From Across the Field – Meeting Season Continues

I owe a big thanks to all of the sponsors and attendees of NW Ohio Crops Day that braved the snowy roads last Friday morning. We had around 70 people in attendance at the Bavarian Haus, not bad for the Henry County agriculture extension meeting in a decade.  Based on the program survey, it looks like we may have a similar event in the years to come.

I have spent the past two days at Ohio Pork Congress in Columbus, an annual meeting where the pork industry networks, shares information, and recognizes those who have made significant contributions to promoting pork. This OSU Extension’s own Glen Arnold, field specialist for manure and nutrient management, was recognized for his service to Ohio’s hog farmers. Glen is a national leader in working to extend the manure application season. His research focuses on methods that aid in water quality protection by allowing for manure application on growing crops. Congratulations Glen!

Coming up in the second half of February and early March are a couple events that I hope you all find interesting. The first of which is a two day Direct Marketing School. This program was designed for those who produce and sell food products from the home or farm. We will cover the business side of  home food production and follow it up with regulation and production practices for produce, cottage goods, and meats. The program will run on February 23rd and March 2nd at the Extension office.

As you know by now, my area of expertise is in animal agriculture. On Thursday, March 1st we will meet at the Napoleon Legion Annex to discussing the process of getting started as a contract swine finisher. Henry County, with close proximity to the Clemens Food Group packing plant in Coldwater, Michigan, offers great potential for the expanding swine industry.

This is the time of year when many of our farm animals destined to be fair projects are being born. There are a few things I urge youth and parents to consider as the make the decisions in purchasing these animals. First and foremost, source your projects from trusted and reliable sources, who have a reputations for marketing high quality and healthy animals. Second, purchase animals that are the correct age for the given exposition. For example if you are showing a pig the second week of August at the county fair, you need a pig born in late January to mid-February. Growth rate will depend on genetics and nutrition but starting with an animal that is too young or too old, puts you in a hole to begin with.

I’ll end this week a quote from one of our presenters at Pork Congress who said the following with regards to employees on the farm, “It’s not about X’s and O’s. It’s about the Kimmies and Joes.” Have a great week.

Upcoming Events
Feb. 16th Direct Marketing School RSVP
Feb 23rd Direct Marketing School – Day 1
Mar 1st Contract Swine Meeting

Garth Ruff,
Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator
OSU Henry County Extension

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