Where did February go? Last week I finished with a bit about the wet and soggy weather, and at the time of writing, things are starting to dry out. As opposed to watching the wind and rain here in Napoleon this past weekend, I drove back to southeastern Ohio where my parents and brother live. Upon arriving, it only took a single step out of my truck to realize that it was just as wet and even muddier than when I left Henry County.
Despite the rain, mud, and rising water there were some signs of spring that we have yet to experience here in NW Ohio. For example, I noticed while driving that some of the shrub and brush type plants were beginning to produce buds, and that pastures were starting to green up. Perhaps, the most evident indicator of the coming spring were the lambs and calves that had been born since my last trip to visit around New Year’s.
Last fall I wrote about my brother’s venture into the sheep business as a way to generate income on his small 25 acre farm. What started out as a 10 ewe flock grew quickly to 32 ewes, and as of Sunday there were close to 40 young lambs in his barn with a handful of soon to be mothers yet to lamb. With a healthy lamb crop in the first year of production, things are trending up for my brother, a first time farm owner.
While I work quite a bit with swine and beef, there is certainly profit potential in small ruminants. Pull up any market report for sheep and goats in Ohio and you will see that prices have been and remain good, and are significantly less volatile than beef and hog prices.
Looking ahead to upcoming programming in the county, we have two farm management nights scheduled in Hamler at the fire station. On March 12th, I will give an update on Extension programming and ag outlook pertaining to Henry County. The second speaker will be OSU Ag Law Field Specialist, Peggy Hall who will be discussing a variety of topics from leases to noxious weeds and Dicamba application. On the 19th, Fulton County’s Eric Richer will be zeroing in on cost of production for corn and beans. Following Eric, will be Bailey Elchinger from INTL FC Stone with a presentation on risk management and grain marketing. There is a $10 program for one or both nights and we do ask that you RSVP to the office by March 6.
Don’t forget that this evening there is a Contract Swine Finishing Meeting at the Napoleon Legion Annex, starting at 6:15. Topics to be covered include barn siting, contracts, loans, manure management, and an outlook for the pork industry. In addition, on hand, to answer any questions will be some of Henry County’s newest swine growers.
I’ll end this week with a quote from Billy Graham, who passed this week, “Each life is made up of mistakes and learning, waiting and growing, practicing patience and being persistent.”