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Wearable Technology Solutions for Health and Safety in Agricultural Work

| Nanette Neal

Upcoming online workshop

Learn about strategies for identifying, evaluating, and using wearable technology that can keep you and your employees healthier and safer while working in agriculture. The session will also cover how farmers can integrate these devices into management frameworks. The session will include time for Q&A and discussion, so bring your questions and ideas to share.

Presenter: Aaron Yoder, Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Date: May 18, 2021
Time: 2-3 pm ET
Fees: There is no fee to attend, but advance registration is required.
Platform: Zoom

Register Now

Southwest Ohio Beekeeper School

| Nanette Neal

Ohio State University Extension in Warren County is offering this webinar series as a replacement for the 2021 Southwestern Ohio Beekeeper School which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our “live” school will return on March 26, 2022. Mark your calendars.

The following webinars are free but do require you to register for each meeting at our website. Anyone is invited to participate, but attendance is limited to 300 people. All sessions will start at 7:00 p.m. and will be finished by 9:00 p.m. Website Address for Registration: warren.osu.edu 

March 22, 2021
Equipment Basics
Amanda Bennett, Ohio State University Extension, Miami County
Many products are available to the beginner beekeeper. But which ones do you really need? This session will cover basic equipment needed to begin your beekeeping adventure. The benefits and drawbacks of different systems will be discussed and participants will take away a list of essential items needed.

March 24, 2021
Bee Basics
Amanda Bennett, Ohio State University Extension, Miami County
Opening up a hive can be a very daunting task for the new beekeeper. What is “normal”? What should a beekeeper be looking for during inspections? It is important for all beekeepers to understand normal lifecycles, seasonal activities, bee abnormalities and oddities to be able to accurately assess colony health and look for red flags to guide management decisions.

March 29, 2021
Bees and Plants: An Essential Relationship
Denise Ellsworth, Ohio State University, Program Director, Pollinator Education
Bees depend on plants for energy-rich nectar and high-protein pollen, while plants depend on bees and other couriers to transport pollen from flower to flower. This session will focus on the rewards plants offer and key plant sources of this essential food. Participants will also learn how to use phenology to track bloom time of local plants using a web-based biological calendar.

For more information about the Southwestern Ohio Beginner Beekeeping Webinars, contact Greg Meyer, OSU Extension Educator in Warren County, by email at meyer.213@osu.edu .

Midwest Women in Ag Community Education Series

| Nanette Neal

Women working, owning, and operating in agriculture is an increasing demographic to the population of farms and ranches across the country. The 2017 US Census of Agriculture showed that the number of female operators is still growing. Approximately 28% of the population of farmers and ranchers in the United States are female with continued steady growth since 2009. Whether on a small farm or large operation, women are increasing their footprint in the agricultural soil as developers, entrepreneurs, and marketing enthusiasts.

Join us each Thursday in March from 9-11 AM (EST)/8-10 AM (CT) for the Midwest Women in Ag Community Education Series.  This series is a collaborative effort of land grant institution Extension and related non-profits including Ohio State University Extension, Purdue University Extension, Michigan Food and Farming Systems and Kentucky Women in Agriculture. This series will be held virtual on the Zoom platform and features a morning health and wellness segment followed by an educational session and discussion.

There is a fee of $10 per session. You must register and pay to receive the connection link and details. Register today at https://go.osu.edu/ohiomidwestwomeninagseries

Click here for a copy of the flyer.

March 4th: The Ohio State University

Planning for the Farm & Family Future

Peggy Kirk Hall, OSU Extension, Associate Professor & Director, Agricultural & Resource Law

 

March 11th: Purdue University- Extension

Marketing the Farm

 

March 18th: Kentucky Women in Agriculture

Engaging a Community to Grow Agricultural Literacy

 

March 25th: Michigan Food & Farming Systems

Leveraging Technical Assistance, Education and Research Programs to Support Diversity in Agriculture

2021 Home Garden Vegetable Trials

Home Garden peas
| Ed Brown

The second year of the statewide Home Garden Vegetable Trials kicks off during the month of February. Citizen scientists are recruited to contribute to our vegetable trials for Ohio. We look for people excited about growing vegetables in their home or community gardens and then letting us know what they think. Youth and adults are welcomed to participate. Each trial contains two varieties that  are grown side by side to compare throughout the season. They can select multiple trials with 5 cool-season vegetables and 5 warm-season vegetables available. For each trial, participants get:

  • Seed for two varieties of a vegetable
  • Row markets
  • A garden layout plan to prepare your rows or beds
  • Growing information specific to the crop species you, including planting date, plant spacing, nutrient requirements, etc.
  • An evaluation sheet (can be completed online)

Participants may select up to 5 trials. We are now asking you to complete the sign up and send payment. The trial catalog has a  description of each variety that will be used this year. On the last page is a registration page that can be printed and filled out by hand for those who do not use computers.

Some seeds are from organic sources, but a few are not. The vegetables are not experimental, but some have been released in the last few years. Others are old favorites being compared to new varieties to see if they still stand the test of time. All seeds are non-GMO (as all vegetable seeds available are non-GMO) Each trial is $3. We have created an online registration site. Please go through the sign-up process and select your vegetables. On the payment page, you can choose to pay by card or check. If you choose check, the details for filling out and sending the check will be displayed. Please send that in as soon as possible. You will also see the $8 charge for home delivery added to your bill. We have had to do this because our Extension Offices have been temporarily closed. You also have the option of registering and paying for more than one person while visiting the site. The deadline for ordering is February 28 for guaranteed participation and March 15 while supplies last.

VEGETABLE TRIALS web site

go.osu.edu/veggies2021  registration site

2021 Southern Ohio Specialty Crop Webinar Series

| jagger.6

Ohio State University Extension in Warren County is offering this webinar series as a replacement for the 2021 Southern Ohio Specialty Crop Conference which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our “live” conference will return on February 1, 2022. Mark your calendars.

The following webinars are free but do require you to register for each meeting at the corresponding registration links.
Registration Information

Monday, February 1, 2021 @ 7:00 p.m.
Tips for Managing Pumpkins, Sweet Corn and Invasive Pests
Presenter: Jim Jasinski, Ohio State University Extension, IPM Program Coordinator

Tuesday, February 2, 2021 @ 7:00 p.m.
Fresh Ohio Strawberries at Thanksgiving and Christmas?
Presenter: Brad Bergefurd, OSU Extension, South Centers

Wednesday, February 3, 2021 @ 7:00 p.m.
No “Wining”—Just Growing Grapes & Brambling Along Too!
Presenter: Erik Draper, OSU Extension, Geauga County