Farm Production

Explore enterprises and production options for your farm.

Working in Cold Tempertures

| Nanette Neal

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

| Nanette Neal

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 Farm Office Live Winter Series

| Nanette Neal

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

| Nanette Neal

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 How to Make Maple Syrup at Home

| Nanette Neal

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

| Nanette Neal

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.

Winter 2025 Beef Programs

| Nanette Neal

Upcoming Beef Programs are available across multiple platforms, including Zoom and in-person.

 

2025Beef School Graphic  – 6:30 pm via Zoom Register at go.osu.edu/beefschool25

  • January 29 – Beef Market Outlook
  • February 26 – Post Drought Pasture Management & Annual Forages as Supplemental Feed
  • March 26 – Why are my Cows Open? & Open Cows – Keep or Cull
  • April 30 – Implementing Genomic Testing on Your Farm & Heifer Development-What Have We Learned

Holmes 2025 OH Cow Calf Workshop – Flyer  – February 7  10 am – 2:30 pm

Reproduction and genetics are important factors for a cow-calf operation. Long-term investment in genetics plays a critical role in the development and management of a herd to ensure longevity. Join OSU Extension in Holmes County to discuss and demonstrate the practices that you might apply on your farm to improve your operation with regard to optimizing reproduction and cow-calf profitability.

Champaign 2025 OH Cow Calf Workshop – Flyer  February 28 10 am – 2:30 pm

Reproduction and genetics are important factors for a cow-calf operation. Long-term investment in genetics plays a critical role in the development and management of a herd to ensure longevity. Join OSU Extension in Holmes County to discuss and demonstrate the practices that you might apply on your farm to improve your operation with regard to optimizing reproduction and cow-calf profitability.

Regional Feed Lot Programs

Equine Winter Zoom Series

| Nanette Neal

Join us for a winter Zoom series of meetings about horses! This informative and interactive series is open to anyone interested in horses and the topics listed. This series is FREE, but preregistration for the Zoom link is required. The Ohio State University Equine Team hosts this three-part series but includes speakers from Penn State and the University of Minnesota. Each session will consist of approximately one hour of content and 30 minutes of questions and answers at the conclusion.

January 28 – Dr. Krishona Martinson is a Professor and Extension Program Leader at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Martinson will be covering equine forages and equine issues related to forages and then have time to answer questions at the end of the presentation.

February 25 – Amber Krotky currently serves as Quality and Product Development Manager at MARS Horsecare US Inc (BUCKEYE™ Nutrition) in Dalton, Ohio. Amber will be presenting on equine nutrition and then have time to answer questions at the end of the presentation.

March 24 – Join Dr. Erika Machtinger from Penn State University as she discusses ticks and horses. She will cover things to be aware of and observant of while working with horses in Ohio with ticks present.

DATES: January, February, March
TIME: 6:30 PM- 8:00 PM

FLYER

To Register: go.osu.edu/equineseries
or use QR Code

For questions, please reach out to Janessa Hill at hill.1357@osu.edu or Kara Colvin at colvin.53@osu.edu.

Winter Weather Preparedness on the Farm

| Nanette Neal

With the turn of the calendar year coming off a year with a record-setting number of tornados in Ohio, what should we expect for early 2025? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts that the 2024-2025 winter season in Ohio will have temperatures leaning above to likely above normal and precipitation leaning above to likely above normal. While these forecasts are for the overall winter season, OSU Extension Climate Specialist Aaron Wilson cautioned of the possibility of significant snowfall or ice accumulation in the coming days. This could be followed by very cold Arctic air through the first half of January.

How do we prepare the farm for such conditions? Take advantage of daylight when temperatures are warmer and when weather is favorable to winterize equipment and buildings. This is also a good time for routine maintenance, so there is less probability of breakdowns needing repair when conditions are less favorable.

Keep an eye on the weather. Knowing the short-term and long-term forecasts is as important in the winter as it is in the Spring when trying to get crops in the ground. Before heavy snow falls, it is beneficial to clearly mark where drives are and, especially, where lagoons and ponds are located. This will help those less familiar with the farmstead’s layout avoid dangerous situations.

Be prepared for the unexpected with livestock. Do not wait until temperatures are below freezing to shop for a water tank heater. You will most likely find an empty shelf. Have water tank heaters ready, as well as any heat lamps that may be necessary for farrowing, lambing, kidding, etc. Have a contingency plan for power outages that will allow you to get water to livestock. Depending on the forecast, you may want some extra supplies of feed and bedding material in case trips to town, and deliveries are delayed or not possible.

Take care of yourself! Layer clothing so that you may remain comfortable, depending on the amount of physical labor you are performing. Ensure your head and hands are always warm. Even in the summer, stay hydrated and avoid overexertion. When using alternate power and heating sources, be mindful of carbon monoxide buildup and provide adequate ventilation. At all times, let someone know where you will be working.

Being prepared increases safety, reduces stress, and facilitates smooth operation in less-than-ideal circumstances.

For more information, please call Wayne Dellinger at the Union County Extension Office at 937-644-8117 or email dellinger.6@osu.edu.

2024 ePLUS On-Farm Research Report (specialty crops, fruit, vegetable, and more)

| Nanette Neal
The first-ever ePLUS annual report is here! Browse the issue online or download a PDF copy of the 174-page, full-color publication. Physical copies will be available soon from OSU Extension.
ePLUS represents an Ohio State University program dedicated to advancing production agriculture and wise use of natural resources through on-location research. This program utilizes modern technologies and information to conduct applied, cooperative research with an educational and demonstration component used to help growers, managers, and advisors understand how new practices and techniques can improve farm, forest, and garden sustainability.