Uncategorized

Muskingum Ag Network Breakfast, Tuesday, May 5, 8:00 AM (online webinar)

| Clifton Martin

Join OSU Extension Muskingum County for the Muskingum Ag Network Breakfast on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, at 8:00 AM.  OSU Extension will host a webinar featuring brief updates from OSU Extension, Soil and Water Conservation, and USDA Farm Service Office.  Our guest speaker is Stacey Russell with the Muskingum County Library System.  This is an online webinar which can be accessed by clicking this link: go.osu.edu/agbreakfast.

At this time, there is no in-person gathering.  The complete program on May 5 will be held online.  Program starts at 8:00 AM.  Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and tune in for updates from your local community.

Tune in: go.osu.edu/agbreakfast

Tuesday, May 5 @ 8:00 AM

Please contact Clifton Martin, Extension Educator, at 740-454-0144 or martin.2422@osu.edu with any questions.

Soil Sample Testing Resources Still Available

| Clifton Martin
Soil Test for Farm, Lawn, and Garden

One of many services OSU Extension offers in Muskingum County is easy access to soil testing resources.  Our soil test program is based on the resources provided by the Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Lab, University Park, Pennsylvania. As a part of our service, we provide assistance interpreting results of your soil test.

For years, this service was offered by provided soil testing kits to customers who came into the office.  Today, the current social circumstances put us in a temporary office closure.  What can we do in the meantime? The steps and links below will provide you with the same basic resources.  Be sure to read and follow directions on the sample submission forms closely.

Steps to Follow:

1. Collect Sample(s)

Basic Instructions for Collecting Soil Samples (PSU Extension)

2. Fill out submission form.

These submission forms are pre-filled with an address block so that a copy of the results will automatically be sent to the Muskingum County Extension Office and a copy will be delivered to the address you provide.

Submission Form for Agronomic Crops (individual sample)

Submission Form for Agronomic Crops (multiple samples)

Submission Form for Home Garden, Fruit, Tree, Landscape, Turf, Lawn

3.  Mail sample (Be sure to include payment for the soil sample.)

4. Interpret Results.

If you have questions about your sample results, you may contact the Muskingum County Extension Office at martin.2422@osu.edu or 740-454-0144.

Links:

Muskingum County Soil Sample Page: https://muskingum.osu.edu/soiltest

 

OSU Extension Announces Agriculture and Natural Resources Madness: A Tournament of Education

| Clifton Martin

Columbus, Ohio—Did your usual conference get canceled? Looking to fill the void of the big basketball tournament? Ohio State University Extension is here to help with a new virtual education program for the agricultural community.

“Agriculture and Natural Resources Madness: A Tournament of Education” will include 64 educational events broken into daily brackets. Each day, a virtual educational session will be held at 9 a.m., noon, and 3 p.m. The educational tournament is free of charge and will likely continue until mid-May.

“This effort is a direct response to providing a variety of useful and timely sessions for farmers and families across the state during Gov. DeWine’s stay-at-home order,” said Jacqueline Wilkins, interim director of OSU Extension. “While our ‘tournament’ is being loosely tied to March Madness, it’s not a competition, and people can join in at any time for as many or as few sessions as they desire.”

The tournament opens on Wednesday, March 25, with the eFields 2019 Results webinar. Learn how the eFields program used modern technologies to help Ohio farmers learn new practices and techniques to improve farm efficiency and profitability. Tip-off is at 9 a.m., and registration is required at go.osu.edu/eFieldsWebinar.

Also in this bracket is a March 25 noon webinar from Sam Custer, interim assistant director of OSU Extension’s agriculture and natural resources program, to discuss how educators are working remotely to continue serving Ohioans during these uncharted waters of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

Tournament “brackets” will change daily. Topics will cover a variety of subjects and be presented in a variety of virtual platforms. When possible, question-and-answer opportunities will be included.

To find complete details on the tournament’s educational opportunities and other event and webinar links, visit go.osu.edu/agmadness.

Agriculture and Natural Resources Madness is just one example of how OSU Extension is employing its online resources during this challenging time to remain engaged with Ohioans. “The intent is to reach the agricultural community in a time of high stress,” Custer said. “OSU Extension has also updated its Ag Crisis website to include a toolbox of resources related to COVID-19. Those can be reached at go.osu.edu/AgCrisis.”

OSU Extension has implemented a teleworking plan effective immediately, and all OSU Extension offices statewide are closed until further notice. The plan mirrors The Ohio State University’s decision last week to require all employees who can do so to work from home and to maintain only critical services on university property across all campuses.

Clients, stakeholders, and other community members can continue to connect with any OSU Extension staff member via phone or email as usual. To contact your local Extension office, visit  for office phone numbers and a direct link to each office’s website and staff directory. If you reach voicemail, please leave a message with your name and contact information, and you will be contacted as soon as possible.

OSU Extension is the outreach arm of Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), and works to share knowledge with every county in Ohio. Its four major program areas are family and consumer sciences, 4-H youth development, community development, and agriculture and natural resources.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

| Clifton Martin

Governor DeWine recently issued a state of emergency and implemented a variety of strategies to reduce the spread of coronavirus. Beginning March 18, 2020, the OSU Extension – Muskingum County office will be closed to the public until further notice.

In order to reduce risk to employees and clientele, Ohio State University has implemented a teleworking plan. While the Muskingum County Extension Office will be physically closed, we are committed to continuing to conduct our work as fully as possible. We are equipped to facilitate effective teleworking and will continue to serve our clientele and communities. You should continue to feel free to call or email with any OSU Extension staff member as you normally would.

OSU Extension is deeply committed to the health and well-being of its staff and our community while doing it’s part to help slow the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). If you have questions, please feel free to contact our office at 740-454-0144 and follow the voicemail prompts to reach the appropriate staff member.