Good morning,
Today there is an OSU Extension Nutrient Management Plan Writer available to assist farmers in developing free Nutrient Management Plans in the Western Lake Erie Basin of Ohio here at the Hardin County Extension office. Plans provide both fertility recommendations and an environmental site risk for fields that help identify resource concerns impacting nutrient and sediment loss. The plan writer has an open schedule for today, so feel free to stop by the office. Please arrive by 2:00 pm to get work started on your nutrient management plan. Contact Jessie Schulze at 419-782-4771 or schulze.72@osu.edu to schedule an appointment for the March 30 session if you haven’t already set up an appointment. See the attached flyer and form to see what you need to bring to an appointment and how you can benefit from this service free of charge. They will accept all farmers on a first come, first served basis, per day in the AM (9-12) and PM (12-3).
Ohio State University Extension announces two agronomy webinars available to producers, Certified Crop Advisors and industry offered in February 2017. The Corn, Soybean and Wheat Connection series is scheduled for broadcast across Ohio on both February 21 and 28. These webinars will focus on issues and updates in grain crop production. Each webinar will begin at 7:00 p.m. and can be viewed from your home or office computer with an internet connection. The February 21 webinar topic will be improving soil health and utilizing cover crops by Dr. Steve Culman and Dr. Ryan Haden, both from Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster. The webinar on February 28 will give producers management strategies to increase soybean yield and provide updates on insect trends from 2016. This session will be taught by Dr. Laura Lindsey, State Soybean & Small Grains Specialist, OSU Extension and Dr. Kelley Tilmon, State Field Crops Entomology Specialist, OSU Extension. See the attached flyer and news release for information about how to view these webinars.
CSW Connection 2017 News Release
There will be a Planter University February 28 from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at Beck’s Hybrids, 720 US 40, London, Ohio. Hear from experts sharing practical information on the latest setups and technologies to ensure peak performance of your planter. If you are interested in attending this workshop held adjacent to the Farm Science Review site, make sure you register by February 20. See the attached brochure for more information and registration fees. Liberty National Bank will be holding a Farmers Breakfast again this year at the Plaza Inn Restaurant on February 28 as well. This breakfast starts at 7:30 am and will feature Ohio Department of Agriculture Director David Daniels who will be speaking on ‘Nutrient Management of Lake Erie.’ Contact Liberty National Bank by February 17 by calling 419-634-5015 or email HCox@myLiberty.bank to RSVP. See the attached flyer for more information about this event.
Planter University Registration Brochure
The Hardin County Sheep Improvement Association will hold their annual Lamb Banquet on Saturday, March 4 at St. John’s Evangelical Church in Kenton at 6:30 pm. Tickets for the banquet can be obtained from the Extension office at 1021 W. Lima Street, Suite 103, Kenton. Adult tickets are $15, Children $7, and 2016 Hardin County Junior Fair Sheep Exhibitors FREE with a reservation given at 419-674-2297 by February 24. Banquet guests are asked to arrive early to participate in the silent auction bidding for various items that were donated to provide funds for the scholarship program. Tickets can be purchased until February 24 from the following county Sheep Improvement Association Directors: Dave Ramsey, Megan Burgess, Scott Elliott, Cory Wagner, Dave Burkhart, Kristie Fay, Max Garmon, Don Haudenschield, Kenny Williams, Jeff Bowers, Bruce Oberlitner, Peter Previte, or Russell Senning. Tickets can also be purchased from Madelyn Lowery. The banquet entertainment will consist of dinner music provided by the band ‘In a Jam’. A dinner will be prepared with various cuts of lamb for the banquet guests to enjoy. See the attached news release for more information about the Lamb Banquet, scholarship, and queen application procedure.
A training course for new Master Gardener Volunteers will be held at OSU Lima Campus March 7-April 25. The classes will meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:00-9:00 pm and will prepare local gardeners for volunteering as OSU Extension Master Gardeners. See the attached news article for more information about how to sign up for this opportunity to help others with research based horticulture knowledge. Other local events this week include Tractor Safety and Machinery Operation for Youth – Session 2 Wednesday (2/15) from 6:00-9:00 pm at the Extension office, Soil and Water Conservation District meeting Thursday (2/16) starting at 7:30 am at the SWCD office, Allen County Ag Outlook program (call 419-222-6045 to RSVP) Thursday, (2/16) starting at 7:30 am at the Old Barn Out Back in Lima, and the New & Small Farm College – Session 5 Thursday (2/16) at OSU Lima campus from 6:00-9:00 pm. See articles below for further reading.
New Master Gardener Volunteer Course News Release
Mark
Handy Bt Trait Table for U.S. corn production updated for 2017 – Kelley Tilmon, Andy Michel
Most corn hybrids planted in the U.S. contain one or more transgenic traits for weed or insect management. There are many different available traits, which can sometimes cause confusion about a hybrid’s spectrum of control or refuge requirements. The Handy Bt Trait Table provides a helpful list of trait names and details of trait packages to make it easier to select and understand products and their refuge requirements, and read company seed guides, sales materials, and bag tags. To read more and see a full-sized view of this Bt table, go to http://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2017-3/handy-bt-trait-table-us-corn-production-updated-2017.
Winter Application of Manure – Glen Arnold, Kevin Elder
Given the warmer than normal winter and large amounts of rainfall received in areas, some livestock producers will be looking to apply manure in February when farm fields are frozen enough to support application equipment. Permitted farms are not allowed to apply manure in the winter unless it is an extreme emergency, and then movement to other suitable storage is usually the selected alternative. This article is for medium and small livestock operations. In the Grand Lake St Marys watershed, the winter manure application ban from December 15th to March 1st is still in effect. Thus, no manure application would normally be allowed in February. In the western Lake Erie basin watershed, the application of manure to frozen and snow covered soils require there to be a growing crop in the field. This could be a pasture, alfalfa, clover, ryegrass or rape crop. There must be enough vegetation visible to provide 90% cover of residue and growing vegetation, Radishes and oats would not qualify as a growing crop as both are typically winterkilled. Go to http://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2017-3/winter-application-manure to read more about winter manure application rules.
February 28th Precision Planting Event – Register Now! – Mary Griffith
OSU Extension will host a Planter University on February 28th, 2017 at Beck’s Hybrids in London, Ohio. This event will focus on utilizing precision planting technology to optimize yield through controlled planting and data management to promote profitable decision-making. Topics include UAVs to support planting decisions, managing compaction, data utilization to improve planter management, the future of planting technology, a panel discussion with industry experts, and more. CCA credits are available. For more information, and to register, click https://fabe.osu.edu/programs/precision-ag/technology/planter-university.
Take the Next Step: Conservation Tillage Conference – Mark Badertscher
So you think you are ready to make an effort to improve soil health? Wondering how to produce corn in the most profitable and environmentally safe way? Do you want to know how to fit cover crops into your operation? Maybe you are looking for ways to apply manure to make the most efficient use of your nutrients. Ready to find a way to make better use of the technology integrated into your tractor, combine, planter, or sprayer? Will the new herbicide management programs give that bump in soybean yield you’ve been looking for? Are you ready test your ideas with on-farm research, develop a nutrient management plan, or make that move to a no-till system? Find out more about the Conservation Tillage Conference (CTC) at http://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2017-3/take-next-step-conservation-tillage-conference.
Options for Managing Mud in Pastures This Winter – Chris Penrose
Most forage livestock producers do not mind the cold temperatures in the winter, nor do most mind some snow. One thing we do mind is the mild, wet weather we have had this winter. I think we all know the stress for us when we are trying to feed in the mud, especially if we get stuck. Whether it is our tractor or our boots, it never is a good experience. What happens when our fields are grazed to the ground and our sod can no longer support the livestock, feeders and equipment? The fields decline rapidly, round bale feeders become “mud magnets” and tire tracks rut fields. To continue reading this article, go to http://u.osu.edu/beef/2017/02/08/options-for-managing-mud-in-pastures-this-winter/.
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