Zanesville, OH–The Muskingum County Sheep Producers Improvement Association will be hosting a free informational workshop for everyone currently raising sheep and interested in raising sheep, open to all ages. The workshop will be Saturday, February 8, 2020 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Pleasant Grove United Methodist Chruch, 400 Pleasant Grove Road, Zanesville, OH 43701. A light lunch will be provided. Braden Campbell, Program Coordinator with the OSU Sheep Team will keynote the program by discussing Pasture Management. Dr. Clay Elliot from Purina will speak on Nutrition and Dr. Brian Williams will speak on Sheep Health. A light lunch will be provided.
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Monday, January 13 Press Release
We had a lively January Ag Network Breakfast program this month (January) as a guest from the Public Utilities commission of Ohio (PUCO) joined us for the morning. We benefit greatly from access to excellent electricity and natural gas, but as with many things, there are challenges and controversies. PUCO regulates investor-owned utilities of natural gas, electric, telephone (local and long-distance), water and wastewater, commercial motor carriers and moving companies, and railroad crossing safety. They do not regulate cell phone service and towers, internet service, cable service, propane and fuel oil, municipal utilities, or electric and natural gas cooperatives. For many of us the most visible place we see the role of PUCO is in our electric and natural gas service. One resource we discussed at length during our program was the Apples to Apples Comparison Charts which provide a comprehensive listing of the companies electric and natural gas billing services. As it turns out, it can be a bit dicey navigating through all the offerings to see where your best options are. This chart can be found at https://energychoice.ohio.gov/ApplesToApples.aspx.
PUCO: https://www.puco.ohio.gov/
PUCO Apples to Apples Comparison Charts: https://energychoice.ohio.gov/
AEP Ohio’s Agricultural Energy Efficiency Program: https://www.aepohio.com/save/business/programs/Agriculture.aspx
Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Calendar:
January 13. Extension Advisory Committee Meeting
January 14. Master Gardener Training Class Begins
January 16. Private Pesticide Applicator Exam Training, 6:00 PM, Rural Services Building
January 23. Private Pesticide Applicator Exam Session, 1:00 PM, Rural Services Building (Register for Exam at this link)
January 28. Agronomy School
January 30. Ohio Beef Cattle Nutrition and Management School Session 1.
January 30. Ohio Beef Cow/Calf Workshop Session 1.
February 4. Muskingum Ag Network Breakfast
February 4. Pesticide and Fertilizer Applicator Recertification
February 6. Pesticide and Fertilizer Applicator Recertification
February 8. Sheep 101 (Muskingum County Sheep Producers Improvement Association)
Monday, January 6, 2020.
2019 is in the books and was a year dominated by international trade, hemp legalization, and significant weather impacts on Ohio agriculture. What is in store for 2020? One list highlights farm income, farm finances, African swine fever, trade war, D.C. drama, U.S. economy, global unrest, acreage debate (planted crops), weather, ending grain stocks, and trade impacts on livestock producers as the conversations that lie ahead for the industry. We can only do our work and wait to see what comes to pass. In the meantime, our work remains and programs from OSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources are on the immediate horizon.
“For the true measure of agriculture is not the sophistication of its equipment, the size of its income, or even the statistics of its productivity, but the good health of the land.” Attributed to Wendell Berry.
Calendar:
January 7. Muskingum Ag Network Breakfast, 8:00 AM, Friendly Hills Grange
January 10. Pizza, Pop and Profit, 12:00 PM, Rural Services Building
January 14. 5:30 PM, Master Gardener Training Class Begins
January 16. Private Pesticide Applicator Exam Training, 6:00 PM, Rural Services Building
January 23. Private Pesticide Applicator Exam Session, 1:00 PM, Rural Services Building (Register for Exam at this link)
January 28. Agronomy School
A check on the weather (as of Dec 12) shows 1.10 inches at the Zanesville Weather station (Zanesville Municipal AP) in the past seven days. 30-day rainfail total is 3.85 inches and a total of 1.09 inches is recorded for the year. (https://w1.weather.gov/data/obhistory/KZZV.html). In 2019, annual rainfall was 41.71 inches.
Agronomy School, January 28, 2020
Zanesville, OH–Join OSU Extension in Muskingum and Coshocton Counties for the 2020 Agronomy School. This school will focus on topics to increase corn profitability, improve grain crop nutrient management, and understand new trends in Ohio weather. Also learn more about the farm bill, commodity prices, and trade issues. Featured speakers include Aaron Wilson, Atmospheric Scientist, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center; Ben Brown, Program Manager for Farm Management; Glen Arnold, Field Specialist, Manure Management; and Harold Watters, Field Specialist, Agronomic Systems.
Date and time: Tuesday, January 28, 2020, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Location: Dresden United Methodist Church, 1014 Main Street, Dresden, OH 43821.
PRE-Registration is required, and the fee is $30 per person. The registration deadline is Wednesday, January 22, 2020. This fee includes refreshments, hot lunch, handouts, and a copy of Bulletin #969 – A Field Guide to Identifying Critical Resource Concerns and Best Management Practices. Fertilizer Certification and Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) credits have been applied for. A program registration form is available at go.osu.edu/2020agschool. The event website can be found at muskingum.osu.edu/agronomyschool. Contact the Muskingum County Extension office at 740-454-0144 or martin.2422@osu.edu with questions.
Preparation Class for Ohio Private Pesticide Applicator Exam, January 16, 2020
Zanesville, OH–OSU Extension Muskingum County will offer a training class on January 16, 2020, at 6:00 PM, for individuals interested in taking the Ohio Pesticide Applicator Exam. This session will cover topics and information commonly covered by the exam and include approved practice materials and additional materials for study. The class will be held at the Extension Office, 225 Underwood St, Zanesville, OH. One week following this class, OSU Extension will host the Ohio Department of Agriculture on January 23, 1:00 PM, at the Rural Services Building to offer an opportunity to take the Private Applicator Exam. RSVP for the training class by contacting the Muskingum County Extension Office at 740-454-0144. To register for the exam, you must contact the Ohio Department of Agriculture using the link below or call ODA at 614-728-6987.
Several resources exist for individuals interested in the exam to review.
ODA Private Applicator Page: https://agri.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/oda/divisions/plant-health/pesticides/private-applicator
Exam Registration: https://agri.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/oda/divisions/plant-health/pesticides/exam-registration
Ohio State University Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program: pested.osu.edu
Exam Study Materials: https://pested.osu.edu/home/privateapplicator/studymaterials