Author: Nanette Neal

OSU Extension offering virtual Farm Transition and Estate Planning Course in February

If you and your family are grappling with the critical issue of transitioning farm operations and farm assets to the next generation, OSU Extension is here to help. Producers are encouraged to attend a four-evening virtual “Planning for the Future of Your Farm” workshop on February 3, 10, 17, and 24, 2025, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. via Zoom.

This workshop challenges farm families to actively plan for the future of the farm business. Learn how to have crucial conversations about your farm’s future and better understand the strategies and tools that can help you transfer your ffarm’sownership, management, and assets to the next generation. We encourage parents, children, and grandchildren to attend together to develop a plan for the future of the family and farm. The teaching faculty for the workshop are David Marrison, an OSU Extension Farm Management Field Specialist, and Robert Moore, an attorney for the OSU Agricultural & Resource Law Program.

Pre-registration is required so that a packet of program materials can be mailed to participating families in advance. Electronic copies of the course materials will also be available to all participants. The registration fee is $99 per farm family. Register by January 24, 2025, to receive course materials in time. Register at go.osu.edu/successionregistration. If you have questions about the workshop, do not hesitate to contact David Marrison at marrison.2@osu.edu or 740-722-6073.

Working in Cold Temperatures

With snow covering much of the landscape for over a week now, we will now get arctic cold temperatures and windchills with daily high temperatures that will be the coldest in roughly ten years.  It is interesting to note that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) documents that there are more deaths in the United States due to cold weather exposure (hypothermia) than hot weather exposure (hyperthermia) each year.  The CDC has also tracked an average of 1,300 deaths per year in the US due to excessive cold or hypothermia.

Many jobs are affected little with the change in temperature outside, but others do not have that luxury.  Occupations such as agriculture (and others) work outside a great deal no matter what the conditions.  Helpful reminders are often beneficial to keep safe while accomplishing these tasks.

Everyone responds to cold weather and temperature extremes in general very differently.  It is what we are “used to” and what we can “tolerate”.  What Alaskans think of as cold in January may be quite different than what we perceive as cold in the lower 48.  Specific contributing factors may also affect a person’s susceptibility to cold temperatures such as getting wet, exhaustion, high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, diabetes, and general poor physical condition.

General good practices for working in cold weather include:

  • Planning routine maintenance on outdoor equipment for warmer seasons.
  • Let others know where you will be working and when you will return.
  • Dressing in layers so clothing may be added or taken off in specific instances.
  • Keeping dry. Keep extra dry clothes, gloves, and shoes/boots nearby.
  • Protecting ears, face, hands, feet, and head. Extremities away from the body core have less blood flow and are more difficult to keep warm.
  • Taking breaks in warm locations.
  • Staying hydrated. Not often thought of as an issue in cold weather, but just as important.

In some cases, cold-related illness and injuries will occur.  It is important to know the symptoms so you can watch yourself and others for signs.

Hypothermia:

  • Body loses heat faster than it can be produced.
  • Symptoms are shivering, fatigue, confusion, disorientation.
  • Can be mild to severe depending on symptoms.

Frostbite:

  • Actual freezing of tissue.
  • Symptoms are numbness, stinging, or pain and top layer of skin feeling hard and rubbery.
  • Wear appropriate clothing and seek medical attention if symptoms remain after 30 minutes.

Trench foot:

  • Feet lose heat due to cold or wetness too long and tissue becomes damaged.
  • Symptoms include swelling and pain in the feet. Differs from frostbite in that the skin does not actually freeze.
  • Keep feet warm and dry.

Cold weather injuries are preventable.  Take the time to make the necessary plans for yourself and your workers to stay warm and dry and safely get the job done.

Wayne Dellinger, ANR Educator Union County, can be reached at 937-644-8117 ex. 3024 or dellinger.6@osu.edu. This column is provided by the OSU Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Team. https://agsafety.osu.edu/.

Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council to Meet in Reynoldsburg, Ohio

The Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council will be hosting their Annual Meeting on Friday, February 7, 2025 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at The Ohio Department of Agriculture (8995 East Main Street, Reynoldsburg OH 43068). This meeting serves as an opportunity to interact with forage growers of all backgrounds and interests and share with each other. Along with socialization you can listen to intriguing presentations, interact with vendors of forage growing supplies, and enjoy a delicious lunch.

The Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council is Ohio’s commodity organization for pasture and hay crops. The Ohio State University partners closely with the Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council to support forage education, research, and outreach throughout the state. It is the only organization of its kind, bringing together farmers, conservationists, academics, industry representatives, and service personnel into a shared environment to converse and build relationships that lead to more productive forage and grassland ecosystems and more profitable farm operations. The Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council is the state affiliate organization of the American Forage and Grassland Council. Ohio members are automatically extended membership to the national level for even more networking opportunities and learning experiences.

The 2025 meeting theme is “Feeding Forages ↔ Forages Feeding Us” and will feature information on how to manage forages following a record drought year, cutting edge research from The Ohio State University, producer insights from local hay, beef, and dairy farmers, information on solar grazing with sheep, special guests from the Nature Conservancy, and a session on hot topics in the forage industry.

Keynote speakers will include Dr. Chris Teutsch- Forage Professor from The University of Kentucky, new State Extension Forage Specialist- Dr. Emma Matcham, Dr. Marília Chiavegato- Agroecosystem Management for Food System Resilience Professor at The Ohio State University, Dr. Camren Maierle- Sustainability Director for the American Lamb Board, Jessica D’Ambrosio- Ohio Agriculture Project Director for the Nature Conservancy, and more!

Service and achievement awards will be announced at the annual meeting. There will also be opportunities to socialize with your peers and to visit with vendors of related agricultural products at the event.

Registration for members is only $40 and can be completed online at: https://ohioforage.com/annual-conference/

Not a member of OFGC? Not a problem. All people interested in pasture management and forage production are welcome to attend. Registration is due by January 31, 2025.

Paper registration can also be secured and submitted by contacting OFGC Executive Secretary- Gary Wilson at osuagman@gmail.com or 419-348-3500.

The Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council Annual Meeting is an opportune time to pick up inspiration for ways to improve pasture, hay, and livestock systems. Hearing the experiences of others is one of the best ways to find motivation to make changes for the better on-farm. Share your experiences with an OFGC board member and maybe you will be on the speaker list in future years!

2025 Ohio Women in Ag Webinars begin February 5

Please join us for the first episode of Women in Ag Wednesday Webinars on February 5, 2025, at 10:30 am. The event is hosted by the OSU Extension Ohio Women in Agriculture Learning Network Team.

Beating the Winter Blues

Do you ever feel sad or just “blah” in the winter? This session will discuss Seasonal Affective Disorder and what you can do to beat the winter blues. ​

Register for the entire series using this link one time. go.osu.edu/wiawednesdaywebinars2025 ​

Fairs and Exhibitions FAQ and Hot Topics Edition 

To continue our outreach around ODA’s new Livestock Exhibition rules that were put in place in May 2024, the Division of Animal Health has put together a special Fairs and Exhibitions Edition Newsletter. It covers a lot of great topics and has all of our references, rules and regulations, and FAQ documents in one place. The newsletter includes 5 of the major FAQ questions, RFID tags and wand reader information, Ringworm disease information, and who to contact if you have questions or want ODA to speak at an event (4H groups, extension agents, fair board, etc.).

Fairs and Exhibitions FAQ and Hot Topics Edition

2025 Farm Office Live Winter Series

The farm office team is excited to release the dates for our 2025 Farm Office Live winter series and invites you to put a placeholder on your calendars for these events. The webinars will be held on Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on:

  • January 17
  • February 21
  • March 28 and
  • April 25

You can sign up for these webinars (and find past recordings) at: https://farmoffice.osu.edu/farmofficelive

Below are details for the tentative agenda for the January 17, 2025 edition

    • Legislative Round-Up
    • Farm Business Analysis Program Update
    • Long-Term Care Update
    • Quarterly Fertilizer Update
    • Crop Input Outlook
    • Livestock Outlook
    • 1099 Reminders
    • Farm Policy & Farm Bill
    • Winter Program Update

Coffee and Grain Marketing with Dr. Seungki Lee

OSU Extension invites grain producers and industry personnel to save the dates for the quarterly grain market conversations with Dr. Seungki Lee, Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics (AEDE). These quarterly zooms will be held on February 14, May 16, August 15, and November 14.  Each Zoom will be held from 7:30 – 8:00 a.m.

During these Zoom webinars, Dr. Lee will provide his insights on the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) crop report. “These early morning webinars will be a great way for Ohio farmers to learn more about the factors impacting the corn, soybean, and wheat markets,” said David Marrison, Interim Director for OSU Extension’s Farm Financial Management and Policy Institute.  Producers are encouraged to bring their questions to this early morning conversation.

CoffeewithSeungkiLee2025

There is no fee to attend this quarterly webinar session. Pre-registration can be made at go.osu.edu/coffeewithDrLee

These webinars are sponsored by OSU Extension, the Farm Financial Management & Policy Institute (FFMPI), and the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics (AEDE).

Backyard Maple Production and Learning to Make Maple Syrup at Home

Have you ever enjoyed some good old-fashioned maple syrup and been interested in learning how to make your own? If so, this is your opportunity to learn all about making maple syrup from your backyard or your woodland.  This program is offered on January 24th at the Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp near Jackson and will include the opportunity to see and practice tapping. You will also learn everything you need to know to begin tapping your trees and making your maple syrup!

If you would like to learn more about Backyard Maple Production and Learning to Make Maple Syrup at Home, please join us on January 24th for our “A DAY in the WOODS” and Ohio Woodland Stewards program at Canter’s Cave 4-H camp.

  • Learn and understand What, When, and How to tap maple trees.
  • Learn How to handle and boil sap.
  • Understand How to finish and package syrup
  • Learn to manage your maple trees for sap production.

This program will take place at Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp near Jackson and runs from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM. A registration fee of $25 will cover the cost of refreshments, snacks, and program materials. To download a brochure with more details about this program and future programs visit:https://go.osu.edu/upcomingwoodlandprograms.

Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp is located at 1362 Caves Road, Jackson, Ohio. 

Please use one of the following methods to register by January 20th. Register and pay online at https://go.osu.edu/woodlandstewards25; or call Ohio Woodland Stewards Program at 614-688-3421.

“A Day in the Woods” is sponsored by the Education and Demonstration Subcommittee of the Vinton Furnace State Forest with support from Ohio State University Extension, ODNR-Divisions of Forestry and Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service, Vinton Soil and Water Conservation District, Central State University Extension, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pixelle Specialty Solutions, Ohio Tree Farm Committee, Ohio Forestry Association Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hocking College,  Ruffed Grouse Society, Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative, Pheasants and Quail Forever, and Ohio’s SFI Implementation Committee.

Join OSU Extension on Their 2024 Virtual Soil Health Tour

Ohio State University Extension’s fourth annual Soil Health Tour is live for 2024! This year’s virtual tour partnered with Michigan State University to showcase conservation practices in action through the Western Lake Erie Basin of Ohio and Michigan. Five tour stops showcase individual farmers who have implemented different conservation practices on their farms. Each producer’s video interview with an Extension staff member discusses the practice they are utilizing, why they chose to implement it, benefits they have seen thus far, and changes they would make, if any if they did it all over again. In addition to those sites, we are showcasing 8 regional locations of a study that members of OSU Extension have completed over the past few years, looking at soil health across the state. To view the interactive StoryMap, visit go.osu.edu/SHTour24.

Stop 1 focuses on Jeff Duling, a farmer out of Ottawa, Ohio, who has been interseeding cover crops into his corn for the past few years. He is interviewed by Rachel Cochran, Water Quality Extension Associate, where he talks through his decision-making process, challenges he has faced, and his advice to others.

Stop 2 highlights research that Michigan State University Extension has been conducting about using a drone to seed cover crops. Madelyn Celovsky, Conservation Agronomist Educator, interviews Jay Williams, a Hillsdale County producer, to discuss the benefits of drone seeding, as well as some preliminary research conclusions.

At stop 3, Sarah Zeiler, Environmental Management Educator with Michigan State University, interviews Adrianne Gammie, owner of Marilla Field and Flora in Dexter, Michigan. At her high-density flower farm, Adrianne utilizes a rotation of cover crops to build her soil’s health and combat diseases that can be detrimental to flower production.

Stop 4 showcases a saturated buffer and water management system near Celina, Ohio, managed by VanTilburg Farms. Luke VanTilburg is interviewed by Jocelyn Ruble (Birt), Water Quality Extension Associate, about why they decided to implement such a large project on their operation.

Our fifth and final tour stop brings us to the OSU Northwest Agricultural Research Station. Dr. Stephanie Karhoff discusses her research with Dr. Elizabeth Hawkins and the Ohio Soybean Council on cover crop seeding rates and planting dates. Their replicated research looked at biomass production and the following soybean crop yield based on three different planting dates and seeding rates.

The tour ends with a brief discussion of some research that the OSU Extension Water Quality Team has been a part of for several years. 2023 data from the eFields On-Farm Research Publication is included in this section of the tour, where this statewide study is discussed at length. This statewide study had participation from 18 of the 20 counties that the Water Quality Team covers in Ohio’s Western Lake Erie Basin.

If you enjoy learning about conservation practices in action, consider joining us for an event on February 20th, 2025, at Northwest State Community College. This event, Success Stories of Conservation, will be a place for farmers, landowners, and technical support staff to openly discuss how conservation has worked for them, as well as their challenges with these practices. More information can be found at our website, waterqualityextension.osu.edu.