Small Farm Conference

Technical Center Buffalo Campus, Senecaville, Ohio

By: Julie Wayman

Community Development Educator

OSU Extension Ashtabula County

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Ohio State Extension announced plans to host a Small Farm Conference in Senecaville, Ohio on April 6, 2024. The theme for this year’s Mid-Ohio Small Farm Conference is “Sowing Seeds for Success.”

Conference session topics are geared to beginning and small farm owners as well as to farms looking to diversify their operation. There will be five different conference tracks including: Horticulture and Produce Production, Business Management, Livestock, Natural Resources and new this year The Farm Kitchen.

Some conference topic highlights include: Raising Meat Rabbits, Making Goat Milk Soap, Timber Harvesting and Marketing, Basics of Growing PawPaw’s, Food Preservation Basics, Herb Vinegars, Organic Pest Management, Growing Produce with Hydroponics, Starting and Setting up a business, Solar and Wind Leasing.

Anyone interested in developing, growing or diversifying their small farm is invited to attend including market gardeners, farmers market vendors, and anyone interested in small farm living.

Attendees will have the opportunity to browse a trade show featuring the newest and most innovative ideas and services for their farming operation. The conference provides an opportunity to talk with the vendors and network with others.

The Conference will take place from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Mid – East Career Technical Center Buffalo Campus 57090 Vocational Road Senecaville, Ohio 43780

For conference and registration information call OSU Extension Morrow County 419-947-1070, or OSU Extension Knox County 740-397-0401.

Here are the links for the registration and conference schedule.

Registration: https://go.osu.edu/2024osusmallfarmconference

Conference Schedule: 2024 SF Conference Brochure

This week! Annual Local Work Group meeting and Soil and Water 80th Anniversary Open House

“The Annual Local Work takes place on March 15 from 11:30am-2pm and free lunch is provided by the Farm Bureau. The purpose of the Local Work Group meeting is to gather landowners to discuss local conservation practices and needs. Provide guidance to your NRCS and Soil & Water field offices concerning the implementation and delivery of conservation programs. The Farm Bureau works on a diverse list of policy issues including trade, ag education, infrastructure, commodities and crop insurance. RSVP with this link: https://forms.gle/KTGnU3JZQ6a7qAnp9

Link: https://lickingswcd.com/news-events/event-calendar.html/calendar/2024/3

“This year Soil and Water is celebrating 80 years of serving Licking County! The official Charter Day was March 17th, 1944. Join us for an Open House Celebration on March 15th, 2024 from 4-6 pm at the Ag Service Center as we reminisce about the past and look forward to the next 80 years! RSVP with this link: https://forms.gle/KTGnU3JZQ6a7qAnp9

Link: https://lickingswcd.com/news-events/event-calendar.html/calendar/2024/3

Scholarship for Licking County student working on a career path related to agriculture

The Licking County Pest Management Committee is providing a scholarship opportunity.
Applicants for the scholarship must meet the following guidelines:

ELIGIBILITY
● Sophomore or above in trade school or college (including Graduate Level) and enrolled for the next term.
● GPA Level: 3.0 or above
● Passionate intent to have a career path related to agriculture
● Past or present involvement with 4-H and/or FFA (or equivalent)
● Resident of Licking County
● Recipients are eligible to re-apply in following years

SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT
● Intent is to issue two scholarships of $500 per school year based on qualified applicants

Please click here for details and application: Pest Management Committee Scholarship – Due April 1 – to: Ohio State University Extension Licking County, Attn: Scholarship Committee, 771 E. Main Street, Suite 103, Newark, OH 43055. Please see application for eligibility requirements.

Join us for Farm Office Live on March 15

By:Peggy Kirk Hall, Attorney and Director, Agricultural & Resource Law Program Friday, March 08th, 2024
Farm Office Live agenda and speakers for March 15

March is already upon us and we’re busy preparing for the March edition of Farm Office Live.  Grab a cup of coffee and join us next Friday morning at 10:00 a.m. for our March webinar.  We’re excited to have a few industry professionals on this month for a panel discussion on the latest WASDE report and strategies for 2024 grain marketing.  The full Farm Office Live agenda includes:

  • Second Marriages and Transition Planning — Robert Moore, Attorney, OSU Agricultural & Resource Law Program
  • The New Rule for Independent Contractors — Jeff Lewis, Attorney, OSU Income Tax Program
  • Legislative Update — Peggy Hall, Attorney, OSU Agricultural & Resource Law Program
  • 2024 Crop Input Outlook — Barry Ward, Leader, Production Business Management
  • Industry Panel — WASDE and Strategies for Grain Marketing, moderated by Bruce Clevenger, OSU Field Specialist in Farm Management
  • Hot Topics and Upcoming Programs — David Marrison, Interim Director, Farm Financial Management & Policy Institute

Register for Farm Office Live at no cost through this link.  Can’t attend?  We record every Farm Office Live webinar and post the recordings at https://farmoffice.osu.edu/farmofficelive.

Cow/Calf Workshop on farm at Claylick Run

Ohio Beef Cow/Calf Workshop – Optimizing Herd Reproduction and Genetics

This event will be hosted at Claylick Run Farm.  Lunch will be provided by the Licking County Cattlemen.  Join us for some great education and fellowship with other cattle producers.

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

Friday, March 8, 2024, 9:00 am – 2:30 pm,

Claylick Run Farm 11970 Cross Rd., Newark, OH, 43056

Cost: $10 per person. RSVP to OSU Extension Licking County at 740-670-5315 by March 6, 2024. Limited to first 50 attendees

Lunch and Materials included. Dress for hands-on demonstrations.

BQA certification provided

Presentation Topics:
Breeding Season Management
Cow Longevity and Culling Decisions
Understanding EPD’s
Synchronization Strategies to improve profit
Bull Evaluation and Facilities Tour

 

Click here for flyer and registration form: Licking Cow Calf Workshop Flyer 3 8 2024

Last chance to sign up for our agronomy meeting.

We will continue to take reservations through 3-4-24.  Call 740-670-5315

Battle for the Belt Winter Meeting. 

What crop has the smallest yield penalty for delayed planting? Can you adjust your management practices to mitigate losses due to late planting? How are diseases affected by planting date?

Have you been following the “Battle for the Belt” through this last crop season. We are bringing this discussion to Licking County on March 6th.  The morning sessions are a statewide program offered in 3 locations and we have added lunch and afternoon sessions that address a concerns in our part of the state.

This will take place at OSU Newark / COTC.

Cost is $10 and includes a meal.

Call the office 740-670-5315 to register or register here go.osu.edu/24battleforthebeltlicking

4 hours CCA credits available

Speakers include:

Laura Lindsey  – OSU Professor Soybean and Small Grain Production

Osler Ortez – OSU Assistant Professor – Corn & Emerging Crops

Horacio Lopez-Nicora – OSU Assistant Professor Soybean Pathology and Nematology

Eric Richer – Assistant Professor Field Specialist, Farm Management, OSU Extension “Good Questions to Ask when Investing in On-Farm Storage”

Jim Ippolito – The Rattan Lal Endowed Professor of Soil Health and Soil Fertility, Ohio State  speaking on “Soil Health Perspectives from the New Guy”

8:45-9:00 a.m.       Registration

9:00-9:15                Pre-test survey

9:15-10:15             Corn/Soybean Results

10:15-10:30           Coffee/Bathroom break

10:30-11:00           Corn disease/planting considerations

11:00-11:30           Soybean disease/planting considerations

11:30-noon            Follow-up questions/applications /Post-test survey

12:00-12:45           Lunch and update from Ohio Corn and Wheat

12:45-1:00             FSA programs for grain storage / Cade Stockberger

1:00-2:00               Good Questions to Ask When Investing in On-Farm Storage / Eric Richer

2:00-3:00               Soil Health Perspectives from the New Guy / Jim Ippolito

Thank you to the Ohio Soybean Council, Ohio Corn and Wheat, and North Central Extension Risk Management for their support of this program.

Online Fruit Pruning School

It is the time of year to begin pruning to improve fruit production.

The Ohio State University South Centers is hosting its very popular, two-part (morning and afternoon) Online Fruit Pruning School on Thursday, March 14, 2024. This is a FREE online event that will be conducted virtually via the Zoom communications platform.

Part 1 on March 14 will be from 9:30 until 11:30 a.m. and will focus on pruning fruit trees including apple and peach. Part 2 will be held later that same day from 1-2:30 p.m. and will cover small fruits like grapes and raspberries.

Please register no later than Monday, March 11, 2024. Simply visit the link below and fill out the registration form. We also plan on offering recordings afterward, so you can access the event on-demand, as we know this fits some people’s schedules better.

Register here: http://go.osu.edu/pruningschool

Click here for flyer and details  Pruning 2024

You are also welcome to join others and myself to view from our conference room at 771 East Main St.  Newark OH, 43055

There will be a live Q&A.