Ag Safety

Heat Lamp Use for Newborn Livestock

It’s that time of year when we hear in the news of barn fires as a result of heat lamps being used for lambing, kidding, and even calving. As temperatures get colder, livestock producers raising young animals need to make conditions favorable for rearing newborns in adverse conditions. Adding heat lamps to livestock pens should be done with caution. With any electrical appliance or heating source, precautions need to be taken.

If you must use a heat lamp, best management practices recommend the following tips:

1. Purchase a high-quality heat lamp. Use lamps that are enclosed with a heat lamp guard (wire or otherwise). If using a lamp outdoors, make sure the lamp is labeled for outdoor use.

2. Use high- quality bulbs. Low quality bulbs such as thin glass can shatter.

3. Regularly inspect to make sure that the bulb is tightly secured, and wiring is not exposed, is sealed, and is secured.

4. Avoid using bulbs over 250W.

5. Many lamps are used over numerous years. Remove any dust, cobwebs, or dead insects before use.

6. Secure the lamp to a panel using a non-flammable chain or a heat lamp clamp. Do not use twine or rope.

7. Make sure the lamp is secured high enough that adult livestock cannot tamper or abuse the fixture (with head butts, kicks, or bashing). Continue reading Heat Lamp Use for Newborn Livestock →

Online Fruit Pruning School

The Ohio State University South Centers is hosting its popular Online Fruit Pruning School on Tuesday, March 4. This is a FREE online event that will be conducted virtually via the Zoom communications platform

All three parts will be held on March 4 beginning with apple tree training and pruning at 9:30 a.m. followed by peach tree training and pruning at 10:30 a.m. We will briefly break for lunch before wrapping up with small fruit pruning beginning at 1:15 p.m. We will cover small fruits like aronia, currants, elderberries, gooseberries, grapevines and hardy figs.

Simply visit the link below and fill out the registration form. We also plan on offering on-demand 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

Are you prepared in the case of a home or farm emergency?

During a recent conversation with some of the fine folks with the Lorain County Emergency Management Agency, I got to discuss the county’s preparedness in the event of emergencies related to agriculture. There is never a bad time to ensure you have plans and procedures in place and that your family, friends, employees, or otherwise are all aware of these plans and procedures in the event of an incident.

At home, our emergency plans may be straightforward, but it is still good to make sure everyone knows what to do in the event of different types of emergencies. For example, where to go in the event of a severe storm or tornado, what your evacuation routes are in the event of a fire, does everyone know how to contact 911, and who needs to be contacted in addition to 911? Organizations like the American Red Cross and others provide tips on putting together emergency plans and what to consider when discussing these sorts of things with your family.

On the farm, you will likely need to include more detail than in an emergency plan for your home. Here are some tips on things to include in a farm emergency plan. Continue reading Are you prepared in the case of a home or farm emergency? →