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MARION, Ohio – Did you know that Oreo cookies are made from wheat grown in Ohio? Did you know that Ohio wheat is generally not used for bread?

It may seem trivial but these are facts that many people don’t know. And it’s more of a reason to educate the public about where their food comes from. That’s where the Ohio Small Grains Marketing Program (OSGMP) comes in. In addition to public education, the new OSGMP committee hopes to further research and develop domestic and international markets for Ohio wheat, barley, oats and rye.

OSGMP is a new small grains checkoff program that was started by the Ohio Wheat Growers Association, passed through the Ohio legislature and signed into law by Gov. Ted Strickland in December of 2007.

“For instance there is a demand for white wheat,” said Chairman Brad Haas. “We have a problem growing it in the Midwest. Some of this research money could go towards identifying varieties for the user.”

Beginning October 1 of this year a half percent of the net market value of those small grains will go towards a fund that will ultimately help small grains growers in Ohio. The funds will be collected at elevators, terminals, processors, millers or by truckers.

The new OSGMP board is made up of nine small grain growers. Board members include Chairman Brad Haas (Wood County), Vice Chairman Doug Goyings (Paulding County), Secretary Bryan Bush (Morrow County), Treasurer Phil Bischoff (Huron County), Mark Wachtman (Henry County), Jerry Murphy (Wyandot County), Gene Tapalman (Preble County), Eugene Homan (Mercer County) and John Hoffman (Pickaway County).

For more information, contact the Ohio Small Grains Marketing Program at P.O. Box 1106, Marion, OH 43301-1106. Or call 740-382-0483 or 740-223-7979.