Even if you have never received a payment from the USDA, this program may have something for and includes livestock and specialty crops.  The Farm Service Agency is handling this program and is currently unable to have in person meetings.  Appointments for phone meetings can be set up by calling their office at 740-670-5340.  Read below for more information.

by: Chris Zoller, Extension Educator, ANR, Tuscarawas County &  Mike Estadt, Extension Educator, ANR, Pickaway County

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) is part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and other USDA authorities to provide $16 billion in support to farmers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.  The program is available to all farmers, regardless of size, who suffered an eligible loss. Included in the program is $3 billion that will go toward purchases of commodities for distribution by food banks and faith-based programs through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. USDA announced $1.2 billion in contracts for that program last week.

CFAP will provide direct support based on actual losses where markets & supply chains have been impacted.  The program is also designed to assist farmers with additional adjustment and marketing costs from lost demand and short-term oversupply for the 2020 marketing year caused by COVID-19.

Although sign-up has not started, there are a few things you can do now to be ready, including:
Gathering documentation of recent sales and inventories

• Having your Tax Identification Number (TIN)
• Determining your operating structure (sole proprietor, LLC, etc.)
• A record of your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)

A more detailed breakdown of the commodities involved can be accessed by clicking this link: Program Details

An additional article on CFAP can be accessed at: https://u.osu.edu/ohioagmanager/2020/04/21/usda-announces-coronavirus-food-assistance-program-cfap/

Your local Farm Service Agency office will be handling the application process and all interested farmers are encouraged to call to schedule an appointment and have questions answered.  Additional CFAP information is available at https://www.farmers.gov/cfap

Tuesdays from 4-5 p.m.

Are you interested in learning about food preservation? Join us for these free webinars hosted by Ohio State University Extension Family and Consumer Sciences. You are welcome to register for just one or all of them. Recorded sessons will be available the day after each webinar.

TOPICS

May 19 – Preparing for Canning
Recording: osu.zoom.us/rec/share

June 2 – Jams and Jellies
Register: go.osu.edu/jamsandjellies

June 16 – Canning and Freezing Vegetables
Register: go.osu.edu/canningfreezingvegetables

June 30 – Canning and Freezing Fruit
Register: go.osu.edu/canningfreezingfruits

July 14 – Pickles
Register: go.osu.edu/pickles

July 28 – Salsa
Register: go.osu.edu/makingsalsa

The Soil & Water office is open and here to serve you!
The office is open Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4:30 pm, excluding federal holidays.
We recommend you call 740-670-5330 before you stop in to ensure the person that you want to see is available.

Sadly, Soil & Water will be replacing two staff members who will be moving on to new jobs this summer.
The District Technician coordinates and provides assistance for the agriculture community and rural landowners regarding soil health, conservation practices, and water quality initiatives.
The Conservation Educator will promote, schedule and present conservation education programs to diverse audiences including, youth and adults in urban and agricultural settings.
Job announcements and application process can be found here.

We have taken the opportunity to enhance our website over the last few months. Additional information includes:
Needing to buy a rain barrel or geotextile?   Visit our new Conservation Supplies online store. Place your order and pick up the products the next day!
Need to rent the No-Till drill for planting season?  Request a reservation online.
Thinking about building a pond or have questions on maintenance?  FAQ now available on our site.

Soil & Water website link:  www.LickingSWCD.com

Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District Cost Share Opportunity

To promote the use of cover crops, the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District is again providing funding for the Cover Crop Cost-Share Program to assist producers in planting cover crops to decrease erosion and improve water quality.

Last year in Licking County alone, cover crop cost-share producers planted almost 2,500 acres of cover crops and kept more than 4,600 tons of soil from eroding into our streams, 4,700 pounds of phosphorous on the land and 9,400 pounds of nitrogen out of the waterways.

Soil & Water will be accepting applications until July 3, 2020.   Applications are evaluated individually with fields being scored based on several criteria.  Fields that score high enough are approved for cost-share funding at a rate of $12/approved acre.  If a producer and field are new to the Program, the cost-share rate is $15/approved acre.  There is a cap of 200 approved acres per producer.

New for 2020, soil test results are required on fields enrolled in the Program.  Tests must be from within the last 4 years, and a minimum of every 25 acres, e.g. 100 acres requires four soil tests, 15 acres requires one soil test.

A USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) field map must be included with the applications.  Contact FSA at 740-670-5340 to have your maps printed prior to submitting the application.

Landowners must make an appointment to apply in-person at the Soil & Water office, 771 E. Main Street, Suite 100, Newark, Ohio 43055.  Call 740-670-5330 to schedule a time with one of our technicians.
Deadline is July 3, 2020.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) will resume testing for pesticide and fertilizer applicators on Tuesday, June 2^nd. Exam sessions will meet Ohio’s current standards for both meeting size and social distancing. Exams will be held in the Bromfield Administration Building on ODA’s campus in Reynoldsburg.

Testing sessions will initially be scheduled on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9 AM and 1 PM. Preregistration is required and can be accessed here. No walk-in test takers will be permitted. Masks and photo IDs are required; pencils and calculators will be provided.

Due to the COVD-19 Pandemic, we ask that every person taking the exam do a self-check before entering ODA’s campus. Please take your temperature at home to ensure you do not have a temperature. If you are feeling sick, please reschedule your exam. Please wear a mask and make sure it is covering your nose and mouth then entire time you are taking the exam. You can find additional information on how to slow the spread of COVID-19 here.

Per OAC 901:5-11-08(A)(7), applicants must wait five business days between testing sessions. For additional information, please call the Pesticide & Fertilizer Regulation Section at 614-728-6987, option 1 or email pesticides@agri.ohio.gov.

For additional information regarding testing sessions and steps ODA is taking to protect Ohioans, please visit our website.

Live webinar this Friday May 29th includes information on funding programs for your woodland.

What will we talk about?

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers technical and financial assistance to improve resource conditions such as soil quality,  water quality and habitat quality, through implementing conservation practices, or activities, such as conservation planning that address natural resource concerns on the land. Join Dave Libben and Nick Schell with NRCS, for a discussion on how NRCS programs can help improve your woodland and wildlife goals.

Register here:  go.osu.edu/nrcswebinar

Agenda:

10 – 10:45 am                   Programs Promoting Healthy Woods and Wildlife, presented by Nick Schell and Dave Libben

10:45- 11:30 am               Q&A with Dave and Nick

By Dean Kreager, previously published in Farm and Dairy

There is one pasture project that never seems to go away. That is controlling the multiflora rose. The plant was first introduced into the United States in 1866 to be used as a rootstock for grafting roses. About 70 years later the U.S. Soil Conservation Service promoted the use of multiflora rose as a “living fence” and a means of erosion control. The adaptability of this plant allowed it to get out of control. Over the years this plant has made the list of noxious weeds in many states and is taking over many pastures in this part of the country. The battle to gain control is difficult and maintenance is continual.

The leaves and thorns on this plant make it easy to identify as a rose. Left on its own, this plant can quickly form dense thickets over 6 feet high. The white flowers it produces in May to June lead to seeds that birds are more than happy to spread throughout pastures. One multiflora rose can produce up to 500,000 seeds per year. Once deposited these seeds can remain viable for up to 20 years. Seeds are not the only way this plant spreads. Stems that are in contact with the ground can form roots which become a new plant, and roots are also able to produce new plants.

What makes this such a problem plant? Most species of pasture animals do not eat multiflora rose. This allows it to outcompete the plants the animals prefer to eat, and it takes over larger areas of pasture every year. Thorns can also cause damage to eyes and other sensitive skin areas. You probably have noticed how animals will leave a patch of grass around the multiflora rose. If you add up all the patches of pasture that are lost to these weeds it soon becomes a significant amount.

There are a variety of methods available for controlling multiflora rose.

Mechanical Methods:

Pulling it out is an option if you only have a few plants to deal with but, if you do not get all of the roots new shoots will soon emerge.  Routine mowing will keep these weeds under stress, which may cause some to die. Mowing will help slow the spread but is unlikely to kill a large percentage of the plants.

Biological Controls:

Goats are likely the best biological method of control for multiflora rose. About 80% of a goat’s diet can come from browse and goats are often happy to eat multiflora rose. Adding some goats to your pasture can help remove woody plants. The challenge with goats is the ability to keep them in the desired fenced area. They also need to continue eating these plants to the ground until the root reserves are used and the plant dies. A second biological control, Rose Rosette Disease, is a viral infection carried by small mites. It can kill multiflora rose but will also kill ornamental roses and some fruits. Because of the damage to other plants this biological control is not being promoted. A third biological possibility is a rose seed chalcid wasp, but these are not common enough to be significant.

Chemical Control:

There are several herbicide options available and the effectiveness of each may depend on the season. Basal bark and cut stem applications can be conducted year-round. Foliar applications are most effective from now until fall. The 2020 Ohio Weed Control Guide is an excellent resource that has reviewed the effectiveness and application considerations of many herbicides. The following information is from that guide which can be obtained from your local Extension Office or online. I will just concentrate on a few of the foliar options.

An herbicide of 2,4-D plus triclopyr (examples: Crossbow, Crossroad, Candor) can be used in a foliar application and is very effective from late April through early June. A 1.5% solution will kill multiflora rose and other broadleaf plants but will not kill grass so you can spot spray without leaving dead patches. There are some grazing restrictions such as 14 days after treatment for dairy animals. Other livestock does not have a waiting period between application and grazing but remove animals 3 days before slaughter. Read the label for more details.

Glyphosate can be used as a spot treatment when mixed at a 2% volume to volume rate. It is best used in late spring to summer when the plants are fully leafed. Glyphosate has the advantage of lacking soil activity so can be used around trees if carefully applied. This will kill most plants that it comes in contact with in a pasture so overspray will cause bare patches.  Grazing or harvesting should not occur for 14 days after application.

Metsulfuron methyl (examples: Patriot, Cimarron Plus) has also been very effective at controlling multiflora rose. It is best applied as a foliar spray in late spring or summer when plants are fully leafed. For spot spraying mix at a rate of 1 ounce per 100 gallons of water. This product has a long residual time and restrictions of 34 months for many crops. There are also restrictions where runoff may occur. There are however no grazing restrictions at this application rate.

The label of the pesticide is the law and must be followed so read the label before mixing or using the pesticide. The three treatments above are not the only options but are examples of treatments that have worked well in Ohio.

Due to the characteristics of multiflora rose there will always need to be a follow-up program to keep the numbers down in pasture areas.

Author(s): Mark Sulc

The Ohio Agronomy Guide states that most cool-season perennial forages should be planted by the first of May. While some of you reading this article were able to plant forages by now, many of us (myself included) once again were not able to meet that deadline due to wet weather. So how hard and fast is the May 1 deadline, especially in a cold spring like we have experienced? Don’t we have a little more time to plant forages? I hate to say this, but the answer is neither simple nor clear cut.

The planting deadlines in the Ohio Agronomy Guide are based on data and years of experience of what is best management practice. The risk of stand establishment problems increases as we move further and further past the published deadlines. Tell me it will not turn hot and dry in early to mid-June and that weeds won’t emerge and grow like gangbusters with all the moisture we’ve had, then I’ll tell you that forage plantings can still be successful. Unfortunately, the law of averages increases against forage establishment success the later into May that we plant.

Having said all that, I will still try to plant my experiments up until May 11-15 in central Ohio. For each of us, it is a matter of balancing the risk versus the cost and competing tasks at hand. The rainfall outlook for May is normal to above normal with summer going from wet to drier. Temperatures in May will average near normal, but summer temperatures are projected to be above normal. The warmer summer and projected trend towards drier conditions is concerning for young forage seedlings trying to become established in June and July. Late established seedlings will be at risk of being exposed to moisture and heat stress before they have a strong root system established.

A firm seedbed and good seed placement are essential when seeding late, as this will help moisture move through the soil to the germinating seeds resulting in fast emergence and better early growth. Summer annual weeds will now be emerging with the forage seedlings and we know that weeds are very competitive and destructive when they emerge at the same time as new forage seedlings. In pure alfalfa stands, we have herbicide options that can help against both broadleaf and grassy weeds, in forage grass stands we have only broadleaf herbicide options, and in grass-legume mixtures we have virtually no effective herbicide options during establishment. You might want to seed a pure stand now to provide more herbicide options, and then interseed the secondary species into the stand in August.

Consider your options and management carefully before planting perennial cool-season forages the next two weeks. I’ve had success and failures in the past with late plantings – but the law of averages is starting to work against us now. The latest I have planted alfalfa was in a small experiment on June 2 in central Ohio. In that case I planted Roundup Ready alfalfa, and we received adequate rainfall through June. The stand established well, and we were able to control weeds effectively with Roundup. But the stand really did not produce much yield that seeding year. I think we had one small cutting the entire growing season. It was as if the alfalfa was just growing the root system so the above ground growth remained short all summer. The following year it produced excellent yields though.

An alternative to consider now is to plant a short-season annual forage crop that can be harvested in late June and July, followed by planting the cool-season perennial forage stand in early to mid-August when the law of averages will once again be more in favor of forage seedling establishment. This is what many of us had to do last year.

If you do plant in the next two weeks and the resulting stand ends up with thin spots, it will be important to work hard at keeping the thin areas from going to weed seed production this summer. You can interseed those areas with a no-till drill beginning in early August. This is true even for alfalfa seedings made this spring. Autotoxicity to alfalfa seedlings is not a big concern until the existing alfalfa plants are a year old. It is also possible to interseed alfalfa now into a thin stand of alfalfa that was planted last summer, and this spring is your last opportunity to do it; however, the discussion above about late plantings still applies to such interseedings.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Cultivating Resiliency Upcoming Live Online Sessions for Women in Agriculture

Webinars and Coffee Chats

May 2020 and June 2020 Sessions to date

Webinars are recorded Coffee Chats are not.

You may access recordings at: 

https://americanagriwomen.org/webinars/ or

http://umash.umn.edu/cultivating-resiliency/

Sessions hosted by Doris Mold,

Presidents’ Council –  American Agri-Women

contact her at doris.mold@americanagriwomen.org with questions.

 The Cultivating Resiliency Program is a collaboration between American Agri-Women, District 11 Agri-Women, University of Minnesota Extension Women in Ag Network and the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center.

May 14, 2020 8:00 PM 

Cultivating Resiliency Virtual Coffee Chat – mixed gender session

Registration link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5953994409591151629

Times are challenging!  Grab your cup of coffee and join us for an opportunity to listen and share in our  Cultivating Resiliency online “Coffee Chat” group. This is an opportunity to share what is on your mind related to agricultural stress in a safe place. Participants are allowed to be anonymous and may type in their questions or verbalize them, or just listen.   The session is limited to 20 registrants and will last one hour. The session will not be recorded and participants may choose to remain anonymous. Shauna Reitmeier, MSW, LGSW will lead this session of Coffee Chat. Shauna has over 20 years of experience in the behavioral healthcare and cognitive disabilities fields. She currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Northwestern Mental Health Center, which serves a comprehensive array of behavioral healthcare services to adults, children and families across six (6) rural and frontier counties of Northwest Minnesota. Shauna grew up on a farm and is well-connected with rural communities.

May 19, 2020 1:00 PM 

Compassion Fatigue in Agriculture

Registration link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2508013917467818510

Are you noticing that you are exhausted and emotionally withdrawing from your family, neighbors, clients or customers?  You could be experiencing Compassion Fatigue.  This can be a common experience for those who work with chronically stressed individuals.  During this webinar, learn what Compassion Fatigue is, how to prevent it from happening, and strategies to deal with it if you are experiencing symptoms.

About our presenter: Monica Kramer McConkey, LPC has 25 years of experience in the behavioral health field as a child and adolescent counselor, program supervisor, and administrator. Monica grew up on a farm in Northwest Minnesota and has an intimate understanding of the dynamics that contribute to farm stress and its impact on farm families. Monica is very much in touch with the agricultural way of life.

May 27, 2020 7:00 PM CDT

Cultivating Resiliency Virtual Coffee Chat – women-only session

Registration link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3829483957542356750

Times are challenging!  Grab your cup of coffee and join us for an opportunity to listen and share in our  Cultivating Resiliency online “Coffee Chat” group. This is an opportunity to share what is on your mind related to agricultural stress in a safe place. Participants are allowed to be anonymous and may type in their questions or verbalize them, or just listen.   The session is limited to women-only with a maximum of  20 registrants and will last one hour. The session will not be recorded and participants may choose to remain anonymous.  About our facilitator: Brenda Mack is a behavioral health and human services consultant, trainer and presenter, and an Assistant Professor in the Social Work Department at Bemidji State University (BSU).  Brenda is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker through the Minnesota Board of Social Work. Brenda grew up on a farm and currently lives on a farm with her farming family.

June 3, 2020 12:00 PM CDT

Cultivating Resiliency Virtual Coffee Chat – mixed-gender session

Registration link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5825996962467436046

Times are challenging!  Grab your cup of coffee and join us for an opportunity to listen and share in our  Cultivating Resiliency online “Coffee Chat” group. This is an opportunity to share what is on your mind related to agricultural stress in a safe place. Participants are allowed to be anonymous and may type in their questions or verbalize them, or just listen.   The session is limited to a maximum of  20 registrants and will last one hour. The session will not be recorded and participants may choose to remain anonymous.  About our facilitator: Brenda Mack is a behavioral health and human services consultant, trainer and presenter, and an Assistant Professor in the Social Work Department at Bemidji State University (BSU).  Brenda is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker through the Minnesota Board of Social Work. Brenda grew up on a farm and currently lives on a farm with her farming family.

June 17, 2020 7:00 PM CDT

 Cultivating Resiliency Virtual Coffee Chat – mixed-gender session

Registration link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7253298295250952462

Times are challenging!  Grab your cup of coffee and join us for an opportunity to listen and share in our  Cultivating Resiliency online “Coffee Chat” group. This is an opportunity to share what is on your mind related to agricultural stress in a safe place. Participants are allowed to be anonymous and may type in their questions or verbalize them, or just listen.   The session is limited to a maximum of  20 registrants and will last one hour. The session will not be recorded and participants may choose to remain anonymous.  About our facilitator: Brenda Mack is a behavioral health and human services consultant, trainer and presenter, and an Assistant Professor in the Social Work Department at Bemidji State University (BSU).  Brenda is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker through the Minnesota Board of Social Work. Brenda grew up on a farm and currently lives on a farm with her farming family.

Many are asking who can legally apply pesticides on the farm since ODA postponed pesticide license testing. Ohio law requires a private pesticide license to use restricted use pesticides in agricultural production on the applicator’s property, the employer’s  property or rented land.  Restricted use pesticides are labeled as such, and cannot be purchased without a license.  No license is needed for application of general use pesticides in agricultural production on the applicator’s property, the employer’s  property or rented land.

Non-licensed family members or subordinate employees can apply restricted use pesticides under the direct supervision of the licensed private applicator under certain circumstances, as long as the pesticide label does not prohibit it.  The private applicator’s responsibilities are outlined below.

What does the licensed private applicator need to provide to those working under direct supervision?

• The licensed applicator does not have to be present, but must be available if needed during the application
• Pesticide labels must be at the worksite if licensed applicator not present
• Personal Protective equipment as required by label

What are the age requirements for unlicensed applicators working under direct supervision  of a private applicator?

• If a family member, the only restriction is for Pesticides with Danger – Poison Signal word – the family member must be 18
• If an employee – they must be 18  (a Worker Protection Standard (WPS) requirement)

What are the training requirements for unlicensed applicators?

• Subordinate employees must receive WPS handler training annually
• Family members are exempt from annual WPS handler training, except when respirators are required on the label.  In this case there are requirements under WPS for annual respirator training.

Which pesticides do NOT allow direct supervision (may only be applied by the licensed private applicator)?

• Paraquat dichloride
• Dicamba formulations used over the top of soybeans – Xtendimax, Engenia, FeXapan, and Tavium.
• Any other pesticide that restricts use to certified (licensed) applicators

Also see:  https://u.osu.edu/psep/2020/05/07/who-can-legally-spray-for-the-farm-nursery-or-greenhouse/

Note: requirements for making applications under supervision of a commercial applicator are different.  For these see:

https://u.osu.edu/psep/2020/04/23/what-is-a-trained-serviceperson-and-can-they-legally-apply-pesticides-in-ohio/