Fertilizer Recertification

Ring in 2019

Brooke Beam, Ph.D.

Ohio State University Extension, Highland County

Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator

As 2018 comes to a close, many individuals reflect on the past year and look forward to a prosperous, healthy, and happy New Year in 2019. There are many traditions associated with the New Years celebrations across the globe. For example, did you know that Alud Lang Syne is a Scottish song?

One of my favorite traditions is to ring in the New Year with fireworks. While I enjoy fireworks displays on television, many individuals create their own backyard fireworks displays to enjoy with family and friends. Whether you enjoy the annual New Year celebrations from the comfort of your own home or by lighting your own fireworks displays, safety for both the individuals lighting the fireworks and for those watching the displays in-person are paramount to start the New Year off right.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says that sparklers burn at 1200 °F. In comparison, water boils at 212 °F and wood burns at 575 °F. “In 2013, sparklers caused 41 percent of fireworks injuries,” according to the NFPA. More than half of fireworks-related injuries are burns, but injuries can also include contusions, lacerations, foreign object in the eye and even death, according to the NFPA and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Hand and finger injuries account for 36 percent of fireworks injuries, followed by eye (19 percent), and head, face or ear injuries (19 percent) (NFPA, 2014).

According to Dr. Nicholas Kman and Andrea Whittaker, RN, of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, “fireworks-related injuries are the most common on New Year’s Eve and the Fourth of July.” Kman and Whittaker recommend several tips to avoid being injured by fireworks:

  • “Never lean over fireworks when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance right after lighting them.
  • If you find unexploded fireworks, leave them be. Never try to relight or handle them. Soak them with water and throw them away.
  • Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose nearby.
  • Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
  • Light fireworks one at a time, then move away from them quickly.
  • Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
  • After fireworks are done burning, douse with plenty of water before throwing them away to prevent a trash fire.
  • Do not experiment with homemade fireworks or fireworks made for professional displays (these will be packaged in brown paper).
  • Parents and caretakers should always closely supervise teens using fireworks.
  • Parents should not allow young children to handle or use fireworks.
  • Only use fireworks outdoors” (Kman & Whittaker, 2018, p. 1).

If you are interested in learning more about fireworks safety or would like to become a certified pyrotechnician, Rozzi Fireworks will be holding an all-day training on April 27, 2018, at the Clinton County Fairgrounds. Registration will be available on their website, www.rozzifireworks.com, in mid-March. Celebrate the New Year responsibly and have a great start to 2019! For more information about upcoming Highland County Extension programs, contact the office at 937-393-1918.

References:

National Fire Protection Association. (2014). Fireworks Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/News-and-Research/Fire-statistics-and   reports/Fact     sheets/FireworksFactSheet.pdf.

National Fire Protection Association. (2018). Fireworks Safety Fact Sheet. Retrieved from            https://firesafety.osu.edu/posts/documents/fireworkssafetytips-july-safety-tips.pdf

Kman, N., & Whittaker, A. (2018, June 29). Fireworks safety: How you can prevent burns and injuries. Retrieved from https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/blog/firework-safety

 

Upcoming Events:

A fifth Beef Quality Assurance Training will be held at Union Stockyards on Tuesday, January 22, 2018, at 6:30 P.M. Please RSVP to the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918.

The next Highland County Master Gardener Volunteer meeting will be held on Thursday, January 17, 2019, at 10 AM in the Large Meeting Room in the basement of 110 Governor Foraker Place, Hillsboro, OH.

Fertilizer and Pesticide Recertifications: 

February 19, 2019

Ponderosa Banquet Center, 545 S. High Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133

5:00 pm to 6:00 pm Fertilizer Recertification – Private and Commercial

6:30 pm Pesticide Recertification (Core, 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6) Private Applicators Only

March 4, 2018

Ponderosa Banquet Center, 545 S. High Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133

10:00 am to 11:00 am Fertilizer Recertification – Private and Commercial

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.

Keeping your Evergreen Green

Brooke Beam, Ph.D.

Ohio State University Extension, Highland County

Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are thy branches. The evergreen is a prominent symbol of the holiday season, but Christmas tree branches are more lovely when they aren’t dropping pine needles into the carpet. Thankfully, one easy task will help your tree’s branches stay lovely for the rest of the season.

The tradition of decorating homes with evergreen boughs dates back to the early Romans, according to Dixie Sandborn with Michigan State University Extension. Fir trees were first used as Christmas trees around 1,000 years ago. However, the tradition became more popular after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were shown standing in front of their Christmas tree in the London News in 18461. One of Thomas Edison’s assistants developed the idea for electric Christmas tree lights in 1882, with the first sale of Christmas lights in 18902.

While individuals who are celebrating Christmas this year have many options when it comes to their trees and decorations, keeping fresh cut trees watered will help the tree stay hydrated. This will help keep the pine needles from dropping, and also keep the tree from drying excessively and becoming a fire hazard. Christmas lights should be turned off unless the tree is supervised by someone in the house in case of a fire.

Another topic you may have seen in the news related to fresh cut Christmas trees are praying mantis eggs. The eggs are attached to the branches of the evergreen trees and when the trees are brought inside in the warmth of homes, the eggs may begin to hatch. However, simply removing the branch the egg casings are attached to and leaving the branch outside will allow the eggs to hatch naturally. The egg casings are round and brown in appearance and can contain several hundred eggs in each.

Keeping your fresh cut decorations green for the holidays can be achieved with adequate water and by checking the tree for dry branches. Before bringing the greenery into your home, check the branches for any eggs or animals that may be attached to the tree. For more information on how to keep your greenery festive this season, contact the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918.

 

Upcoming Events:

A fifth Beef Quality Assurance Training will be held at Union Stockyards on Tuesday, January 22, 2018, at 6:30 P.M. Please RSVP to the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918.

The next Highland County Master Gardener Volunteer meeting will be held on Thursday, January 17, 2019, at 10 AM in the Large Meeting Room in the basement of 110 Governor Foraker Place, Hillsboro, OH.

Fertilizer and Pesticide Recertifications: 

February 19, 2019

Ponderosa Banquet Center, 545 S. High Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133

5:00 pm to 6:00 pm Fertilizer Recertification – Private and Commercial

6:30 pm Pesticide Recertification (Core, 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6) Private Applicators Only

March 4, 2018

Ponderosa Banquet Center, 545 S. High Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133

10:00 am to 11:00 am Fertilizer Recertification – Private and Commercial

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.

 

1History. 2018. History of Christmas Trees. Retrieved from  https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas-trees.

2University of Illinois Extension. 2018. Christmas Tree Facts. Retrieved from:         http://extension.illinois.edu/trees/facts.cfm.

 

Leadership Highland Health and Public Safety Day

Brooke Beam, PhD

Ohio State University Extension, Highland County

Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator

Tim Parry, Vice President of Operations at Highland District Hospital, discussed the expansion plans for the hospital and provided a walking tour of the existing facilities.

Class members of Leadership Highland participated in Health and Public Safety Day on November 14, 2018.  Participants learned about health care, safety, and the security procedures available for Highland County.

The Highland District Hospital provided breakfast for the participants of Leadership Highland and a tour of the hospital facilities. Randal Lennartz, President and CEO of Highland District Hospital, and Tim Parry, Vice President of Operations, discussed the hospital’s future plans for expansion. The expansion project will include a new cancer care unit, an expanded and remodeled surgery unit, an increased number of beds for patients, and additional parking, among other projects.

The second tour of the day was of the Highland County Sheriff’s Office and the Highland County Jail. Leadership Highland participants learned about the daily operation of the jail and the jobs assigned to the inmates. Corporal Benson, of the Highland County Sheriff’s Office, conducted the tour. After the tour of the jail, Corporal Benson provided a tour of the Sheriff’s Office and the 911 call center.

During lunch, Brooke Beam, of the Highland County Extension Office, conducted a workshop on communication strategies for businesses. Risk and crisis communication strategies were highlighted in the workshop, particularly for handling a press conference. Strategies for social media, photography, and basic video production were also discussed in the workshop.

Firemen Anderson, Sanborn, and Snyder showed the Leadership Highland participants the Jaws of Life.

Following lunch, Leadership Highland participants toured the Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District Hillsboro facilities. Firemen Anderson, Sanborn, and Snyder provided a detailed tour of the facilities and the equipment they use on each vehicle. They showed Leadership Highland participants the water trucks, fire trucks, and ambulances.

Leadership Highland participants were able to see all of the vehicles used by the Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District.

Jared Warner, Highland County Health Commissioner, led Leadership Highland participants on a tour of the Highland County Health Department and explained the different areas the Health Department covers. The Health Department provides immunizations, food inspections, sewage system inspections, tracks the spread of infectious diseases in the county, and maintains the birth and death records. In 2017, the Highland County Health Department tracked 289 infectious diseases, conducted 699 food inspections, conducted 1,028 sewage system inspections, and provided 3,702 immunizations. The Health Department is staffed by 13 full-time employees and a few part-time contractors.

David Bushelman, the Director of the Highland County Office of Homeland Security and the Emergency Management Agency, provided the final tour of the day. In the event of a natural disaster or a terror attack in Highland County, Bushelman would provide a plan for mitigating the threat. Bushelman operates and maintains an emergency call center that is on standby in case it would need to be used in an emergency. He also offers local emergency planning training.

Thank you to the Highland District Hospital, Highland County Sheriff’s Office, Ponderosa Steakhouse, Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District, Highland County Health Department, and the Highland County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for assisting with Leadership Highland’s Health and Public Safety Day. The next meeting of Leadership Highland will be held in December. For more information about Leadership Highland, contact the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918.

 

Upcoming Events:

The next Highland County Monthly Extension Program will be held on December 10, 2018, at 10:00 A.M. at the Ponderosa Steakhouse in Hillsboro, Ohio. Gary Ludwig from the USDA APHIS Wildlife Services will be speaking on managing Black Vulture Predation.  Please RSVP and plan to attend.

Highland County Master Gardener Volunteers will hold their next meeting on Thursday, December 13, 2018, at 4 pm in the Large Meeting Room in the basement of 119 Governor Foraker Place, Hillsboro, OH. The plan for 2019 will be set at this meeting, as well as recording volunteer hours for 2018. There will be a holiday cookie exchange at the meeting. For more information, contact the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918.

A fifth Beef Quality Assurance Training will be held at Union Stockyards on Tuesday, January 22, 2018, at 6:30 P.M. Please RSVP to the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918.

Fertilizer and Pesticide Recertifications: 

February 19, 2019

Ponderosa Banquet Center, 545 S. High Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133

5:00 pm to 6:00 pm Fertilizer Recertification – Private and Commercial

6:30 pm Pesticide Recertification (Core, 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6) Private Applicators Only

March 4, 2018

Ponderosa Banquet Center, 545 S. High Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133

10:00 am to 11:00 am Fertilizer Recertification – Private and Commercial

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.

Upcoming Highland County Extension Programs

Brooke Beam, PhD

Ohio State University Extension, Highland County

Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator

 

As the fall harvest season ends, the Highland County Extension Office will begin to hold Monthly Extension Programming again. The next Monthly Extension Program will be held on December 10, 2018, at 10 am at Ponderosa Steakhouse. Gary Ludwig, from the USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, will be the guest speaker. Mr. Ludwig’s presentation will be Managing Black Vulture Predation. He will cover information on:

  • Black Vulture Identification and Habits
  • Fact and fiction regarding the Black Vulture’s Protected Status
  • Applying the Integrated Wildlife Damage Management (IWDM) Process to Black Vulture Problems
  • Obtaining and effectively utilizing a Federal Depredation Permit
  • The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) as Administered by the FSA

RSVP to the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918 to reserve your seat. The cost to attend this program is free; however, attendees are strongly encouraged to purchase lunch on their own at Ponderosa.

The next Beef Quality Assurance Training will be held at Union Stockyards on Tuesday, January 22, 2018. The program will start at 6:30 pm. This will be the fifth in a series of BQAs held in Hillsboro within a span of six months to certify beef producers in the safe handling and treatment of cattle. Companies, like Tyson and Wendy’s, will be requiring beef producers they are sourcing their beef products from to be BQA certified in 2019. At this point in time, BQA certification is not mandatory for beef producers, but it is strongly encouraged if you are hoping to market your beef to a company that is requiring the certification. If you were not able to attend one of the previous BQAs, consider attending this upcoming training. RSVP to the Highland County Extension Office to reserve your seat.

Dates have been announced for the 2019 Highland County fertilizer and pesticide recertifications. In 2019, there are several thousand individuals who need to recertify their fertilizer and pesticide applicator licenses. Over 100 Highland County residents will need to renew their licenses. There will be two recertifications held in Hillsboro in 2019, so all Highland County residents needing to recertify will be able to do so in Highland County. The dates for these recertifications are:

February 19, 2019

Ponderosa Banquet Center, 545 S. High Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133

5:00 pm to 6:00 pm Fertilizer Recertification – Private and Commercial

6:30 pm Pesticide Recertification (Core, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) Private Applicators Only

March 4, 2018

Ponderosa Banquet Center, 545 S. High Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133

10:00 am to 11:00 am Fertilizer Recertification – Private and Commercial

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 cost to attend both a fertilizer and pesticide training will be $40.00.

For more information about any of the upcoming programs, contact the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918.

 

Historical Restoration Assistance

Brooke Beam, PhD

Ohio State University Extension, Highland County

Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator

 

History is a vital part of our present. Without our forefathers’ efforts we would not have the historic landmarks of our communities in rural America. Last week, I attended a seminar on the National Register of Historic Places and Federal and State Historic Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credit programs. Through this seminar, I learned about several opportunities that may assist individuals in Highland County to rehabilitate historic properties for future generations to enjoy.

Currently, there are over 25 places listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Highland County, including Bell’s Opera House, Highland County Court House, and the Hillsboro Historic Business District (roughly bounded by Beech, Walnut, East, and West Streets in Hillsboro). The National Register of Historic Places is a program of the National Park Service, but is administered by each individual state.

Hillsboro Historic Business District highlighted in red, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Properties that are eligible to apply for the register need to be at least 50 years old and have retained the property’s basic historic integrity. The place should have “significance for its association with broad patterns of history, have association with the lives of person significant in our past, have architectural merit, or have the potential to yield information important in history or prehistory (archaeology),” according to the Ohio History Connection.

In order to take advantage of the Federal Historic Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credit properties must either be listed on the National Register or Historic Places or contribute to the historical significance of a registered historic district. The Federal Historic Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credit is eligible for 20 percent of rehabilitation costs of income producing properties. The Federal Historic Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credit is not competitive, meaning that if a property meets the qualifications, the owner would receive the tax credit. The State program, however, is competitive.

There are myths associated with the tax credit programs that no changes may be made to the building; however, this is not the case. “Rehabilitation is defined in the Federal regulations as the process of returning a property to a state of utility through repair or alteration, which makes possible an efficient contemporary use while preserving those portions or features of the property which are significant to its historic, architectural and cultural values,” according to the Ohio History Connection. Upgrades of functional kitchens, plumbing and lighting have been parts of previous rehabilitation projects.

There are dozens of projects throughout the state that have utilized these programs to reinvigorate their communities. Buildings in downtown Chillicothe and Wilmington have utilized the National Register of Historic Places and the historic tax credit programs to rehabilitate buildings of a variety of sizes. In Wilmington, an unused second floor of a downtown building was converted to a modern apartment, and in Chillicothe a larger building was rehabilitated into office spaces. Other projects in the state have included hotels and theatres.

For more information about the National Register of Historic Places or the Historic Tax Credit programs, contact the Ohio History Connection, State Historic Preservation Office at 614-298-2000 or visit ohiohistory.org/shpo. For other Community Development related support, call the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918.

 

Extension Television Now Showing on the Hillsboro Local Access Channel

The Hillsboro Local Access Channel has begun to show Ohio State University Extension television programs on weekdays at 6:00 pm. Each of the programs are a half hour in length. The first program will be Agri-News with John Grimes and Duane Rigsby. Agri-News contains information about beef production. Additional programs will be added over the next few weeks. Other upcoming programs include Forage Focus with Christine Gelley, which covers forage and pasture related topics, and Marketing Matters with host Christie Welch, which discusses a variety of small business marketing strategies that are appropriate for any small business.

The majority of the television programs are filmed at the OSU South Centers in Piketon, Ohio, and feature Ohio State University Extension Educators and researchers. All of the shows contain research-based content that can benefit Highland County agricultural producers and businesses. If you do not receive the Local Access Channel, the videos will also be available on the Highland County Extension blog, https://u.osu.edu/osuextensionhighlandcounty/, and on YouTube at the OSU South Centers page, https://www.youtube.com/user/southcenters.

 

Upcoming Events:

The next Highland County Monthly Extension Program will be held on December 10, 2018, at 10:00 A.M. at the Ponderosa Steakhouse in Hillsboro, Ohio. More details will be coming soon, please save the date and plan to attend.

Fertilizer and Pesticide Recertifications:

February 19, 2019

Ponderosa Banquet Center, 545 S. High Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133

5:00 pm to 6:00 pm Fertilizer Recertification – Private and Commercial

6:30 pm Pesticide Recertification (Core, 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6) Private Applicators Only

 

March 4, 2018

Ponderosa Banquet Center, 545 S. High Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133

10:00 am to 11:00 am Fertilizer Recertification – Private and Commercial

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.