Recent News Headlines

Start your scouting and preparation for tick and fly season now | Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter 

Hay barn fires a real hazard when the rain keeps coming | Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter 

Cattle on Feed Inventory Below 2023 for the First Time This Year | Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter 

Preg Checking has never been more affordable! | Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter 

Integrated Parasite Management Strategies For Sheep Producers | OSU Sheep Team 

Goat or Sheep Hoof Trimming for Beginners | OSU Sheep Team 

Ohio Farmland Trends and Preservation | Ohio Ag Manager 

Statewide Slug Monitoring Project – Update #2 | Agronomic Crops Network 

Lep Monitoring Network – Black Cutworm and True Armyworm Update # 6 | Agronomic Crops Network 

Upcoming Webinar: Weather Trends and Pest and Disease Impacts on Soybeans | Agronomic Crops Network 

It’s high season for Ohio’s noxious weeds laws | Farm Office 

Another Lake Erie lawsuit: how does it affect Ohio agriculture? | Farm Office 

Alexus Masterson Starts as Family and Consumer Sciences Educator in Muskingum County

The Muskingum County office of Ohio State University Extension is pleased to announce that Alexus Masterson has been hired as the Family and Consumer Science Educator. She will provide leadership to the Muskingum County Family and Consumer Science program, which consists of clientele at many stages of life, from birth to death.

Alexus is a native of Morgan County and has served as the Family and Consumer Science Program Assistant in the Washington County Extension office for the past 9 months. During that time, she coordinated Food Preservation classes, Healthy Living programs, and Real Money. Real World., while helping to deliver many other aspects of the county FCS program. She is a 4-H Alumni of 7 years from Morgan County as well.

Alexus obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Community and Public Health from Ohio University and a Master of Public Health from Ohio University.

Contact Alexus at 740-454-0144 or masterson.98@osu.edu

ODA Free Farm Pesticide Disposal Collection Event Will Be at the Morgan County Fairgrounds August 9

Link to ODA Press Release

August 9, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.: Morgan County, Morgan County Fairgrounds
2760 South Riverside Drive, McConnelsville, Ohio 43756

The pesticide collection and disposal services are free of charge, but only farm chemicals will be accepted. Paint, antifreeze, solvents and household or non-farm pesticides will not be accepted.

The pesticide collections are sponsored by ODA in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. To pre-register, or for more information, contact the Ohio Department of Agriculture at 614-728-6987.

Participating in statewide lepidopteran moth trapping network

I am participating in the statewide moth trapping network that monitors key pests in agronomic crops which are reported through the Crop Observation and Recommendation Network (CORN).  We are currently trapping for True Armyworm, Black Cutworm and have setup traps for European Corn Borer.

Updates and reports are here:

Lep Monitoring Network Update #2 – Black Cutworm & True Armyworm 

Lep Monitoring Network – Ohio Black Cutworm and True Armyworm Monitoring

Muskingum Youth Horticulture Education Project Application

The Muskingum County Master Gardener Volunteer Program is offering a spring project for teachers or youth leaders with an interest in horticulture.  This year (2023), teachers and youth leaders in Muskingum County may apply for a seed starting kit by completing the attached application. We expect that they will be used in conjunction with instruction about seed germination, pollination, and growing food as appropriate.

Twenty kits will be available. If more applications than that are received by the deadline of February 24, 2023, awards will be made in order of date submitted. Kits include labels, growing media, seeds, and three 24-cell self-watering seed starting tray systems.  We hope these can aid in in providing an enjoyable experience for you in your classroom.

The application is available here: go.osu.edu/mgvedgrant.

The application is very similar to last year, with an added question about the need for supplemental lighting.  We may have the opportunity to loan some light resources for some projects, but not all, so if you believe that would be helpful please indicate as appropriate in your application.

Fall is the Best Time to Sample for Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN)

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) remains the most economically damaging soybean pathogen in North America. If SCN levels are above damage threshold, significant yield reduction can often take place without visible symptoms. To know if the nematode is present in a field, soil sample for SCN testing must be properly collected. The presence of SCN in a field, but most importantly, the SCN numbers will determine the best management strategy. Therefore, you need to test your fields to know your SCN numbers.

Full Article at Fall is the Best Time to Sample for Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) | Agronomic Crops Network (osu.edu)

It’s a great time to take a soil test…

Autumn is one of the better times to collect a soil sample and get it sent to the lab.  The Extension Office is just one of many resources to help get this done.  We have soil test kits ready at the office available for $9.

We loan soil core probes for a $10 deposit, returned on receipt of the tool back to the office.

Resources to help include:

Soil Testing for Ohio Lawns, Landscapes, Fruit Crops, and Vegetable Gardens

Interpreting a Soil Test Report

Fertility Management of Meadows

Soil Testing for Ohio Lawns, Landscapes, Fruit Crops, and Vegetable Gardens

Soil Acidity and Liming for Agronomic Production

Corn, Soybean, and Alfalfa Yield Responses to Micronutrient Fertilization in Ohio