I took a walk through the forbidden display beds of new items not yet finished with the patent process. Photographs are forbidden as anyone could claim the patent for themselves.
According to Dan Herms of Terra Nova Nurseries in Canby, Oregon, to bring a new plant to market might be $40,000 or more which explains the reason for the guard.
On the way back, I visited Jeff Eschoffan of Brian, Ohio that farms nearly 1000 acres of corn, soybeans and winter wheat. The subject came up of the Lake Erie pollution program with state regulations. According to Jeff he thinks the state government is spending too much money too fast.
He now has been doing the state regulation for years, before required, such as soil tests to regulate fertilizer applications, cover crops and filter strips. Jeff does not do much with cover crops as he says he can never “get it right.”
He prefers at least a 1250 foot filter strip along creeks and streams that will intercept fertilizer from getting into the watershed of the Tiffen River and eventually Lake Erie. His cattle operation produces significant manure for which he has under cover.
According to Governor Dewine, the pollution problem will take 10 years or more to solve. According to farmer Jeff, he doesn’t think the problem will ever be solved. Hopefully Jeff is wrong as the stakes are high for the 11 million people of Ohio.