As winter quickly approaches and more Ohioans look to firewood to help heat their homes. The Ohio Department of Agriculture has strict regulations regarding the sale of firewood. Farmers who sell firewood should make themselves aware of the following instructions offered to consumers by ODA. According to a recent release from the agency, "David Daniels, director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, is asking Ohioans to be aware of some basic tips to help when purchasing wood."

Here are the rules and regulations the department is recommending to consumers prior to purchasing firewood:

•Non-packaged firewood must be sold by the cord or by fractions of a cord. One cord, when properly stacked, should be 8 feet long by 4 feet high and 4 feet wide (128 cubic feet).

•If sold in bulk, firewood must be purchased by the weight in ton measurements. This must be weighed on a certified scale.

•It is illegal to sell firewood by any other unit of measurement such as a rick, rack, face cord or truckload. If a consumer believes that a seller did not comply with these rules and regulations, the person should immediately contact the seller.

•If non-packaged firewood is purchased, the seller must present the consumer with a delivery ticket or sales invoice that includes contact information and the terms and conditions of the sale.

•If firewood is advertised and sold as "seasoned," it must have a moisture content of less than 50%. "Unseasoned" wood will only produce two-thirds of the heat of "seasoned" wood.

•If the firewood is advertised and sold as a certain type of wood, the load must contain at least 90% of that species.