fruit | Muskingum County Agriculture and Natural Resources

High Tunnel School March 14

February 24, 2025 | Clifton Martin

Join us for an exciting new endeavor, the Tri-State High Tunnel School, focused on high tunnel production, featuring information to benefit commercial growers, beginning farmers, and educators, among others. Muskingum County and Licking County are partnering to host this event at the Licking County Extension Office, 771 East Main Street, Newark OH 43055. Registration starts at 8:45 AM on March 14 and the cost is $25. RSVP by March 12.

Program topics include: fruit production, exclusion techniques for insects, water management, soil management, environmental management, high tunnel site tour

Direct Link to Register for the Newark, OH host site

Main information page for the high tunnel school program

Program Flyer with Agenda (Newark, OH)

The tri-state high tunnel school is hosted by Extension programs of Michigan State University, Purdue University, and The Ohio State University.

Ohio Berry Field Day February 20

February 12, 2025 | Clifton Martin

The Ohio State University South Centers is bringing its Ohio Berry Production Series to an online virtual format to reach even more growers in Ohio and beyond! Join us on February 20 beginning at 9:30 a.m. for this FREE online event via the Zoom communications platform.

This webinar will feature information to benefit both beginner and advanced growers, and to teach you proven techniques to maximize production and quality in your plantings and vineyards.

Schedule

9:30-10:30 a.m. Growing Blueberries in Ohio

10:45–11:45 a.m. Raspberry Growing in Ohio

Break for lunch

1:15-2:30 p.m. Growing Grapes in Ohio

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: go.osu.edu/ohioberries

New Master Gardener Volunteer Class Starts February 15

October 10, 2023 | Clifton Martin

Zanesville, OH–OSU Extension Muskingum County will offer a Master Gardener Volunteer Training Class in 2024. The basic premise of the Master Gardener Volunteer program is to provide training in horticulture to interested volunteers in exchange for 50 hours of horticulture service back to the community. Training will begin on February 15, 2024, from 1:00 to 4:30 pm with conventional classroom instruction. Program cost is $125. Applications will be available online at muskingum.osu.edu/mgv or at the Muskingum County Extension Office, 225 Underwood St, Zanesville. Applications are due Dec 15.

You may download an application here.

2023 Small Farm Conference and Trade Show

February 21, 2023 | Clifton Martin

Ohio State University Extension is hosting a Small Farm Conference in Mansfield Ohio on March 11, 2023. The theme for this year’s Mid-Ohio Small Farm Conference is “Sowing Seeds for Success.”

Conference session topics are geared to beginning and small farm owners as well as to farms looking to diversify their operation. There will be five different conference tracks including: Farm Office, Horticulture and Produce Production, Livestock, Agritourism/ Marketing, Natural Resources.

Some conference topic highlights include: How to purchase our family farm, food animal processing, bee keeping, sweet corn, blueberry and pumpkin production, small ruminant nutrition, agritourism laws, fruit tree pruning and cut flower diseases.

Anyone interested in developing, growing or diversifying their small farm is invited to attend including market gardeners, farmers market vendors, and anyone interested in small farm living.

Attendees will have the opportunity to browse a trade show featuring the newest and most innovative ideas and services for their farming operation. The conference provides an opportunity to talk with the vendors and network with others.

The Conference will take place from 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Mansfield OSU Campus in Ovalwood Hall, just minutes from I-71 and US Rt 30.

For conference and registration call OSU Extension Morrow County 419-947-1070, or OSU Extension Knox County 740-397-0401.

Please follow this link for conference details and to register: https://go.osu.edu/2023osusmallfarmconf

2023 Small Farm Conference and Trade Show

January 30, 2023 | Clifton Martin

Ohio State University Extension is hosting a Small Farm Conference in Mansfield Ohio on March 11, 2023. The theme for this year’s Mid-Ohio Small Farm Conference is “Sowing Seeds for Success.”

Anyone interested in developing, growing or diversifying their small farm is invited to attend including market gardeners, farmers market vendors, and anyone interested in small farm living.

The Conference will take place from 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Mansfield OSU Campus in Ovalwood Hall, just minutes from I-71 and US Rt 30.

For conference and registration call OSU Extension Morrow County 419-947-1070, or OSU Extension Knox County 740-397-0401.

Please follow this link for conference details and to register: https://go.osu.edu/2023osusmallfarmconf

Save-the-date: Fruit and Vegetable Producer Workshop January 26, 2023

November 21, 2022December 2, 2022 | Clifton Martin

OSU Extension Muskingum County will host a Fruit and Vegetable Producer Workshop January 26, 2023, at the Zanesville Muskingum Conference and Welcome Center. This workshop will focus on issues in weed control, pest management, small fruit production, and weather impacts on Ohio agriculture. This workshop features presentations from OSU Extension specialists Doug Doohan, Ashley Leach, Gary Gao, and Aaron Wilson. Updates and CEU’s will be provided for private pesticide applicators. This event will be held at the Zanesville Conference and Welcome Center, 205 N. Fifth St., Zanesville, Ohio. Doors open at 9:00 AM with Welcome and Introductions starting at 9:45 AM.

Registration at go.osu.edu/fruitvegworkshop

Good Agricultural Practice Training November 15 in Newark

October 28, 2022 | Clifton Martin

What is GAPs class?

An educational course that covers good agricultural practices or ‘GAPs’, which helps reduce the risk of on-farm produce contamination. Attending the OSU GAPs class does not equate to being ‘GAPs Certified.’ Learn about water quality, worker training, health and hygiene, manure and compost handling, domestic and wild animals.

Program Flyer

Fruit Crop Publications from OSU Extension

February 15, 2021 | Clifton Martin

OSU Extension maintains several handbooks and guides for at-home production of fruit crops. Many of these are for sale through the OSU Extension Publications store and can be purchased through the Muskingum County Extension Office.

OSU Extension Publications fruit production guides: All Publications – Crops – Fruits – OSU Extension Publications

Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide 2021-2022

February 15, 2021 | Clifton Martin

This guide provides conventional pest management recommendations for commercial tree fruit, small fruit, and grape producers throughout the Midwest and surrounding states. These recommendations have been formulated to provide up-to-date information on pesticides and their application.

Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide 2021-2022 (purdue.edu)