Month: February 2019

Germinate International Film Fest Coming Soon!

Germinate International Film Fest promotional posterCome one, come all to the Germinate International Film Fest, featuring a diverse range of films highlighting agriculture and rural communities! The Highland County Office of OSU Extension is pleased to announce the inaugural festival will be held on August 16 and 17, 2019, in Hillsboro, Ohio. Germinate means to grow and the purpose of this film festival is to grow knowledge about agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities.

Historically, researchers have found that rural communities and the agricultural industry have been depicted in entertainment media as outdated, having unrealistic portrayals, and as fodder for comedic material in film and television programming. However, online streaming platforms, such as Netflix, Hulu, and Apple iTunes, have recently curated sections of films related to food production and culinary expertise. These curated films represent consumer’s desire to want to learn more about how their food was prepared and where it was grown. The Germinate International Film Fest seeks to aggregate films that represent rural communities and their associated industries in an accurate manner, including current technologies, practices, and programs.

The concept behind the Germinate International Film Fest is to provide a forum for open discussion about agricultural, environmental, and rural community development topics important to the public. While rural areas represent 97 percent of the United States’ landmass, only 19.3 percent of the population resides in a rural area. Less than two percent of the nation’s population identifies as farmers. This film festival will provide an opportunity to showcase the agricultural industry from the perspective of agricultural producers, researchers, and rural community members.

Rural communities face many challenges. Germinate International Film Fest seeks films that will highlight the resiliency of rural communities and the individuals who are making these communities thrive. Does your community have a fabulous community garden? An engaged non-profit determined to increase technology in schools? Any programs that set your community apart from others? If so, we want you to tell their story and share it via a film at the festival.

While there are thousands of film festivals in the world, Germinate International Film Fest is different because these films will be selected based upon their ability to tell a compelling and logical story, as well as providing factual information about the topic being discussed. The festival will fill a void in current festival line-ups to highlight rural communities and the natural environments and industries surrounding them. Ten percent of the selected films will be sourced from local filmmakers from Ohio, allowing for attendees of the festival to be able to connect with local producers and filmmakers from the area surrounding Highland County, Ohio. Filmmakers of all skill and expertise levels are encouraged to apply. Additionally, there will be a still photography division for additional competition.

Film submissions will be accepted for the following categories:

  • Short Documentary: 59 minutes or less
  • Feature Documentary: 60 minutes or more
  • Short Narrative: 59 minutes or less
  • Feature Narrative: 60 minutes or more
  • A short of any kind: 20 minutes or less
  • Virtual Reality: 20 minutes or less
  • Photography:
    • Agriculture
    • Nature or the environment
    • Rural communities
  • Student Films: collegiate and graduate student-produced films
  • Youth: any filmmaker that is under 18.
  • Scholarly and/or Extension

Submissions are encouraged for all styles and methods of film production, including but not limited to: aerial cinematography, stop-motion, animation, and live action. Applicants are encouraged to use their creativity and imagination for the cinematic direction of their submissions.

Do you have a film or photograph that would be a great addition to the festival? If so, we welcome you to apply through https://filmfreeway.com/GerminateInternationalFilmFest. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2019.

Southern State Community College will host the screenings of the festival at their central campus in Hillsboro, Ohio. Hillsboro is located about an hour from Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus, making the location for the Germinate International Film Fest an easy commute from any of Ohio’s metropolitan areas. In addition to the live screenings of films, attendees will be able to participate in a series of hands-on workshops related to video production, photography, agriculture, natural resources, astronomy, and community development topics. The workshops will be held at various locations throughout Highland County.

For more information about the festival, contact the Highland County Office of OSU Extension at 937-393-1918. Tickets will be available for purchase in July through the Highland County Extension Office.

 

Commodity Outlook for 2019

Brooke Beam, Ph.D.

Ohio State University Extension, Highland County

Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator

February 26, 2019

 

My mother and I have been working on our genealogy for several months. While we knew the basics of our family history, there have certainly been a few interesting discoveries along the way. We didn’t know that our ancestor was once a king of a portion of Ireland, or that another immigrated to the New World on the Mayflower, or that Sir Isaac Newton was a distant cousin.

We did know that most of our relatives came from England and Europe. One of my mother’s great-grandfathers immigrated from England to the United States in the early 1800s. He arrived in the United States with nothing more than a trunk containing all of his possessions. He decided to start his life in Ohio by settling in Madison County, where he established a successful grain milling business and farm. Despite the distance from the rest of his family in England, he kept in contact with his father, who still operated the family farm in High Bradfield, England. My family has kept their written correspondence to each other from the 1840s. The conversation between father and son in these letters focuses on each of their agricultural ventures on two different continents, the markets, grain, and cattle.

In 1840, commodity outlooks were a concern, just as they are today. To better prepare for the 2019 growing season, the Highland County Extension Office will be hosting Ben Brown, Director of the Ohio Farm Management Program through the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, to provide a commodity update for local farmers. The program will be hosted on March 20, 2019, at 7 PM in the Large Meeting Room, located in the basement of 119 Governor Foraker Place, Hillsboro. The program is free to attend, however, RSVP to reserve your seat by calling 937-393-1918.

The Farm Management Program strives to address critical farm management issues affecting Ohio agriculture, including marketing and price analysis, farm financial management, risk evaluation, agricultural processing, environmental objectives, and farm entry and growth. Brown has recently published a summary of the 2018 Farm Bill and an outlook for U.S. Corn Exports for the coming years. Brown’s Commodity Outlook will provide farmers with information on making planting and marketing decisions for the 2019 crop year.

For more information about the program or to RSVP, contact the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918.

 

Upcoming Events: 

The Highland County Extension Office will be hosting a tour of the OSU Meat Lab in Columbus, Ohio, for those who are interested in beef and meat production on March 19, 2019. The tour will coincide with the meat class on campus, so attendees will be able to see the lab on a harvesting day. The tour will be held in the morning and space is limited. Please call the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918 for additional information and to reserve your place for the tour.

Video Production 101 will be held on Monday, March 25, 2019, at 6 PM at the Lynchburg Public Library in Lynchburg, OH. The topic of this program will cover the basics of video productions for beginners and will be presented by Brooke Beam. If you have a small business and would like to incorporate more videos into your marketing plans or you are interested in learning the basics of video production, this program is for you!

The topic of the Highland County Monthly Extension Programming for March will be Storytelling for Video Production. The program will be held on March 27, 2019, at 10 AM. Attendees will learn about the different kinds of documentary films and how storytelling impacts the audience’s perception of videos. The program will be held at Ponderosa Steakhouse in Hillsboro and is free to attend. Attendees are encouraged to purchase lunch on their own at Ponderosa. Please RSVP to reserve your seat by calling 937-393-1918.

 

 

 

What Do You Need From A Plant?

Submitted by Faye Mahaffey

OSUE Brown County Master Gardener Volunteer

Emerging Daffodils

As the roller coaster Ohio weather treats us to 20-degree mornings and 55-degree afternoons and lots of rain, have you had a chance to walk around and make your list of changes in the landscape for next season? In an article in Ohio Gardener, Scott Beuerlein shares your 3 choices when making improvements in your yard:

1. Remove ugly things,

2. install pretty things,

3. Move pretty things around.

Beuerlein believes that removing ugly things might be the hardest choice. Gardeners loathe digging up and tossing living plants – even the ugliest ones! Don’t save it because it came from your old garden, or that it came from your favorite Aunt. If it’s ugly, it’s compost!

Installing pretty things usually involves shopping trips to your local nursery. Beuerlein recommends picking two or three of your best nurseries and trying to go to them regularly throughout the season. (I really like this tip, don’t you?)  This is the best way to find new things that will guarantee a full season of interest. Establish a relationship with the smartest person at each nursery and during each visit ask them what is currently exciting them the most. Work these new acquisitions into the places ugly plants once occupied.

Moving pretty plants around will have to wait until spring. Make a note on your list of what you would like to move and where. I still have some flags in my daylily bed to remind me that a few cultivars need divided.

What do you need from a plant?  In my garden, a plant needs to be low maintenance. I don’t like a “needy” plant.

A plant that joins my garden needs to be able to survive on its own. If it needs extra water, food, or protection, it won’t be on my list. Many gardeners buy a plant that comes with “must do” chores with good intentions, but who are we kidding? Do you really have time to attend to its needs?

Next a plant in my garden needs to be able to take weather extremes in stride. Every growing season we complain about the weather knowing that we have no way to control Mother Nature. Too wet, too dry, too hot, too cold – welcome to Ohio!

Lastly, we all need our gardens to make us look good. Come on, admit it. We want our plants to be attractive, but we can’t expect them to flower all the time! Gardeners need to be smart about what plants they choose to achieve a garden that has blooms all season long. Reading the plant labels carefully and doing some extra research will pay off in the end.

The research on raised beds for my vegetable garden has turned up a beautiful plan that has received the “husband approval”, which is very important since he will be the head carpenter on the project! The material list is being drawn up as I write this article. I will share more information in the coming weeks.

Have you been enjoying the fruits of your labor in the garden? We enjoyed some bread and butter pickles with some delicious cheese and the pot of chili was especially tasty thanks to the addition of the chili sauce (Ball Book).

After a walk in the woods over the weekend, I have pulled out the tree identification books. Identifying a tree by its bark is a challenge for me, how about you?

 

Upcoming Fertilizer and Pesticide Recertification in Highland County

Brooke Beam, Ph.D.

Ohio State University Extension, Highland County

Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator

January 29, 2019

Attendees of the first fertilizer and pesticide recertification held in Highland County on February 19, 2019.

Attendees of the first fertilizer and pesticide recertification held in Highland County on February 19, 2019.

If you have your fertilizer or pesticide license and are in need of renewing your license this year, the Highland County Extension Office has one more training scheduled for 2019. The next recertification will be held on March 4, 2019, at the Ponderosa Steakhouse Banquet Center in Hillsboro, Ohio (545 S. High Street, Hillsboro). The fertilizer recertification will begin at 10 AM. Lunch will be served from 11 AM to 11:30 AM. The pesticide recertification will begin at 11:30 AM. Lunch is included in the registration cost. The program will conclude at 2:30 PM, unless there are individuals who need additional recertification for categories 3, 4, and/or 5.

Pre-registration is required through the Highland County Extension Office. The cost of fertilizer recertification is $10.00. The cost of pesticide recertification is $35.00. If you have both a license for fertilizer and pesticide application, the cost is $40. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required prior to the recertification. Payment cannot be processed at the door. Pre-registration is open until February 28, 2019, at noon through the Highland County Extension Office. You may contact the office at 937-393-1918 or stop in (located at 119 Governor Foraker Pace, Suite 202, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133).

The training scheduled for March 4this the second fertilizer and pesticide recertification for Highland County in 2019. The other recertification was held on February 19, 2019. Nearly 70 individuals attended the first recertification training, and space is filling quickly for the second recertification.

It should be noted that this recertification is for individuals who already have obtained their fertilizer and pesticide applicator’s licenses. Individuals who are wanting to obtain their fertilizer license need to attend a three-hour fertilizer certification course. Individuals who are wanting to obtain their pesticide license can register with the Ohio Department of Agriculture and can take an exam at the Old Y Restaurant on the second Monday of every month at noon.

For more information about the fertilizer and pesticide recertification training that will be held on March 4, 2018, contact the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918.

 

Upcoming Events: 

The topic of the Highland County Monthly Extension Programming for February will be Maple Syrup Production. The program will be held on February 27, 2019, at 10 AM. The program will be held at Ponderosa Steakhouse in Hillsboro and is free to attend. Attendees are encouraged to purchase lunch on their own at Ponderosa. Please RSVP to reserve your seat by calling 937-393-1918. Attendees will learn about the process of producing maple syrup and marketing.

The Highland County Extension Office will be hosting a tour of the OSU Meat Lab in Columbus, Ohio, for those who are interested in beef and meat production on March 19, 2019. The tour will coincide with the meat class on campus, so attendees will be able to see the lab on a harvesting day. The tour will be held in the morning and space is limited. Please call the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918 for additional information and to reserve your place for the tour.

Video Production 101 will be held on Monday, March 25, 2019, at 6 PM at the Lynchburg Public Library in Lynchburg, OH. The topic of this program will cover the basics of video productions for beginners and will be presented by Brooke Beam. If you have a small business and would like to incorporate more videos into your marketing plans or you are interested in learning the basics of video production, this program is for you!

The topic of the Highland County Monthly Extension Programming for March will be Storytelling for Video Production. The program will be held on March 27, 2019, at 10 AM. Attendees will learn about the different kinds of documentary films and how storytelling impacts the audience’s perception of videos. The program will be held at Ponderosa Steakhouse in Hillsboro and is free to attend. Attendees are encouraged to purchase lunch on their own at Ponderosa. Please RSVP to reserve your seat by calling 937-393-1918.

 

Prospects for Corn Trade in 2018/19 and Beyond

Ben Brown

Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics

The Ohio State University

February 15, 2019

 

The agricultural industry is a global economy with buyers (consumers), sellers (producers) and traders. In the United States, producers of corn have a comparative advantage- the ability to produce it cheaper per unit or at higher quality- over most other parts of the world. However, genetics, changes in weather patterns, land limitations, politics and global gross domestic product affect quantities of production and consumption.

Long-term trade projections for U.S. corn published by the Economics Research Service of the USDA look positive due to the expected rise in world GDP and population; however, increases in competition from other exporting countries continue trending toward a decrease in United States’ share of world exports. Trade negotiations between the U.S. and China are in the middle of a 90-day trade truce, which ends the beginning of March. It is uncertain what, if any, resolution will surface before or at the deadline. In December 2018, commodity indices declined before the previous trade deadline, but rallied at the announcement of the 90-day extension. Long-term projections include a continuation of current policies, accounting for tariffs from Mexico, the European Union, Mexico and Canada.

The USDA World Production Report, published February 8, 2019, puts the size of the 2018/19 world corn crop at slightly more than 43 billion bushels. With production in the United States estimated at 14.4 billion bushels, any reduction in world supply will come from Brazil’s short season corn crop.

Long-term trade estimations for world corn continue to see growth, with corn trade expected close to 163 million metric tons in 2018/19, up from 147 million metric tons in 2017/18. This increase in trade comes from expected strong corn production in Argentina and Brazil after last year’s drought.

Figure 1: World Corn Exports

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 1 illustrates world corn exports for marketing year 2017/18 through projections for 2028/29. The U.S. remains the largest exporter of corn to the world and increases almost 8 million metric tons or 13% by the end of the projection period. Major changes in corn export absolute values (million metric tons) come from Brazil (20.3), Argentina (8.8), and Ukraine (10.3). Percentage growth shows emerging producers like Europe (234%) increasing their exports from a relative low position. Growth in exports from these countries threaten the share of U.S. global corn trade. Figure 2 shows the growth in U.S. corn exports projected, but also the declining share of global corn trade.

Figure 2: U.S. Corn Exports

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. corn exports are projected to rise from almost 62 million metric tons (2.4 billion bushels) to almost 70 million metric tons (2.7 billion bushels) and show the continued growth in production and demand for U.S. corn abroad.

Associated with every seller (exporter) there has to be a buyer (importer). With the growth in world exports, there is also a growth in world imports to make the accounts balance. Mexico remains the largest purchaser of corn at 16.2 million metric tons (638 million bushels) with an estimated growth of 7 million metric tons (276 million bushels) by 2028/29. Currently, Mexico represents roughly 11% of the global corn trade. Regarding corn imports, a larger number of countries buy relatively smaller amounts of product compared to the smaller number of exporters who sell larger quantities of product.  For exporters, the U.S., Brazil and Argentina represent 73% of the world total. Still the small importing corn countries represent a significant role in world trade.  Figure 3 illustrated world share of corn imports and growth through 2028/29.

Figure 3: World Corn Imports

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Growth (million metric tons) in Mexico (7.1) accompanied by Vietnam (6.1), Egypt (5.1), South Africa (5), Iran (3.2), and China (3.2) make up the majority the of estimated world import increase through 2028/29.

Looking at U.S. corn exports for the current marketing year, (September 1, 2018 through August 31, 2019), corn exports started strong compared to past marketing years, but have slowed the past few weeks. The government shutdown that started December 22, 2018 and ran through January 25, 2019 has delayed corn export data, but weekly totals through the end of December are available and represented by Figure 4.

Current USDA estimates place U.S. corn exports for marketing year 2018/19 at 2.45 billion bushels up from 2017/18 at 2.438 billion bushels. Through the last week of December, corn exports came in 53% higher than the same week a year earlier. However, the rate of exports slowed in December. To meet the USDA estimate, the export volume for the next 35 weeks would need to average 47 million bushels a week. The weekly average in December came in at 38 million bushels per week. This does not mean the U.S. cannot meet the estimated export volumes, but increases in weekly sales will have to match the increase seen in 2015/16 during the second half of the marketing year.

The potential for increased sales in the second half of the marketing year look limited at the current time. Outstanding sales for the current marking year sit close at just over 512 million bushels. This is 15% below the three-year average, which includes marketing years 2015/16 and 2017/18, noted as having strong exports in the second half of the year. Exports in 2017/18 benefited from a low U.S. corn price, driven down by retaliatory tariffs on U.S. soybeans from China and a 14.4 billion bushel crop.

Figure 4: U.S. Corn Exports

Growth early in the current marketing year occurred thanks to some of the same countries mentioned above as being large key markets for future world trade. U.S. corn exports to Mexico were up 69 million bushels from a three-year historical average. Other areas of strong growth in U.S. corn exports were to Japan (56 million bushels), Korea (43 million bushels), Taiwan (23 million bushels), and Columbia (19 million bushels). Sustained values within these countries and growth from other areas will be needed to meet the USDA estimate.

Due to the lapse in federal funding, weekly trade information provided by the Foreign Agricultural Service of USDA is only current through the last week of December. However, grain inspections through February 7 indicated that corn exports are averaging 37. 4 million bushels each week to start 2019. In December, federal inspections were roughly 7.4% below USDA export values weekly. Assuming this margin holds, weekly sales could be equal to 40.1 million bushels, still well below the average needed to hit USDA’s estimate for 2018/19. An export value of 2.425 billion bushels seems more likely at the current time.

The future of U.S. corn exports look strong in future years supported by growth in domestic production and growing desire for corn consumption abroad. Increases in international competitors continue to decrease the U.S. percentage in world corn trade. Corn exports started strong for marketing year 2018/19, but will need to increase pace to meet the current USDA estimate of 2.45 billion bushels.

 

References

United State Census Bureau. “Weekly Export Inspections”, February 7, 2019.

United States Department of Agriculture-Economic Research Service. “Long-Term Term Trade Projections”, February 14, 2019.

United States Department of Agriculture- Foreign Agricultural Service. “Exports Sales Query”, February 15, 2019.

United States Department of Agriculture- World Agricultural Board. “World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, WASDE-578, February 8, 2019.

Caring for Your Amaryllis

Submitted by Faye Mahaffey

OSUE Brown County Master Gardener Volunteer

 

Have you received any plants for a holiday gift? A “non-gardening” friend of mine called this week asking what to do with her newest present – an Amaryllis. She was sure that this plant would meet the same untimely “death” joining all her other houseplants in plant heaven. I assured her that she could enjoy this showy plant and with proper care, enjoy it next holiday season as well.

The Ohio State University’s horticulture website, www.plantfacts.osu.edu, provides the following information about an Amaryllis:

The large, showy, lily-like flowers of the Amaryllis make great indoor potted plants during the winter holiday. Choose a container an inch or two larger in diameter than the base of the bulb and at least five inches deep; this plant likes to be a bit pot bound. The container should have a drainage hole in the bottom. Fill the containerwith a loose mix of two parts potting soil and one part Perlite.

Plant the bulb so that the top half or two-thirds of the bulb is above the soil level. Try to spread the roots apart slightly in the soil mix as you are planting. After planting, water the soil mix thoroughly so that water drains out of the container.

Place the potted bulb in a warm (70 – 75 degree F) and sunny location for growth to begin. Water as the soil mix becomes dry to the touch; if the mix is kept too wet, the bulb may rot. As the roots grow and fill the pot, the mix will dry more quickly, and you will need to water more frequently.

Six to eight weeks after planting, the plant should be in bloom. Larger bulbs may produce two or three flower stalks. Generally, the flowering stalk will appear before leaves do, but not always. Once growth has begun, rotate the container daily to prevent the flower stalk from leaning toward the light source. Occasionally, the flower stalk will need to be staked to keep it from falling over.

 

Cooler temperatures will contribute to a stockier and sturdier plant, so after growth begins, move the plant to a 60 – 65 degree F location. At this point, begin to fertilize the plant with a soluble potted plant fertilizer (5-10-5, 6-12-6, or equivalent), and do so every two weeks.

When the flower bud begins to open, take tweezers or small scissors and remove the anthers before they open and shed pollen, which will extend the bloom period by several days.

After the flower fades, remove the flower stalk by cutting it off near the neck of the bulb. Do not remove any foliage – the leaves are needed for photosynthesis to produce food for rebloom the following season. Keep the plant in a sunny location and water as needed.

Keep up on watering and fertilizing until mid-May. The plant can be placed outside about the third week in May, so begin the acclimation process about a week before. Gradually acclimate the plant by increasing exposure from shade to full sun over a week’s time. It will need full sun exposure in well-drained, fertile soil.

The bulb can be removed from its container and can be planted in the ground, which seems to produce better results regarding flowering next winter. Another option is to sink the plant in its container in the ground or leave it in the container set on top of the soil surface. Whichever method you choose, keep the plant well watered and fertilize about every two weeks with a liquid fertilizer that has a high phosphorus content (such as a 10-20-10). The plant should produce more foliage and will set its flower buds over the summer months.

September is the time to think about bringing the bulb back inside before night temperatures consistently fall into the 50’s. If the bulb was planted in the ground, dig it up and wash off the soil. If the bulb was growing in a container outside, bring it indoors, pot and all. In either case, allow the bulb and foliage to dry off naturally; foliage can be cut off when it turns brown and falls over. Bulbs will need to go through a resting period of about four months; store in a cool, dry area, near 40 -45 degrees F. After the resting period, pot bulbs in new soil and begin to grow them for the winter season.

My Amaryllis is in full bloom and is gorgeous! I have a friend on Facebook that has been posting her multiple plants in full bloom and all her friends are a bit worried about her new “obsession!” At last count, she has at least 20 Amaryllis (that she has admitted to). One plant suffered an upset at the paws of her indoor cat, but I think it survived!

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for our Pollinator Education Series being held on March 12 and March 13. Denise Ellsworth, OSU Program Director for Honey Bee and Native Pollinator Education, will conduct the Pollinator Advocate Certification training on March 12 at the Clermont County Fairgrounds 4-H Hall in Owensville, Ohio from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. You need to register for this free training by calling the Clermont County Extension office at 513-732-7070.

Later that evening at 7:00 p.m. Denise will talk at the monthly meeting of the Brown County Beekeepers Association in the Community Room of the Western Brown High School in Mt. Orab, Ohio. She will talk about Phenology for beekeepers, which will be helpful to gardeners as well. This program is free and open to the public.

On March 13, Gardening for Pollinators will be the subject of the seminar being held at the Brown County Fairgrounds (Rhonemus Hall), in Georgetown, Ohio from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

We know, as gardeners, that we play a vital role in the development and conservation of habitat that benefits pollinators. Come learn practical steps gardeners can take to create or enhance habitat, including plant selection and simple design elements.

We are still enduring the crazy weather ups and downs. Cold, wet, frozen, un-frozen, you name it, it is happening! How many days until spring?

Learn More About Pollinators

Submitted by Faye Mahaffey

OSUE Brown County Master Gardener Volunteer

Interested in learning more about pollination and pollinators? Hopefully, by now, you realize just how important pollinators are to our existence. The act of “pollination” occurs when pollen grains are moved between two flowers of the same species by wind or animals. Successful “Pollination” results in the production of healthy fruit and fertile seeds, allowing plants to reproduce. Without pollinator visits to tomatoes and other fruit and vegetable plants in our gardens, we would have no produce!

Almost 90% of all flowering plants rely on animal pollinators for fertilization, and about 200,000 species of animals act as pollinators. Of those, 1,000 are hummingbirds, bats and other mammals such as mice. The rest are insects like beetles, bees, ants, wasps, butterflies and moths.

Ohio State University Program Director for Honey Bee and Native Pollinator Education, Denise Ellsworth, will be visiting Clermont and Brown Counties for 2 days of pollinator education hosted by the Clermont and Brown County OSUE Master Gardener Volunteers, and the Brown County Beekeepers Association.

On March 12, 2019, you will have the opportunity to become certified as an Ohio Pollinator Advocate. Ohio Pollinator Advocates are certified, trained volunteers who spread the word about the importance of pollinators. Advocates complete at least 2 hours of training in pollination biology, Ohio bee identification, bee biology and habitat enhancement. Once certified, advocates agree to share their knowledge of why pollinators matter. This new training is sponsored by The Ohio State University Bee Lab. This training will take place at the Clermont County Fairgrounds, 4-H Hall, 1000 Locust Street, Owensville, Oh 45160 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The training is free and open to the public, but you will need to register by contacting the Clermont County Extension Office at 513-732-7070.

At 7:00 p.m. on March 12, 2019, the Brown County Beekeepers Association will host Denise Ellsworth as their speaker on Phenology for Beekeepers. Phenology is the study of recurring biological phenomena and their relationship to weather and climate. Participants will learn how to track bloom time of local plants using a web-based biological calendar, how native bees emerge in relation to phenology, and how to customize this calendar for bee-specific plants. This seminar will be held at Western Brown High School’s Community Room (back of the school) at 476 W. Main Street, Mt. Orab Oh 45154 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This program is free and open to the public and no registration is required.

On March 13, 2019, Denise Ellsworth will present the program, Gardening for Pollinators at the Brown County Fairgrounds, in the carpeted room at Rhonemus Hall, 325 West State Street, Georgetown, Oh 45121, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Gardeners play a vital role in the development and conservation of habitat that benefits pollinators, including bees, birds and butterflies. This session will focus on the practical steps gardeners can take to create or enhance habitat, including plant selection and simple design elements. This program is free and open to the public, no registration required.

As we start to make plans for our gardens and order seeds, we need to remember that how we design and what we plant can certainly make a difference in the existence of our pollinators!

We hope that you will mark your calendars and join us for 2 days of Pollinator Education.

 

2019 Ohio Woodland Water and Wildlife Conference

2019 Ohio Woodland Water and Wildlife Conference Flyer

Early registration ends this Thursday, Feb 21st, for the 2019 Ohio Woodland Water and Wildlife Conference. Here is the link to the information page at https://woodlandstewards.osu.edu/events/2019-ohio-woodland-water-and-wildlife-conference.  ODA Pesticide credits along with ISA, SAF and Landscape Architect credits are all available.

Chocolate: Agriculture’s Valentine’s Gift

Brooke Beam, PhD

Ohio State University Extension, Highland County

Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator

Ah, chocolate, a favorite treat of millions of Americans. Decadent and rich in texture, chocolate is a versatile agricultural product that is enjoyed in numerous forms and for limitless celebrations. Did you know that in 2018 the National Retail Federation estimated that $19.6 billion was spent on Valentine’s Day celebrations? Or that chocolate represents 75 percent of the total Valentine’s candy sales annually?

Chocolate is a product of the Cacao tree, primarily grown in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. A time-consuming process of harvesting the cacao pods, fermenting, cleaning, roasting, grinding, blending, and tempering is required before raw cacao resembles a chocolate product we could purchase at a store. Chocolate can be traced back to ancient Mayans and Olmecs of southern Mexico dating to around 1500 B.C.

Despite the long history of chocolate, it has changed drastically over the centuries of consumption. The Mayans combined chocolate with chili peppers, honey, and water. Later the Spanish and other Europeans made their own varieties of hot chocolate with sugar, cinnamon, and other additives. According to the History Channel, chocolate first arrived in North America via a Spanish ship into what is now Florida in 1641.

Despite raw cacao being grown and initially processed in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, chocolate is produced globally. The process of refining chocolate and transforming it into a desirable product can be accomplished anywhere in the world. Americans consume nearly 18 percent of the world’s chocolate, which represents over $18 billion annually. The average American consumes 9.5 pounds of chocolate annually, which is conservative to the 20 pounds the average Swiss person consumes per year.

Although we may think of chocolate as a commercial product, it is actually an agricultural product that is formed with partnerships from thousands of American farmers. According to the World Cocoa Foundation, the majority of American chocolate manufacturers use domestically produced sugar, milk, peanuts, almonds, and sweeteners. It is estimated that U.S. chocolate manufacturers use 3 billion pounds of sugar, 653 million pounds of milk, 360 million pounds of peanuts, 43 million pounds of almonds, and 1.7 billion pounds of corn syrup sweeteners annually.

Modern chocolate production methods allow consumers the luxury of enjoying thousands of variations of chocolate delicacies. Of course, it is important to understand the finer nuances of chocolate taste testing. To some, chocolate is chocolate. However, upon careful sampling, it is possible to tell the difference between brands and production methods and savor the unique flavors of chocolate.

Key Steps for Chocolate Tasting:

  1. Visual inspection: if the chocolate has a glossy surface and even color, it indicates a bar of well-tempered chocolate. Scuffs and inconsistent appearance aren’t an indicator of poor quality, but it is less visually appealing.
  2. Smell: Chocolates have their own unique smell. Some will have traces of nuts, cream, caramel, coffee, wine, or even fruit.
  3. Sound: the texture of chocolate bars can be identified by snapping a piece of chocolate into two pieces.
  4. Palatability: Perhaps one of the more crucial steps to sampling chocolate is to resist the urge to chew and devour chocolate when you consume it. To fully experience chocolate, it is recommended to put the chocolate between your tongue and the roof of your mouth and let the chocolate melt for a short period of time. Once the chocolate has melted, feel the texture of the chocolate. Textures vary from smooth to gritty or being dry.
  5. Taste and Flavoring: Concentrate on the flavors you can taste while the chocolate is melting in your mouth. Does the flavor of the chocolate change or stay the same? Does the flavor last? Try to describe the flavor to someone else using descriptive characteristics, like sweet, fruity, or smooth.

Try these five steps to further enjoy your chocolates this Valentine’s Day. It can be an enjoyable experience to ask others to taste chocolates and see how each person tastes different flavors in the same brand of chocolate.

While cacao beans are grown in warmer climates, it is possible to craft your own chocolate-based endeavors in Ohio. Thinking outside the (chocolate) box may provide an opportunity to develop a unique small business. Do you have a niche chocolate product? Contact the Highland County Extension Office for more information about the Agricultural Marketing Team, who may be able to assist you in marketing your food products.

 

Upcoming Events:

Highland County Fertilizer and Pesticide Recertifications: 

    • February 19, 2019, Ponderosa Banquet Center, 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm Fertilizer Recertification – Private and Commercial, and 6:30 pm Pesticide Recertification (Core, 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6) Private Applicators Only
    • March 4, 2018, Ponderosa Banquet Center, 10:00 am to 11:00 am Fertilizer Recertification – Private and Commercial, and 11:30 am Pesticide Recertification (Core, 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6) Private Applicators Only.

Registration details will come in the mail from the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Registration for OSU Extension Pesticide and Fertilizer and your renewal application for ODA Pesticide/Fertilizer must both be completed. Meals will be included at each recertification training at Ponderosa.

The topic of the Highland County Monthly Extension Programming for February will be Maple Syrup Production. The program will be held on February 27, 2019, at 10 AM. The program will be held at Ponderosa Steakhouse in Hillsboro and is free to attend. Attendees are encouraged to purchase lunch on their own at Ponderosa. Please RSVP to reserve your seat by calling 937-393-1918. Attendees will learn about the process of producing maple syrup and marketing.

The Highland County Extension Office will be hosting a tour of the OSU Meat Lab in Columbus, Ohio, for those who are interested in beef and meat production on March 19, 2019. The tour will coincide with the meat class on campus, so attendees will be able to see the lab on a harvesting day. The tour will be held in the morning and space is limited. Please call the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918 for additional information and to reserve your place for the tour.

The topic of the Highland County Monthly Extension Programming for March will be Storytelling for Video Production. The program will be held on March 27, 2019, at 10 AM. Attendees will learn about the different kinds of documentary films and how storytelling impacts the audience’s perception of videos. The program will be held at Ponderosa Steakhouse in Hillsboro and is free to attend. Attendees are encouraged to purchase lunch on their own at Ponderosa. Please RSVP to reserve your seat by calling 937-393-1918.

February’s List for the Garden

Submitted by Faye Mahaffey

OSUE Brown County Master Gardener Volunteer

Rain, Snow, Ice, and Wind! Welcome to winter in Ohio! The last snowfall was so light and fluffy that moving the 4 inches of new snow could have been done with the leaf blower!

Saturday was Groundhog’s Day and the prediction is for an early spring! Groundhog Day comes from our agricultural past and marks the halfway point to the Spring Equinox. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac website, Groundhog Day always falls on February 2. Today, most people know about the legend of the groundhog: If he sees its shadow on this day, there will be more wintry weather; if it doesn’t, then Spring is right around the corner! How often has the groundhog really predicted the coming of Spring? According to researchers, the groundhog has accurately predicted the coming of Spring only 39% of the time.

If an early Spring is right around the corner, I had better finalize my raised bed plans, make my materials list, and order seeds!

It’s time to review our checklist of gardening tasks for February which include:

Whole Garden:

  • There’s still time to look through catalogs and place orders.
  • Thoroughly clean any flats or pots for seedlings.
  • Set aside a potting area for seed starting and gather the necessary equipment.
  • Sow those seeds that will need 10 to 12 weeks indoors before they can be transplanted outside.
  • Make sure your bluebird boxes are clean.
  • Continue looking for plant damage in your landscape.
  • Test seeds left over from last year for viability.

Trees and Shrubs:

  • Prune off broken twigs and branches on shrubs.
  • Brush off excess snow to avoid breakage.
  • Force branches of spring-blooming shrubs and trees once buds have begun to swell (pussy willow, forsythia, apple, cherry).

Fruits and Vegetables:

  • Plan your vegetable seed-sowing strategy.
  • Begin sowing leek seeds indoors.
  • Prune fall-bearing raspberries in late February.

Well-known gardening author Margaret Roach (awaytogarden.com) writes in her February garden chores that we must not rush to start our seeds, but instead spend our time mapping out the vegetable garden. Make a list of what you want to grow and how much of each plant you want to grow.

Roach’s gardening mantra this year is “Be thoughtful, keep weeding” with the “thoughtful” part standing for “thoughtful organic gardening” as in thinking carefully before any action is taken. Many gardeners are guilty of spraying first before they have identified the problem or pest.

Roach also asks if polka-dots are dominating your garden – lots of “onesies” (a single plant of each kind, instead of an impactful group or drift of each variety). Last year she forced herself to divide plants and repeat sweeps elsewhere – rather than buy so many new “one-ofs”. She suggests making a list of the large clumps of perennials in your gardens and then dividing them. I guess this is the year I finally divide my daylilies.

Ready to think about your flower and vegetable gardens and the health of your soil?  Plan to attend the gardening seminar on Thursday, February 21 at the Mt. Orab campus of Southern State Community College from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Room 208. James Morris, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator and Community Development Educator for Brown County OSU Extension, will talk about soils as well as soil testing. Remember that all seminars are free and open to the public. Please remember that in case of wintry weather, you should check SSCC’s website, www.sscc.edu, or call 937-444-7722, for any campus closures. If the campus is closed, the seminar will be canceled and rescheduled.

Are you ready to dig in the dirt? It won’t be long now!