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As many of you know by now, on September 1 I will be starting in a new role as the OSU Extension Beef Cattle Field Specialist. I am fortunate to have began my career here in Henry County and appreciate the people, too numerous to list, that were critical making the Extension program here a success. Stay tuned to next week’s Northwest Signal for my final column From Across the Field. Continue reading

Additional Information From ODA About The Mystery Seeds

By: Amy Stone, OSU Extension Lucas County

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is asking Ohioans to please send in unsolicited seeds. Earlier today the ODA distributed the release that is included in this BYGL Alert.

After increasing reports of Ohio citizens receiving packages of unsolicited seeds in the mail, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is again urging the public to report and submit any unsolicited seed packets to ODA. In partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Plant Protection and Quarantine Office, ODA is working to investigate the number of seed packets sent to Ohio, what type of seeds they are, and where they were mailed from.

The USDA-APHIS and ODA are asking Ohioans who have received these unsolicited packages not to open, plant, or throw them away. Instead, citizens should report receiving seeds here and then submit the packages to USDA using one of the following methods:

If possible, place the materials including the seeds, original packaging material and your contact information in a resealable plastic bag and mail them to USDA-APHIS at the following address:

Attn: USDA -SITC
8995 East Main Street, Building 23
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 Continue reading

Online Pesticide and Fertilizer Recertification Available for 2020 Expirations

By: Mary Ann Rose, OSU Extension

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), has partnered with the OSU Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) to offer online recertification for applicators whose licenses expire this year and have been unable recertify as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Registration for the private pesticide and agricultural fertilizer programs are currently available at pested.osu.edu/onlinerecert.  Online commercial pesticide recertification will be available from the same site beginning August 10.

The online recertification course allows participants to complete category-specific videos at their own pace, returning as often as desired to complete the required set of videos. These videos include category specific, up-to-date information provided by Ohio State University Educators and the ODA. Time spent in the program is tracked and participants must attest that they completed the recertification requirements.

The registration fees are payable online by credit card only: $35 for private applicators, $10 for fertilizer applicators, and $15/credit hour for commercial applicators.

Ohio applicators have 90 days after Ohio’s emergency declaration is over or December 1, whichever comes first, to complete their 2020 requirements.  Recertification status can be checked online here. Applicators must also complete an application and pay an additional fee to ODA to renew their license. ODA has not decided whether online recertification may be available beyond the current license year.

For additional information regarding online recertification or assistance with the online registration and payment process, please contact the OSU Pesticide Safety Education Program at 614-292-4070.

Private pesticide and fertilizer applicators who do not wish to recertify online for 2020 should contact their local county OSU Extension office to see if and when they may make an appointment to do the recertification at the office.   

Join OSU Extension for Rt. 6 Virtual Coffee Chat on Wednesday, May 20

Join Henry County and Williams County OSU Extension Educators Garth Ruff and Steph Karhoff for virtual coffee and conversation every other Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. We will give agronomy and livestock updates, discuss ongoing on-farm research in NW Ohio, and answer any questions you may have.

  1. Call in using your phone. The number is toll-free, so no worries about being charged for a call.
  • Dial 1-646-876-9923
  • You will be asked to enter a meeting id number.
  • Enter 951 9408 5371
  • You will then be connected to the call
  1. Join via Zoom. Zoom is a free video conference service.
  • Join directly by clicking on this link:  go.osu.edu/Rt6CoffeeChat
  • You can also download the free Zoom app to your phone, tablet, or other device from the app store.
  • Once on your device, open the Zoom app and click “Join a Meeting”.
  • Enter the meeting ID 951 9408 5371.
  • You can also enter your name and choose to turn on/off your audio and video.
  • Click “Join” and you will be added to the conference!

For more information either contact Garth Ruff at ruff.72@osu.edu or Steph Karhoff at karhoff.41@osu.edu.

 

Join Us for Ag Madness!

By: Sam Custer, OSU Extension

Did your conference get canceled? Looking to fill the void of the big basketball tournament? OSU Extension Agricultural and Natural Resources Educators are here to assist.

Agriculture and Natural Resources Madness: A Tournament of Education consists of 64 educational events broken into daily brackets. Each day, a virtual educational session will be held at 9:00 a.m., noon and 3:00 p.m. at no charge. All events are listed at https://go.osu.edu/agmadness.

Brackets will change daily. Topics will cover a variety of agricultural subjects like hemp, pastures & grazing, fruit and vegetable production, farm management and more. When possible, live question and answer opportunities are included.

This week’s bracket includes Direct Marketing (March 31), Farm Management (April 1), Forages, Pastures and Grazing (April 2) and Agricultural Safety (April 3). Continue reading

OSU Extension Announces Agriculture and Natural Resources Madness: A Tournament of Education

Did your usual conference get canceled? Looking to fill the void of the big basketball tournament? Ohio State University Extension is here to help with a new virtual education program for the agricultural community.

“Agriculture and Natural Resources Madness: A Tournament of Education” will include 64 educational events broken into daily brackets. Each day, a virtual educational session will be held at 9 a.m., noon, and 3 p.m. The educational tournament is free of charge and will likely continue until mid-May. Continue reading

Gov. Dewine Outlines H2Ohio Water Quality Initiative

From: Ohio Ag Net

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine outlined his H2Ohio water quality initiative, which he is introducing as part of his proposed budget for the 2020-2021 biennium.

“Water is vital to everyone, yet communities throughout the state face real and different challenges, such as algae blooms, failing septic tanks, nutrient pollution, and threats of lead contamination,” Governor DeWine said. “We cannot continue to lurch from water crisis to water crisis. I am proposing an H2Ohio initiative that would allow us to invest in targeted, long-term solutions to ensure safe and clean water across the state of Ohio.” Continue reading