Good evening,
I hope this email finds you somewhere where it is warm. Weather like this reminds me of when I was younger and I ventured out to the barn each evening to do chores when it was extremely cold. The tasks were not normal like any other day, as nothing seemed to work right. Water tanks had ice to break and hoses needed to be properly drained to prevent freezing. The livestock seemed to endure the cold, but appreciated the extra bedding and someone to feed and water them. Times like these make you appreciate the livestock producers who are out taking care of their animals, making sure everything is okay in the barn.
Although the weather is cold outside, events are still happening. This weekend is the 44th annual Power Show Ohio, going through Sunday at the state fairgrounds in Columbus. Over 500 companies will exhibit agricultural equipment, construction equipment, and outdoor power equipment. There will also be educational seminars, cooking demonstrations and a kiddie tractor pull. If you are interested in getting out to this show, more information can be found at www.PowerShowOhio.com.
A Farmland Leasing Workshop will take place from 1:00 – 4:00 pm at the Hancock County Agricultural Services Building, 7868 CR 140, Findlay, OH. Trends in land cost & rental rates; land leasing options: fixed & flexible cash leases; factors affecting leasing options and rates; evaluating cash rent survey data; legal issues in farmland leasing; analyzing good and bad leasing practices; developing a written lease for your farm. Cost of the workshop is $15 to cover handouts and speakers. Pre-registration required by February 9 by calling the Hancock County Extension Office, 419-422-3851 or email lentz@osu.edu. Fee is payable at the door.
Locally, the second Conservation Tillage Club breakfast program will happen Tuesday morning, January 28 at 7:30 am. Join us for a complimentary breakfast at the Plaza Inn in Mt. Victory, thanks to our sponsors. CCA Integrated Pest Management credits will be offered as Harold Watters, OSU Extension Agronomic Field Specialist will be speaking on weed control strategies. Besides discussing the county weed survey, Harold will also present information about Palmer amaranth and other resistant weeds. In addition, he will discuss how to manage weeds in crops using multiple modes of action. Members of the Ridgemont FFA Chapter will distribute dust masks and educational materials
There will be Master Gardener training at Harco Industries on both January 30 at 7:00 pm and February 1 at 3:00 pm to instruct Master Gardener volunteers about how to use the online Volunteer Management System and the new Hardin County Master Gardener Facebook page which is planned to go active soon. The Hardin County Fairboard will have its monthly meeting Saturday, February 1 starting at 7:30 pm in the fair office. Stay warm and see the articles below for information that may be of use to you.
Mark
Fall Weed Survey: We Still Have a Problem – Almost every year since 2006, the OSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resource county-based educators have been conducting fall soybean weed surveys. Our concern is that resistant weeds may be increasing and we want to be a little ahead of the curve so we can tell you our readers. This year, 105 soybean fields were a part of the Hardin County Weed Survey. To find out more about this survey and how our county compares to other Ohio counties in regard to weed control, read the article at http://ocj.com/2014/01/fall-weed-survey-we-still-have-a-problem.
‘Healthy soil, we know one when we see one’ – Dwayne Beck, Shaun Casteel, and Emerson Nafziger headline CTC, March 4-5.
The annual Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference is taking shape with over 60 speakers. The event will be held at Ohio Northern University in Ada. Full program information can be found at www.ctc.osu.edu and fliers are available in county Extension offices. Previous recipients have been email or mailed information about this conference which attracted over 900 participants this past year. Read the attached article for more information about the upcoming program.
Conservation Tillage Conference
Starlings! – Stan Smith, PA, Fairfield County, OSU Extension
With the prolonged spell of cold plus snow cover across Ohio, starlings and similar pests are once again a problem on livestock farms. Nuisance birds are particularly troublesome on farms which have exposed feed in feeders and bunks that these pests can easily get to. Not only can these birds carry and transmit disease but they consume expensive feed. As Steve Boyles described in this publication last year, an average starling weighing 85 g can consume over 2 pounds of feed in a 30-day period. Commonly seeing 1000 or more starlings at a feed bunk in the kind of weather we are experiencing, that’s more than a ton of feed lost to birds in only a month’s time! To continue reading this and other beef articles, go to http://beef.osu.edu/beef/beefJan2214.html.
Cover Crops and Soil Health Forum – Alan Sundermeier, OSU Extension Educator from Wood County.
Local farmers are invited to attend a free, live broadcast of the National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health and discuss how to build soil health, improve yields, curb erosion, manage pests and build resilience in their farming system. On Feb. 18, locations in every state across the country will host Cover Crops and Soil Health Forums where farmers will have the opportunity to learn from one another while exploring local and national perspectives on cover crops. The Northwest Ohio location will be starting at 9:00 am to 12:30 pm at the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office at 7868 County Road 140, Findlay, Ohio. For more information on this forum, read the attached article. Alan Sundermeier, OSU Extension Educator from Wood County.
Cover crop forum
2013 Soybean Product Evaluation Trials Available Online – Laura Lindsey, J D Bethel
The purpose of the Ohio Soybean Product Evaluation Trials is to evaluate soybean products for stand and yield. This evaluation gives soybean producers comparative information for selecting soybean products for their unique production systems. During 2013, the soybean agronomy team evaluated 12 soybean seed treatments and two foliar products at six Ohio locations. Products included inoculant, fertilizer, growth regulators, insecticides, and fungicides. All entries were submitted voluntarily by companies. Application protocol and product rate were provided by the company. Companies designated their product to be applied to treated or untreated seed. To continue reading this article and see the report, go to http://corn.osu.edu/newsletters/2014/2014-02/2013-product-evaluation-trials-available-online.
Mark A. Badertscher
Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator
OSU Extension Hardin County
1021 W. Lima Street, Suite 103, Kenton, OH 43326
419-674-2297 Office