Agriculture and Natural Resources

Pruning School to Be Offered by OSU Master Gardeners

The OSU Miami County Master Gardener Volunteers are offering a pruning school on Thursdays, February 19 and February 26, from 1 pm – 3 pm. Additional hands-on pruning practice times will be available. Class topics will include tree biology and its relationship to pruning; pruning equipment and care; techniques; and pruning for specific landscapes. Students are asked to bring their pruning shears to the class to learn how to properly sharpen them.

The classes will be held at the Tri-County Administration & Training Center, 1280 N County Road 25-A, in Troy. The cost of the class is $50 for the public and $30 for out-of-county Master Gardener volunteers. Participants will receive several pruning supplies. Register at go.osu.edu/miamiprune26. Registration is limited, and the class fills quickly. The registration deadline is January 30th.  For more information, contact the office at 937-440-3945 or email bennett.709@osu.edu. Information can also be found on our Facebook page, “Miami County Master Gardeners Ohio,” for more information.

FLYER

REGISTER go.osu.edu/miamiprune26

 

DATES
February 19th & 26th
March 5th & 12th

TIME
1:00-3:00 p.m.

LOCATION
Tri-County Board of
Recovery & MH Service
Training Center
1280 N County Road 25a
Troy, OH 45373

Event cost: $50 ($30 for out-of-county MGVs)

Contact Amanda Bennett at bennett.709@osu.edu or 937-440-3945 with questions.

Clermont County Private Applicator Pesticide & Fertilizer Recertification Program

Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026

Time: 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Location: Clermont County Fairgrounds – 4-H Hall
1000 Locust Street, Owensville, OH 45160

Join us for the Private Applicator Pesticide and Fertilizer Recertification Program hosted by OSU Extension Clermont County.

This session will cover core topics and categories (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 15) to help you maintain your certification.

Fertilizer Recertification: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Registration Details

  • Pre-registration is required by March 10th.
  • Register online at go.osu.edu/ccpatf or scan the QR code on the flyer.
  • You may also mail or drop off your registration form with payment (cash or check) to:
    OSU Extension Clermont County
    1000 Locust Street, PO Box 670
    Owensville, OH 45160
  • Make checks payable to: OSUE Clermont County

Cost

  • Pesticide & Fertilizer Combo: $45
  • Pesticide Only: $35
  • Fertilizer Only: $10

If you need accessibility accommodations, please contact the Extension Office.

Clermont County Pesticide and Fertilizer Recertification Flyer

All About Sheep! Webinar

Cheviot

The Management Continuum: Calendar-Based Management
Feb 3rd
During this session, Extension Specialist, Dr. Brady Campbell, will review sheep management and husbandry as it relates to stage of animal production. Stages of maintenance, breeding, gestation, and lambing will be discussed, and management considerations provided.

Feed My Sheep: Nutrition 101
Feb 17th
This session will be led by Extension Educator, Dr. John Yost, and Specialist Jacob Copelin. They will discuss how to read forage analysis results, how to determine the nutrient requirements for sheep of all production stages, provide an overview of potential ration ingredients, and discuss formulating a ration for your flock.

Setting Operation Goals and Marketing Accordingly
March 3rd
OSU Extension Educators Jacci Smith and Tim Barnes will help participants identify their goals for owning and raising sheep. They will offer guidance on marketing their sheep based on those goals and include information on responsible flock culling.

Flock Health “Spring”ing Forward
March 17th
Dr. Nikki Jolliff, DVM, will discuss timely spring health concerns, including coccidiosis, ringworm, pneumonia, and sore mouth. She will also offer her insights on how to build the best relationship with your veterinarian.

This is a free program offered by Ohio State University Extension.
Webinars are hosted via Zoom (7-8 p.m. EST). Register at: go.osu.edu/allaboutsheep26

2026 Ohio State Organic Grains Conference

Registration Open for 2026 Ohio State Organic Grains Conference
The fourth annual Ohio State Organic Grains Conference will be January 7-8, 2026, at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Sandusky, Ohio. The conference offers programming for experienced organic growers, growers transitioning to or considering organic, and consultants or educators who support these growers.

Featured speakers for 2026 include Willie Hughes from W. Hughes Farm in Janesville, Wisc.; Dr. Matt Ryan from Cornell University; Dr. Aaron Wilson, Ohio State climate and agricultural weather specialist; and Nate Powell-Palm from the Organic Agronomy Training Service (OATS). The two-day event will feature additional panelists and speakers covering a wide range of agronomic and management topics related to organic grain farming.

The conference is presented by Ohio State University Extension’s Farm Office and Ohio State’s Organic Food & Farming Education and Research (OFFER) program, with input from a planning committee of land-grant staff and researchers, and organic farmers from Ohio and surrounding states.

Pre-registration is $140 per person through December 5, and $175 from December 6 through December 26. Attendees can also pay at the door, subject to an additional fee.

Continuing education credits will be available for Certified Crop Advisors. For more information, visit go.osu.edu/OrganicGrains.

Southwest Ohio Beekeeper School- Registration is Open!

Saturday, February 28, 2026

NEW LOCATION
Ohio State University Extension
Butler County
1802 Princeton Road
Hamilton, OH

LOWER PRICE: $35 / PERSON
Pre-registration required. Limited to the first 150 registrations. No walk-ins permitted. Registration opens December 1st. Registration closes February 18th or whenever we reach 150 registrations, whichever comes first.

Click here for additional information and registration.

 

Save the Date for the Southwest Ohio Perennial School!!!!!

The 2026 Southwest Ohio Perennial School is being held on Thursday, April 9th!!

This event is open to all who have an interest in learning more about horticulture, and gardening.

Livestock Mortality Composting Workshop

December 11, 2025

5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Crawford County Extension Office, 808 Whetstone Street, Bucyrus, OH 44820

Animal agriculture today faces the need to find innovative ways to handle and dispose of livestock mortality. This need has been driven by the disappearance of rendering plants, concerns over carcass burial and groundwater pollution, and the economic costs and other issues associated with incineration. Composting deceased livestock is now an option that needs to be done correctly. This free program is intended to provide livestock producers with Mortality Composting Certification.

For more information, contact Kendra Rose at rose.1919@osu.edu or call 419-562-8731

RSVP by December 4, 2025, visit go.osu.edu/crawfordmcw or call 419-562-8731

EVENT SPONSORS Walnut Grain Farm, Linn Acres Farm, and MKB Farms LTD

2026 Tri-State Green Industry Conference Registration is Open

Thursday, February 5th, 2026

Sharonville Convention Center
11355 Chester Rd
Cincinnati, OH  45246

Don’t miss this premier Tri-State Green Industry Educational Event

  • Ten education tracks with sessions on horticulture, tree care, lawn care, and more
  • Networking opportunities
  • Trade show
  • Professional credits for ISA and pesticide applicators in OH, IN, and KY

More details at go.osu.edu/gic_info

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

Early Bird Registration (until the end of the day, January 10th) $150.00
Late Registration (January 11th-17th) $200.00
On-Site Registration (at the door, February 5th; Lunch not included) $200.00
Educator Registration (email Amy at coors.15@osu.edu for discount code) $90.00
Student Registration

(email Amy at coors.15@osu.edu for no lunch discount code)

$90.00 with lunch

$50.00 no lunch

Register at go.osu.edu/gic2026

For bulk registration (over 5 attendees), email Amy at coors.15@osu.edu.

Support a legacy conference: Become a sponsor!

Consider increasing your company’s visibility and helping this cornerstone industry event thrive. Opportunities start as low as $250!

Learn more at go.osu.edu/gic_sponsor

Trade Show Vendors

Join the trade show and get in front of hundreds of regional attendees from the nursery, greenhouse, arboriculture, retail, landscape maintenance, construction, and design industries.

Visit our Trade Show Vendor Information page for more details on what’s available.

Deadline for trade show registration is December 8, 2025.

The Tri-State Green Industry Conference is a collaborative educational effort between the following organizations, arboreta, and botanical gardens, as well as Green Industry leaders:

  • Ohio State University Extension
  • Purdue University Extension
  • University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension
  • Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
  • University of Cincinnati
  • University of Wisconsin
  • The Boone County Arboretum
  • Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
  • Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum
  • Natorp’s
  • Eason Horticultural Resources, Inc.
  • Gressley’s Horticulture Consultation Service

Questions? Email Amy at coors.15@osu.edu

Ohio Soybean Association Announces Scholarships

The Ohio Soybean Association (OSA) is excited to announce that applications are now open for two $1,000 scholarships for the 2026–2027 academic year. These scholarships are designed to support students who are passionate about the soybean industry and agricultural advocacy.

New this year! The scholarship is open not only to current full-time college, university, or technical school students, but also to high school seniors planning to enroll full-time. All majors are eligible. Applicants should demonstrate leadership, agricultural involvement (e.g., FFA or 4-H), and a strong interest in the soybean industry.

Eligibility: Ohio residents who are OSA Student or Young Adult Members (SYA), or the child/grandchild of a current member.

Application Requirements: Two letters of recommendation, a short video essay, academic information, and details about community involvement, awards, and honors.

Deadline: Friday, January 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST

For questions about the scholarship, contact Mackenzie Joseph at mjoseph@soyohio.org

Click here to learn more.

The Ohio Community Wildlife Cooperative Conference

November 20, 2025 @ Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center

Is your community dealing with wildlife issues? If so, this conference is designed for you.

Join Ohio community leaders and planners for a one-day conference focused on helping cities and communities manage human-wildlife conflict. Get the information and resources you need and a chance to network with other Ohio communities working to resolve conflicts with wildlife.

Agenda (attached and online) includes topics on addressing ticks in urban landscapes, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza update, establishing a bird trail in your community, surveying wildlife in your municipality, Ohio bats update, and BMPs when finding injured/orphaned wildlife.

Register HERE by November 14th.

$45 for the day – lunch and materials included.

Join our email list to receive updates on our annual conference and wildlife conflict resources.

Visit our website for more info and access to our 2020 and 2021 virtual conference recordings.