We have had another interesting year with heavy rainfall in the spring and not much since July. This has been one of the driest August and September stretches on record. Here is the summary of rainfall throughout this growing season from 10 locations in the county. Thank You to all of those who help us make this information available!
For reference, here are the 2024 totals.
Horse owners, managers, and equine enthusiasts will soon have access to an updated and comprehensive online learning opportunity focused on pasture and forage management. The Forages for Horses online course, developed by The Ohio State University Extension Equine Program, launches in October 2025 and will include live monthly webinars, a revised Forages and Pasture Management Manual, and additional digital learning materials.
The course will feature three live, 60-minute webinars held once a month in October, November, and December 2025. Each webinar will offer participants the chance to ask questions of featured speakers. Recordings will be available afterward for those unable to attend live.
Participants who register will gain access to the full online course through OSU’s Scarlet Canvas platform, where all recordings, resources, and the updated manual will be available for self-paced learning through September 2026.
The registration fee is $75, which includes a digital copy of the Forages for Horses Manual. A printed manual may also be purchased at checkout. Current and new members of the Ohio Forages and Grasslands Council are eligible for a $15 registration discount. Participants who attend all three live webinars will have the opportunity to earn a certificate of completion.
Registration for Forages for Horses is available through the PCE website.
In addition, the Equine Extension Team will host a free Equine Winter Webinar Series once a month in January, February, and March 2026. Registration for these sessions is also available at www.go.osu.edu/equinezoomseries25
This new course provides a flexible, research-based resource for anyone interested in improving horse care and pasture management—from casual horse owners to industry professionals. All Zooms will be recorded. For questions, please reach out to Janessa at hill.1357@osu.edu
Are you a new owner of farmland? Whether inheriting or purchasing farmland for the first time, a new farmland owner must choose what to do with the land. Farm it, sell it, lease it, preserve it — all are viable options that require an understanding of economic considerations and legal requirements.
Our upcoming webinar for the National Agricultural Law Center can help. Join me and Robert Moore on October 15, 2025 at Noon EST as we present “So Now You Own a Farm: A Beginner’s Guide to Farmland Ownership.”
Based on our recently published Beginner’s Guide to Farmland Ownership, this webinar will provide practical insights and strategies on new farmland ownership. We’ll cover topics such as:
The session can help both new farmland owners and the professionals who advise them better navigate the responsibilities, options, and decision-making that comes with farmland ownership. Register for the free online webinar at https://nationalaglawcenter.org/webinars/beginners-farmland-ownership/.
The Licking County Recycling Department will host a tire collection and recycling event for county residents on Saturday, October 11, 2025. The event will be held from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. at two locations – Licking County Highway Department garage complex at 775 E. Main Street in Newark (near the intersection of East Main Street and O’Bannon Avenue), and at the Utica/Washington Township Public Recycling Site on Township Road (off of Clifton Curtis Boulevard, South of Mill Street).
Licking County residents may bring up to 10 tires per vehicle for recycling. FEE IS $2.00 PER TIRE, CASH ONLY. Tires must be from passenger vehicles or light trucks ONLY. Tires on rims are accepted. Tires will not be accepted from businesses. While the event is scheduled from 8 a.m. – 12p.m., it may end earlier if the collection trucks fill up.
“We are excited to finally hold a tire collection and recycling event for residents here in Licking County”, said Licking County Recycling’s Director Andrea Krava. “It’s been nearly a decade since we received funding to host an event like this, so we expect to see a lot of residents with a lot of tires” she said.
Tire collection and recycling for the event will be handled by Willig Tire of Galion, Ohio. Funding for the event is provided by a grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s Recycle Ohio Grant Program. Licking County Recycling is funded by the CFLP Solid Waste District and the Licking County Board of Commissioners.
For more information about recycling in Licking County, please contact Licking County Recycling Department at (740) 670-5125, visit their website at LickingCounty.gov/RLC, or follow the department on Facebook for the latest news and information (www.facebook.com/lcrecycling).
Running a farm business is no small job. Between planting, harvesting, caring for livestock, and tracking markets, it’s easy to see why labor and employment laws might not be at the top of your list. But the reality is this: every agricultural operation, big or small, needs to pay attention to these rules. Ignoring them can create major headaches down the road.
We often write about labor and employment laws in agriculture, but we don’t always take the time to talk about the why. Why should farm employers care about compliance? The obvious answer is that failing to follow the law can lead to fines, penalties, or even criminal consequences. But there is another side to it: compliance is also about smart risk management. Too often, that part of the conversation gets overlooked.
In this post, we will dig into why labor and employment compliance matters for every farm employer, no matter the size of your operation, the number of workers you hire, or whether your team is made up of family, neighbors, or seasonal help. We will also be using this post to kick off a new series of posts, where we will break down labor and employment laws into bite-sized, practical pieces. The goal is to help Ohio producers understand their obligations and share best practices that can reduce risks and strengthen their businesses. Continue reading Farming by the Rules: An Employment Law Series
Exciting news — our team is growing in 2026! We’re looking to hire three new technicians to support Ohio farms with their financial and production recordkeeping needs. These are seasonal, part-time positions. Feel free to contact me with questions. Dean 740-670-5315.
Interested candidates can apply here: https://osu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/OSUCareers/job/Remote-Location/Extension-Educators-Coordinator-4—Farm-Business-Analysis_R138399-2
By: Carl Zulauf, Professor Emeritus, Ohio State University; and Eric Richer, Associate Professor and Field Specialist , Ohio State University Extension, October 2025
The cost of storing the average Ohio corn and soybean bushel since 1973 is examined. Storage cost is measured three ways: per bushel, relative to harvest price, and per acre of production. All three measures are at or near post 1973 highs as total costs to store corn and soybeans have roughly doubled since 2020 and now exceed $1 per bushel for both corn and soybeans over a 12 month storage period. This notable increase occurred after a long period (1974-2019) during which declining interest rates and thus interest opportunity storage cost per bushel largely offset increasing physical storage cost per bushel. These storylines underscored the important role of interest rates and thus interest opportunity cost in offsetting or reinforcing on-going increases in physical storage cost. The reinforcing role has been especially noticeable since 2020. Continue reading Annual Cost of Storing Ohio Corn and Soybeans Since 1973
OSU Extension Office – Newark
Farm Credit Mid-America – Utica
Granville Milling – All locations
H.W. Martin and Son – Hebron
Heritage Cooperative – Nashport
Legend Farm and Feed Supply – Newark
Utica Feed and Hardware
tickets also available online at: https://fsr.osu.edu/home
Single day tickets are $10.00 in advance from participating Ohio agribusinesses and county offices of Ohio State University Extension.
Single day tickets at the gate are $15.00 at the gate.
After a wet start this spring, drought has set in again. While not rated as bad yet as a year ago, there are crops in parts of the county that are really suffering. According to drought.gov this is the second driest August on record over 131 years in Licking County.
Are you interested in learning more about goat production? Join Ohio State University Extension Small Ruminant Team for the 2025 All About Goats! Webinar. This webinar series is going to answer producers burning questions concerning their own herd and help new producers become knowledgeable herdsman. Whether you raise goats for dairy, fiber or meat production or as pets- this webinar is for you! All youth livestock exhibitors are encouraged to attend.
The topics and dates for this series are as follows:
September 22- Goat Health and Care
October 6- Farm Business and Management
October 20- Goat Processing
November 3- Livestock Marketing
November 17- Hay and Grain Production
December 1- Coyote Management
December 15- Open Forum: Ask Me Anything
The webinar is hosted via Zoom from 7-8 p.m. EST. Registration is required and can be completed by visiting go.osu.edu/allaboutgoats25
If you have any questions, please contact Pressley at 419-447-9722 or buurma.20@osu.edu