Just a few miles outside of East Palestine sits a wheat farm, and starting on Monday, officials from the Ohio Department of Agriculture began testing its soil.
The department is trying to see what type of effect the Feb. 3 train derailment in the village had on the land.
At Lindsay's Pine Hill Jersey Farm in New Waterford, samples were cut and prepared to be shipped off to be analyzed for the presence of specific semi-volatile compounds associated with the train derailment.
We try to cut it at the ground level," said Brian Baldridge, the director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
He says they've looked at the entire area close to East Palestine for testing.
"We have about 30, and that will be anywhere from winter wheat the livestock will be out eating in the fields,” Baldridge said.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine watched how it’s done and says farmers have the right to know if their soil is OK.
“This action is a direct result of the concern expressed by those in the community," he said.
Source: wtov9.com
Photo Credit: istock-pkujiahe
Categories: Ohio, Crops, Wheat