Category: Farm Business

Greenhouse Reinforcement

The biggest problem I’ve seen with the cheap metal frame / plastic covering high tunnel greenhouses is that water will pool up on the top, and the weight of the water will collapse the whole thing.

I’ve seen a few different approaches to preventing the plastic from forming a dish and holding gallons of water. We opted for a simpler route that has, thus far, proven effective. We bought three EMT tubes — metal tubes — to create a firmer ridge-line in the greenhouse. I had 1/2″ CPVC tubing from the low tunnel greenhouse. From being held in an arch over several seasons, it was permanently bent. We cut those tubes in half, and placed them above the ridge line tubes. The ends were then pulled under the next set of horizontal bars of the greenhouse frame. This holds them in place firmly. They prevent water from pooling — the last section of the greenhouse still does pool, so I will eventually add something else in that section. It is, however, a small enough weight that the greenhouse frame can support it.

Notes for Ohio Land Leases

OSU provides a summary of different requirements based on the term of the lease:
  • Up to 1 year –  Verbal can be enforceable
  • 1-2 years – Must be in writing and signed by both parties
  • 2-3 years- Must be in writing, signed by both parties, notarized,  and recorded in the county where the land is located
  • 3 years or more- Must be in writing, signed by both parties before two witnesses, notarized, and recorded in the county where the land is located

Legal references:

O.R.C. § 5301.08 creates an exemption for land leases under 3 years from notarization and recording requirements in O.R.C. § 5301.01

Ohio CAUV Notes

Land used exclusively for commercial agriculture can be valued, for property tax purposes, based on the gross proceeds from the agricultural use. To qualify, you need to have used the land for agricultural purposes for three years producing an average gross income of at least $2,500 (or, if you have 10+ acres, there is no income requirement).

Once you qualify, file DTE Form 109 with the county auditor. You need to re-assert the commercial agricultural use each year to continue CAUV status. If the land ceases to be used for agriculture, three years of “makeup taxes” are owed — however much you would have been taxed minus the amount actually paid.

Ohio Nursery Licensing

Anyone growing plants for sale in Ohio needs to have their plants inspected for pests — the idea is similar to not moving firewood to prevent the spread of insects … if you are going to be sending plants elsewhere, it is a good idea to ensure you are not also exporting ecosystem destroying bugs!

Relevant definitions are found in ORC 927.51— including what constitutes ‘nursery stock’ — and ORC 927.55 lists exceptions where a license/inspection is not required. It appears that you do not need a license to sell plants that cannot overwinter in Ohio (I see the logic there — if a bug or disease impacts PlantX and PlantX is only going to last a few months … we probably don’t need to worry about rampant spread of that bug or disease) or plants in bloom (that’s an odd exception — but explains how the folks I see selling chrysanthemums in the Autumn do so without a license). While there is a dealer license, that is for resellers and nurseries do not appear to need a dealer license. A nursery, instead, can get a license for additional sales locations.

The nursery license is about $100 a year (plus $11 per acre of production space), and you can apply for a permit online at https://www.apps.agri.ohio.gov/NILS

There is an annual inspection of the growing facility and plants — presuming the inspection doesn’t identify any serious pest or disease infestations, a certificate is issued. The certificate must be displayed in the nursery.

If selling plants for resale (wholesale or resale), then a copy of the certificate must be included on each box/package sent out. If you plan to ship plants outside of Ohio, other states may require a phytosanitary certificate from the Ohio Department of Agriculture. If you plan to ship outside of the United States, there’s an additional federal phytosanitary certificate process through the US Department of Agriculture.