Month: February 2025

OSU Extension Small Farm Conference to be held – at Ohio State University Wooster Shisler Center Wooster, 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 Wooster, OH on March 8th. The theme for this year’s 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 Crop Production, Business Management, Livestock, Natural Resources and Diversifying Your Enterprise.

Some conference topic highlights include: Growing in a Hoophouse, Integrated Disease Management Strategies for Apple and Peaches, High Tunnel Tour, Using Cover Crops for Soil Regeneration, Creating Habitat for Beneficial Insects on the Farm, Growing Microgreens, Money to Grow: Grants 101, Growing Your Farm With Agritourism, Navigating Licenses/Certificates for your Small Farm Market, How Can Value – Added Help Your Farm, Vaccination Programs for a Small Farm, Grassfed Beef Tour.

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 on March 8th from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Ohio State University Wooster Campus Shisler Conference Center, 1680 Madison Ave, Wooster, Ohio 44691.

For conference and registration information call OSU Extension Morrow County 419-947-1070, or OSU Extension Knox County 740-397-0401. Please follow this link to register for the conference: https://Go.osu.edu/2025smallfarmconference

For complete brochure click here:2025 Small Farms Conference Brochure

 

 

Have questions on estate planning with your farm?

We all tend to put off making decisions that involve the death of family members.  While these may be hard conversations, they need to happen so that farms and property can be smoothly transitioned to a new generation.  We are holding a two evening meeting designed to teach you about steps to take and questions to ask.  No products or services are being sold.  OSU Extension is providing education.  The meetings will take place in the Babcock Building at the Hartford Fairgrounds on March 13 and 18, 2025.  The meetings will be from 6-9 p.m. and the fee is $25 per couple to cover the cost of materials and snacks.  Additional family members can attend for $15 per person.  Reservations deadline is March 7.

Workshop topics include: Developing Legacy Goals; Planning for the Transition of Management; Planning for the Unexpected; Communication and Conflict Management; Legal Tools and Strategies; Developing Your Team; Getting Your Affairs in Order; and Selecting an Attorney.

Our teaching team will help answer the following questions and much more!

  • Who should we leave the farm to?
  • How do we prepare the next generation to manage the farm in the future?
  • How can we overcome family communication issues?
  • How do we value sweat equity?
  • What is the difference between a will and trust?
  • Will I lose my farm to estate taxes or to the nursing home?
  • What do we need to do to be better prepared to meet with an attorney and other professionals?
  • What resources does OSU Extension have to assist us as we develop our plan?

Click on this link for registration form and call the office at 740-670-5315 with any issues.  PlanningforFutureofFarmRegistration2025 1 page

This workshop is being cosponsored by Ohio Corn and Wheat.

Tri-State High Tunnel School in Licking County

Ohio State, Michigan State, and Purdue Extension ask you to join us for an exciting new endeavor, the Tri-State High Tunnel School, focused on high tunnel production, featuring information to benefit commercial growers, beginning farmers, and educators, among others. A lunch is included with your registration.  Licking County will be a host site to this interactive webinar bringing together expert speakers from a Tri-State area.

Topics will include; new crop options, pest management, soil and water management, environment management tools, and a visit to the on-site high tunnel owned and operated by the Licking County Master Gardener Volunteers.  This is a full day of learning including Q&As with the specialists.

This link will take you to the complete schedule for the event: Hightunnel Partners Flyer 2025 (3)

This link will take you to the registration (please select the Newark location)  https://go.osu.edu\htschool

Licking County Agricultural Hall of Fame Breakfast 3/28/2025.

The Licking County Agricultural Hall of Fame was established to recognize those individuals who have demonstrated a lifelong exemplary service to their community and the industry of agriculture.

We will celebrate our history at the Agricultural Hall of Fame with an induction breakfast and ceremony Friday, March 28, 2025 at the Reese Center on the Newark campus of The Ohio State University and Central Ohio Technical College at 7:30 a.m. and will conclude by 9:00 a.m.  This year we will be inducting Charles Reeves and William Hogue.

You are invited to attend to celebrate the accomplishments of these two inductees.  The cost is $10 and reservations can be called in to the Extension Office by Thursday March 13th at 740-670-5315.

State releases funds for drought assistance to farms with grazing livestock

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) will provide $10 million in state funding to help farmers recover from this year’s historic drought. The state experienced extreme weather conditions throughout the Spring and Summer, significantly impacting agricultural producers.

Local Soil and Water Conservation Districts will help administer the relief funding to 28 counties designated as primary natural disaster areas by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) between August 19th and September 16th, 2024, due to drought. Funding is available to any livestock producer participating in the USDA FSA Livestock Forage Disaster Program in a county designated as a primary natural disaster area.  Licking County is included.  This program provides an additional 30-40% payment on Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) contracts for eligible producers.  If you did not take part in the LFP program with the Farm Service Agency, contact them first, you have until March 1st.

Program Details:

  • Signup Period: February 15 – April 1
  • Eligibility: LFP contract holders in affected counties
  • How to Apply: Visit the Licking SWCD office during designated signup times.

Walk In Signup Hours at Licking SWCD:

  • Tuesdays: 8:30 – 11:30 AM
  • Wednesdays: 1:00 – 4:30 PM

Contact Licking SWCD to set up appointments outside the open walk-in sign up dates at (740) 670-5330 or contact Tayler Coy at TaylerCoy@LickingSWCD.com

Complete the Program Application & W-9 at www.LickingSWCD.com, print and bring to the Soil & Water office at 771 East Main Street, Newark.   We will have copies at the office as well.

Take advantage of this opportunity for additional drought relief—contact us with any questions.

 

2025 Local Work Group Meeting: Collaborating for Conservation

The annual Local Work Group (LWG) meeting, a collaborative effort among the Licking County Soil & Water Conservation District, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Licking County Farm Bureau, is scheduled for March 7, 2025, at Heritage Hall, 1058 E Main St, Newark, Ohio. Continue reading 2025 Local Work Group Meeting: Collaborating for Conservation →

OSU Extension Small Farm Conference to be held – at Ohio State University Wooster Shisler Center Wooster, Ohio

By: Julie Wayman

Community Development Educator

OSU Extension Ashtabula County

____

Ohio State Extension announced plans to host a Small Farm Conference in Wooster, OH on March 8th. The theme for this year’s 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 Crop Production, Business Management, Livestock, Natural Resources and Diversifying Your Enterprise.

Some conference topic highlights include: Growing in a Hoophouse, Integrated Disease Management Strategies for Apple and Peaches, High Tunnel Tour, Using Cover Crops for Soil Regeneration, Creating Habitat for Beneficial Insects on the Farm, Growing Microgreens, Money to Grow: Grants 101, Growing Your Farm With Agritourism, Navigating Licenses/Certificates for your Small Farm Market, How Can Value – Added Help Your Farm, Vaccination Programs for a Small Farm, Grassfed Beef Tour.

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 on March 8th from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Ohio State University Wooster Campus Shisler Conference Center, 1680 Madison Ave, Wooster, Ohio 44691.

For conference and registration information call OSU Extension Morrow County 419-947-1070, or OSU Extension Knox County 740-397-0401. Please follow this link to register for the conference: https://Go.osu.edu/2025smallfarmconference

For complete brochure click here:2025 Small Farms Conference Brochure

 

 

New private pesticide applicator training class

For those interested in obtaining a private pesticide applicator license we will hold a meeting at 7:00 p.m. on March 31, 2025 in the Ag Services Building conference room.  Receiving a license involves passing a test on Core knowledge as well as one or more of the seven specific categories such as row crops, forage and livestock, and fruits and vegetables.  This meeting will explain the process, review materials that will likely be on the Core test, and cover some row crop and forage materials basics.  Study materials will be provided for any categories you need.  There is no cost but please RSVP so we can have study materials for the categories you need.  Call 740-670-5315 to sign up or with any questions. Continue reading New private pesticide applicator training class →