Day: September 10, 2019

Hemp Informational Meeting

September 3, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

David Dugan

Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources

and Community Development

Hemp Informational Meeting

 

The HOT TOPIC right now in this area is HEMP.  With the plots in the ground near the Adams County Airport, we do have something to see.  This crop was planted way past the normal date for the crop to mature, however it will give us something to start with.

There have been lots of questions about growing hemp in Ohio. Those questions are wide open.  Some want to know about actual production, some want to know about markets, some want to know about the budgets, some want to know about the permits, and on and on.  As I said a week or so ago in this column, there are many more questions than there are answers.  

Here are some of the questions that I can answer.  First of all there are no pesticides labeled at this time.  Second, hemp can be grown for CBD oils, grain or fiber.  Third it is not marijuana.

Do you want more answers?  If you answered yes, here is the opportunity to ask and hopefully get more answers than I provided above.  I have scheduled an informational meeting for Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at the Ohio Valley Career and Technical Center on Lloyd Road in the cafeteria.  The program will begin at 6:30 p.m.  Due to this being new to everyone, I have no idea how many may want to attend.  Space is limited to 150 people.  For that reason you will be required to PRE-REGISTER by Friday, September 27 by calling the OSU Extension Office by 4:00 p.m.  The number is 544-2339.

The meeting will feature Dr. Bob Pearce from the University of Kentucky.  Dr. Pearce has been to Adams County a number of times over the years.  Dr. Pearce and I have done tobacco research together and he has headed up the GAP trainings for most of the tobacco growers in recent years.  Dr. Pearce is still a tobacco specialist, but he is also heading up the Hemp Program at the University of Kentucky.  Dr. Pearce will discuss the research done in recent years at UK in producing hemp.  Planting rates, fertilizer rates, weed control and much more.

The second part of the program will feature David Miran, Executive Director of the Hemp Program with the Ohio Department of Agriculture.  David will cover rulemaking and licensure requirements for producing hemp in Ohio.

This should be a very informative meeting and a great opportunity to ask questions and get some answers.  I stress some answers because we do not have all of the answers just yet.  Keep in mind extension is involved in research and then we relay information to farmers.  It will take a few years to get up to speed on some of the issues that farmers will face with this crop that has not been legal in Ohio for several decades.  This meeting will give everyone a start to build on.

With that said, again, I have no idea how many people to plan for so pre-registration is a must.  Showing up to a full room and not being able to get in to see or hear would not be good, so please call ahead.  Register by 4:00 on Friday, September 27.  Call the OSU Extension office at 544-2339.

Milkweed Seed Pod Collection

​Submitted by Faye Mahaffey

​OSUE Brown County Master Gardener Volunteer

​Have you noticed more Milkweed plants along the roadsides? This is great news for the Monarch Butterflies and Caterpillars since the Monarchs depend on milkweeds as host plants. The butterflies deposit eggs on milkweed plants, which then provide nutrition for the caterpillar phase of the butterfly’s life cycle.

​My Common milkweed, Sullivant’s milkweed, Swamp milkweed and Butterfly-weed plants have been stripped of all their leaves by the hungry Monarch caterpillars. In past years the Milkweed plants in the front yard have been the only “dining area” for Monarch caterpillars, but this year all my milkweed plants have been devoured!

​Are you wondering what to do with all your milkweed pods? If you aren’t going to plant them, your county Soil and Water Conservation District office will take them. The Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative is calling on Ohioans for a second year of Milkweed pod collections. This project started in 2015 and since then volunteers have collected approximately 5000 gallons of Common milkweed seed pods, totaling over 22 million seeds! During September and October, everyone is encouraged to collect milkweed pods from established plants and drop them off at the nearest pod collection station. Brown County SWCD’s office is located at 706 S. Main St. in Georgetown and will serve as the collection station for Brown County. The container will be located outside the USDA Service Center at the 706 S. Main St. address.

​Please make sure that before you collect seed, you become familiar with the Common milkweed plant to avoid harvesting pods from similar plants such as hemp dogbane and swamp milkweed.

​To collect the seed pods from a milkweed plant, it is best to pick them when they are dry, gray, or brown in color. The pods should be mature, but not open when collected. If the center seam pops with gentle pressure, they can be picked. Try to avoid collecting the red and black milkweed beetles, since they will damage the seeds!

It is best to collect pods into paper bags. Plastic bags collect unwanted moisture. Put the date and county collected on the bag when you turn them in. Keep the pods in a cool, dry area until you can deliver them to the nearest collection site.

​All milkweed pods collected during this time will be processed by the Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative (OPHI) partners and all of the seed collected will be used to establish new plantings and create additional habitat for the Monarch butterfly throughout Ohio.

​If you have questions regarding milkweed pod collection, please contact Marci Lininger at Marci.Lininger@dot.ohio.gov or Lori Stevenson at Lori_Stevenson@fws.gov.

​Do you have a Common Milkweed patch in your yard? You might want to start one and I promise that you will be glad that you did!

​Interested in extending your growing season? Plan to attend our first garden seminar on Thursday, September 19, 2019 at the Mt. Orab Campus of Southern State Community College. Deb Garner, OSUE Clermont County Master Gardener Volunteer, will talk about WinterGardening. The seminar will be held in Room 208 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Remember that all garden seminars are free and open to the public.

Farm Science Review to be held next week

Brooke Beam, PhD

Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator

Ohio State University Extension, Highland County

September 10, 2019

The annual Farm Science Review will be held September 17 – 19, 2019,  at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center, near London, Ohio. The Farm Science Review features a series of agricultural exhibits and research-based presentations to help agricultural producers make informed decisions for their businesses. The Molly Caren Agricultural Center is a 2100-acre facility featuring crop production, field demonstrations, and conservation practices.

Over the course of three days, attendees will have the opportunity to attend dozens of workshops, with topics ranging from precision agriculture to woodland management. A complete list of the presentation schedule is available online or through the Highland County Extension Office. Tickets are also available at the Highland County Extension Office or at the gate.

If you were unable to attend the Germinate International Film Fest, I will be teaching a session on Tuesday, September 17, in the Small Farms Center Building (corner of Equipment Ave and Beef Street) at 11:30 a.m.  The session will cover a series of highlights from the film festival and a brief lesson on how to create your own videos through mobile devices.

Additionally, I will be assisting with a new opportunity for job seekers. New for the 2019 Farm Science Review, there will be a Career Exploration Fair (Celebration Tent near Gate I) on Wednesday, September 18, from 10 a.m. to noon. Attendees of the Career Exploration Fair will have the opportunity to visit with companies about employment, or to learn about the necessary training to become employees in agricultural businesses. A few of the companies that will be participating in the Career Exploration Fair include Ag Pro, ODOT, Cargill, Ohio CAT, and Ohio Corn and Wheat.

Golf carts may be rented at the Farm Science Review, however prior reservations are encouraged. You may also bring your own golf cart with the appropriate paperwork from your physician. For more information about the Farm Science Review or any Extension programming, contact the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918.