Good afternoon,
This week has been extremely busy, with several programs for producers to participate. Monday we had a Sheep & Goat Webinar focusing on diseases. Dr. Eric Gordon, Associate Professor, Ohio State Veterinary Clinical Medicine discussed “Tips for Managing Major Sheep and Goat Diseases: OPP, CAE, Caseous Lymphadenitis, Johnes, Scrapie and Cache Valley Virus.” Tuesday morning we had the fruit and vegetable produce safety Good Agricultural Practices program at the Scioto Valley Produce Auction with 88 participants including both Amish and English growers. Guidelines were presented to instruct produce growers how to ensure a safe food product for auction, farmer’s market, or roadside produce stand.
Tuesday evening was the second session of the Ohio Beef School with Kim Stackhouse-Lawson, PhD, Director of Sustainability Research for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association who addressed “Sustainable Beef Production.” She highlighted how beef industry has used funding from the Beef Check-off Program to document the economic, environmental and social impacts from the beef industry and is identifying practical ways to improve the sustainability of beef and remain on the path of continuous improvement over time. In Ohio, water quality concerns have led to new legislation regarding nutrient management in agriculture. Kevin Elder, Chief of the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Division of Livestock Environmental Permitting, covered “Manure Management and Fertilizer Application Issues for Beef Producers.”
Sheep and Goat producers might be interested to know that this coming week’s webinar program is Monday, February 16 at 7:00 pm. Dr. Bill Weiss, Ohio State Animal Sciences will share “Tips for Reducing Feed Losses From Silage and Hay.” Check out the attached flyer for more information on this series. Sheep producers should also be aware that both applications for Lamb and Wool Queen, as well as the Sheep Improvement Association’s $500 scholarship are both due February 20. See the attached news release and applications for more information.
Lamb Queen Scholarship News Release
This week we also had another planning meeting for the Conservation Tillage Conference which will be held in Ada at Ohio Northern University on March 3 and 4. See the attached news article and brochure for more detailed information. There is an early bird registration deadline of February 21 which will save you some money if you are making plans to attend this conference which is one of the top agronomic crops conferences in our part of the state.
Tuesday, February 17 will be the final Conservation Tillage Club breakfast series meeting at the Plaza Inn Restaurant in Mt. Victory. Join us at 7:30 am for a dual presentation on Water Quality by Cheryl Rice, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Urban Conservationist from Lucas County. With the algae bloom in Lake Erie this summer, this issue has been on the forefront of the public and government agenda. Rice will be joined by Greg LaBarge, Agronomic Systems Field Specialist, Ohio State University Extension for a discussion on Best Management Practices in Nutrient Management and how the Ohio Agricultural Nutrients Law requirements will assist farmers in being proactive with use of fertilizer to increase crop yields, while at the same time keeping the nutrients in the field to protect the environment.
Later on Tuesday (2/17) evening, there will be an agronomy webinar program concentrating on Corn Production. It will start at 7:00 pm and end at 8:30 pm. ‘Corn Interaction with Today’s Production Management Systems’ will be the topic of the presentation. It will be taught by Dr. Peter Thomison, Extension Specialist-Corn Production, OSUE. ‘What is the latest research on Ear Molds and Mycotoxins?’ will also be presented by Dr. Pierce Paul, Extension Specialist-Corn and Small Grain Plant Pathology, OSUE.
The Kenton-OHP FFA Chapter will be hosting their Annual Agricultural Community Breakfast on Wednesday, February 18 from 7:00-9:00 am in the Kenton High School Cafeteria. All supporters of the Kenton-OHP are welcome to attend for a complimentary breakfast! They look forward to seeing many of you there!
Well that’s it for now. I need to get to a meeting on tax issues and water quality. Have a good remainder of the week and I hope to see you at some of these upcoming events.
Mark
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