Over the past couple weeks, there have been several calls on how to control pond algae. Some have put in White Amur fish which help control vegetation, but these fish do not like to eat algae. Another option is to aerate the pond which may reduce algae and some will even rake the stuff out. A very common option is to use copper based products such as copper sulfate. When used at the appropriate rate, it is a very safe product. However, now is the time fish are spawning and the fish eggs are very sensitive to copper and applying copper sulfate now will kill the fish eggs. If you wait until June, the spawning season should be over, and applying copper based products at recommended rates will not hurt the young fish.
Uncategorized
OSU/WVU Extension Radio Jan-Feb 2016
OSU/WVU Extension Radio
Catch us on 1170 WWVA, Sunday mornings at 5:00 AM
1/3/2016:
Knowns and Unknowns of Oil and Gas from Landowner Perspective
1/24/2016: Marketing Beef Cattle
2/14/2016: Advantages of Crop Diversity in Pasture Fields
2/21/2016: GMOs: Why They are Created and Labeling
2/28/2016: Bt and its Variable Uses and Agrobacterium
Mole Control
This is the time of year I receive phone calls about moles causing problems. Over the past 27 years, few critters can stir such emotion as these little animals. When I started in Extension 27 years ago, the solution was fairly simple: put down an insecticide, kill the food source, and the moles would move away (maybe to your neighbors) to find a new food source. The problem was that the insecticide would kill all the insects, good and bad. The moles favorite food is grubs, but the most common food is earthworms. The older generation insecticides would kill both. Newer generation lawn insecticides are much safer to the environment and many are insect growth regulators targeted to work on grubs only and leave the earthworms alone.
If you are trying to control moles, these newer insecticides will not encourage moles to move away as well, but they are still very effective in controlling grubs which can damage lawns. So what can we do? When it comes to “home remedies”, the ones I have heard of simply will not work. I have heard of putting chewing gum or laxatives in the holes but we need to keep in mind that moles are carnivores and only feed on insects, so these will not work. I suppose some other remedies that I have heard could work somewhat as they could act as a repellent.
When these remedies are tried and in a period of time, the moles go away; was it the remedy or was it the weather? Right now the weather is warming up and the ground is saturated, so the moles are moving up near the surface. When it gets hot and drier, they will probably move down into the soil and I doubt if we will see much damage. In the fall, it will cool down, the ground will get wet and they will move back up, then when winter sets in, they will go back down deep. My “guess” is that it is probably the weather.
So what can we do? I see two options. First, don’t worry about it and they will go away in a month or so. Or if you do want to do something, there are traps that can be used. If you can find an active runway (the tunnel under the soil) and set the trap in, you should catch moles. Generally, the most active runway is one that goes from the nest to the feeding areas. The nest will usually be around the edge of the lawn, maybe in a grassy meadow or some woods with cover over the soil. In my old lawn, the nest was between the sidewalk and the wood house, where my wife had a flower bed. The runway would go under the sidewalk, then branch off where the moles would feed. If a trap could be set between the nesting area and where the runway branched off for feeding, that would be an excellent location for a trap. Just check it every day, and if you have not caught a mole, consider a new location. In my lawn, it wasn’t the moles that caused the most damage, it was my Golden Retriever trying to catch the mole and was always six inches behind!
Anticipation of Asparagus
This article originally appeared in the March 28, 2016 issue of The Journal-Leader.
Asparagus is one of the first spring vegetables ready to harvest in Ohio. The enticing green stalks begin to pop out of the ground in early April and asparagus lovers start to get excited. Harvest time typically stretches through June. Did you know that a successful patch of asparagus can produce a crop for up to (and beyond) 20 years? However, getting it established can be tricky.
Asparagus is picky about the soil it grows in. It does not tolerate soils that are acidic and it prefers well-drained sites. Planting crowns (which are segments of plant roots and emerging stems) in your garden is quicker and easier than starting asparagus from seed. It is important to give the crowns or seedlings time to establish before harvesting the stalks. One-year old crowns should not be harvested until they have been in the garden bed for at least a year and seedlings need two years. The reason they need this time is that the stalks, which we eat, will grow out into a fern and make energy to send down to the roots. When you harvest the stalks, energy is lost from the roots and if this happens too early the asparagus will not produce in subsequent years.
Asparagus is diecious (which means it has separate male and female plants). After the female plants growing out into a fern they will produce flowers and eventually seeds. Removing the seed stalks from the plant before the seeds form helps save energy in the roots for the next year. Seed production can be avoided by specifically purchasing crowns of only male plants.
After the asparagus has had time to get used to its new home and harvest time comes, pick it when the stalks are about the length of your hand (7-9 in). You can snap the stalks off at the soil, or to avoid cutting the tough part of the stalk off later, leave an inch or two sticking out. Harvest every week or two until 75% of the stalks are about the circumference of a pencil. To store fresh asparagus, place the ends upright in a shallow tray of water to keep them sweet and tender (if you buy fresh asparagus at a market, look for bunches that have been stored this way to get the best taste and texture). Once the harvest period has passed, let the remaining stalks grow out into ferns again to store energy for next year.
If you’re not a fan of asparagus (like me), maybe it is time to give it another try. The spring issue of OSU Extension’s Chop Chop Magazine features a recipe for Cheesy Roasted Asparagus that I plan to make with dinner sometime this month:
Ingredients: 1 bunch of fresh asparagus, 2 tbs. olive oil, ¼ tsp. salt, ½ cup grated parmesan cheese, and ½ of a lemon
Directions: Preheat oven to 450°F. Spread asparagus on a baking sheet, drizzle with oil, sprinkle with salt, coating the asparagus. Roast in the oven for 5-10 minutes, until bright green. Sprinkle asparagus evenly with cheese and return to the oven until the cheese melts and turns golden (about 2 min). Remove from the oven, squeeze the lemon juice over the roasted asparagus, and serve.
Happy Tasting!
Have You Checked into Raising Chicks?
This article originally appeared in the March 21, 2016 edition of The Journal Leader.
Easter is right around the corner and in the past couple weeks, I have seen multiple advertisements with chicks for sale. Often people will purchase chicks as temporary pets to entertain children as a part of celebrating Easter, but before long, these adorable little balls of fluff begin to hit puberty and turn into ragamuffin teenage birds. At this point they often lose their appeal and those who bought these cuties begin looking for a way out of keeping them.
“If only more buyers would be investors!” I have thought to myself. Raising an animal is a great way to teach a child responsibility and get a return on your investment (eggs or meat). Of all the types of livestock to undertake as a starter project, poultry is one of the easiest. In addition, the initial investments and maintenance costs are low compared to those for larger types of livestock. From my point of view, one of the most appealing aspects of raising poultry is that you can have a marketable product very quickly. Market broiler chicks can reach ready to eat weight in 5-6 weeks. At 20-24 weeks roosters reach maturity and hens begin laying eggs. You can even have a market ready turkey at 22 weeks.
If you find yourself considering purchasing chicks, here is some important information to be aware of before you buy:
- You will need to check local ordinances, zoning laws, and property association rules to make sure raising and keeping poultry is permitted in your area.
- Check if you are buying market birds or layers. Also check if they have been sexed (gender identified) or not. Birds sold in a straight run have not been sexed and your ratio of males to females is luck of the draw.
- Baby chicks need to be kept warm and dry. Without a mother hen, you will need to supply a safe, warm, and confined area to keep the chicks for the first few weeks. This area should include clean bedding, access to clean water and feed, and a heating lamp.
- Some of your chicks may die. There are many reasons why you may lose a percentage of your chicks (in these conditions, 20% is common). When mortality occurs, remove and dispose of the bird immediately and ensure that everything within the chicks’ environment is clean.
- As the birds mature they will need different types of feed (starter feed, then grower feed, then layer feed) and additional space. There are many systems you can use to house the birds depending on your preferences. Research these systems and construct a plan before you buy your birds.
These are just a few important tips. Call, click, or stop by the Noble County Extension Office if you are interested in starting poultry. There is a wealth of information available on this subject and I would be happy to help you find it.
If you are curious about what types of poultry are available and/or are interested in buying, try contacting Meyer Hatchery of Polk, OH (www.meyerhatchery.com) or Mt. Healthy Hatchery (www.mthealthy.com) of Cincinnati, OH. Both hatcheries are reputable suppliers, locally owned and operated, and offer a wide selection of birds for purchase.
The New Kid on the Block
This article originally appeared in the March 14, 2016 edition of The Journal-Leader.
Salutations! My name is Christine Gelley. I am the new Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator for Noble County. I am a native of Ashland County, Ohio and a graduate of The Ohio State University. For the past couple years I called Knoxville, TN “home” while attending the University of Tennessee for graduate school. My husband, daughter, and I are delighted to be back in the Buckeye State and excited to join the Noble County community.
Why did I join Extension? Well, Extension workers have a creed that can answer that very question and I whole heartedly believe in these statements originally prepared by W.A. Lloyd in 1922:
Extension Workers Creed
I BELIEVE in people and their hopes, their aspirations, and their faith; in their right to make their own plans and arrive at their own decisions; in their ability and power to enlarge their lives and plan for the happiness of those they love.
I BELIEVE that education, of which Extension is an essential part, is basic in stimulating individual initiative, self-determination, and leadership; that these are the keys to democracy and that people, when given facts they understand, will act not only in their self-interest but also in the interest of society.
I BELIEVE that education is a lifelong process and the greatest university is the home; that my success as a teacher is proportional to those qualities of mind and spirit that give me welcome entrance to the homes of families I serve.
I BELIEVE in intellectual freedom to search for and present the truth without bias and with courteous tolerance toward the views of others.
I BELIEVE that Extension is a link between the people and the ever-changing discoveries in the laboratories.
I BELIEVE in the public institutions of which I am a part.
I BELIEVE in my own work and in the opportunity I have to make my life useful to humanity.
Because I BELIEVE these things, I am an extension professional.
I am looking forward to assisting in your quests for information about topics in agriculture and natural resources! Look for me out in the community or at the extension office.
Call, click, or stop by. I will be happy to chat with you about plant and animal agricultural systems, gardening, insects, weeds, and more.
Noble County Extension Office
46049 Marietta Rd. Suite 2
Caldwell, OH 43724
Office Phone: (740) 732-5681
Email: gelley.2@osu.edu
Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalists – Hocking County
The Hocking County chapter of the Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalists will be holding training classes for certification in 2016. Information on costs and how to apply are at the end of the post.
Here is the class schedule/topic list:
Hocking Hills Region
Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist (OCVN)
Class Schedule for 2016
DATE TIME SUBJECT LOCATION
Apr 23 9A-1PM Geology Laurelville Public Library
Paul Knoop
Apr 26 530-930PM Mammals Bishop Education Center
Rebecca Miller
Apr 30 7-11AM Ornithology Waterloo Wildlife Station
Heike Perko
May 3 530-930PM Botany Crane Hollow
Joe Moosbrugger
May 7 9A-1PM Forest Ecology Christmas Rocks SNP
Jim Osborn
May 10 530-930PM Entomology Old Man’s Cave
Pat Quackenbush
May 14 9A-1PM Soil/Plant Ecology Gilmore Home Albany
Gordon and Wanda Gilmore
May 17 530-930PM Herpetology Clear Creak Metropark
Marcey Shafer and Jamie Kidwell
May 21 9A-1PM Archaeology Hopewell Culture Natl Hist Park
Bret Ruby
May 24 530-930PM Interpretive Techniques Boch Hollow SNP
Jeff Johnson
May 28 9A-1PM Aquatic Biology Clear Creak Metropark
Tommy Springer
HERE is the link if you are interested in taking the classes. Class size is limited so contact us as soon as you are able.
NOV/DEC 2015 OSU/WVU Extension Radio
OSU/WVU Extension Radio
Catch us on 1170 WWVA, Sunday mornings at 5:00 AM
11/1/2015: Animal Handling
11/8/2015: Light Quality, Light Intensity, and Light Duration
11/29/2015: Composting and Winter Livestock Feeding
12/06/2015: Kissing Bugs and Other Assassin Bugs
12/13/2015: Types of Christmas Trees and Their Characteristics
12/20/2015: Firewood Laws and Emerald Ash Borer Damage
12/27/2015: Timber Harvesting
SEP/OCT 2015 OSU/WVU Extension Radio
Catch us on 1170 WWVA, Sunday mornings at 5:00 AM
9/6/2015: Belmont/Ohio County Fair Updates and Fair Biosecurity
9/13/2015: Lawn Care and Herbicide Use
9/27/2015: Forage Management and Forage Quality Terminology
10/18/2015: Stink Bug (Indoors) and Winterizing Roses
AUG 2015 OSU/WVU Extension Radio
Catch us on 1170 WWVA, Sunday mornings at 5:00 AM
8/2/2015: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
8/16/2015: Plant Stress and disease in Cucurbits and Local Produce
8/23/2015: Nutrient Management
*Urea is 46% N not 16% (Mistake in above program)
8/30/2015: Hay Making during the AUG Drought