Month: January 2020

1 – Day Beginner 101 Beekeeping Class

From the Black Swamp Beekeepers Association

The 1-day class will be Saturday, February 8th, 9 am-4 pm, with a 45min break for lunch, at the Defiance County Extension Office, 6879 Evansport Rd., Defiance, OH. The cost of the class will be $50.00 plus $10.00 if they would like to purchase lunch. The introductory class will be an overview of what to expect for the first year of beekeeping. Registration Deadline Saturday, February 1st. If not paid by the deadline, it will cause a delay in receiving your book and no lunch will be available to you. Mail this form with check/m.o to Attn: Treasurer -Mary Zebolsky, 25212 Watson Road, Defiance, OH.

 

Growing Hemp in Ohio: Separating Fact from Fiction

“Growing Hemp in Ohio: Separating Fact from Ficture” features sessions by experts from CFAES and elsewhere. (Photo: Hemp seedlings, Getty Images.)

From Mary Wicks

WOOSTER, Ohio—Join experts from The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) and beyond in discovering Ohio’s possible new cash crop. A workshop titled “Growing Hemp in Ohio: Separating Fact from Fiction,” featuring 10 sessions by 18 speakers, is set for Jan. 24 at the CFAES Wooster campus, about 60 miles south of Cleveland. The event will look at the opportunities and challenges facing Ohio hemp growers. Subjects will include hemp plant basics, growing practices, business considerations, rules, and regulations.

Also offered is an optional program from 9:30 a.m. to noon the next day, Jan. 25, featuring six sessions by speakers from national and Ohio hemp-related businesses. Independence-based HempOhio is sponsoring the program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently approved Ohio’s hemp plans, making it legal for the state’s farmers to grow the crop.  Useful for making products including health food, paper, clothing, biofuels, bioplastics, and cannabidiol (CBD) oil, hemp is closely related to marijuana but lacks its psychoactive component, the chemical THC. Continue reading Growing Hemp in Ohio: Separating Fact from Fiction →

Labor and Employment Risks Webinar

The National Agricultural Law Center opens its new year of monthly webinars with “2020 Vision: Finding Clarity on Labor and Employment Risks in the New Year .”  The webinar on January 15, 2020, will feature attorneys Brandon Davis and Nathan Huff from the law offices of Phelps Dunbar in New Orleans and Raleigh.  U.S. agri-business entities must adjust to a rapidly changing labor and employment scenario. Continue reading Labor and Employment Risks Webinar →

What’s that Smell?

Using a penetrometer to test soil compaction in a field with tillage radishes.

By Clint Schroeder, OSU Extension, Allen County

It’s becoming a common occurrence across the state. Small towns and rural areas plagued by a mysterious smell during the winter months. Natural gas? Raw sewage? Dead Animals? Nope, just radishes. Continue reading What’s that Smell? →

Preparing for a Crop Insurance Audit

By: Ellen Essman, Senior Research Associate, Senior Research Associate
Friday, January 10th, 2020
With 2019’s ups and downs in the weather and the marketplace, it’s likely that many farmers used the Federal Crop Insurance Program to mitigate their losses.  Those farmers whose crop insurance claims reach $200,000 or more will be audited by the USDA’s Risk Management Agency.

Continue reading Preparing for a Crop Insurance Audit →

From Sarah’s Desk

It’s hard to believe another year has passed.  Another day, another month, another year — sometimes I wonder how it’s possible for time to fly by so fast. My Grandma Gertrude told me at my baby shower for my son, Ethan (who is now 16-years-old) that “The days may be long, but the years will go quick”.  It is so true in life! How could I have a 16-year-old and a 12-year-old? Have I really been working 6 years at the OSU Extension Office in Paulding? There have been some very long days in 2019 — working, talking, worrying, debating and living life!   2019 was a year to mark historically and one to remember (or maybe forget) for sure with the weather! It brought about new education and areas of uncertainty in agriculture at times.  One thing I learned for sure was to listen more to people to help during these stressful times.

2020 is packed full of many opportunities. I look forward to serving the people of Paulding County and partnering with others in our community.  Our office will be growing as we will be welcoming a Water Quality Extension associate to NW Ohio. (Actually, there will be 6 located in NW Ohio). We will be running our Extension Levy again. Without the support of our community on this issue, we would not be able to serve, partner and help develop “Better Lives and Stronger Communities”. It is our vision to be able to expand our service in Paulding County by adding a Family and Consumer Science Educator with the passage of this levy. If you are interested in serving on the levy committee, please contact Michael Schweinsberg or me at the Extension Office, and we will provide you with the contact information for the levy committee.  I look forward to seeing you at the Cover Crops roundtable, Farm Bill Meeting, or upcoming Soil Health Series.

 

Winter Application of Manure – Remember Setbacks

Winter manure

By:  Glen Arnold

Some Ohio livestock producers will be looking to apply manure to farm fields frozen enough to support application equipment.  Permitted farms are not allowed to apply manure in the winter unless it is an extreme emergency, and then moved to other suitable storage is usually the selected alternative. Thus, this article is for non-permitted livestock operations.

In the Grand Lake St Marys watershed, the winter manure application ban from December 15th to March 1st is still in effect.  Thus, no manure application would normally be allowed from now until March 1st. Continue reading Winter Application of Manure – Remember Setbacks →

Weed Management in Ohio, Update 2019

By: Harold Watters, OSU Extension Ag Crops Field Specialist

Our OSU Extension AgNR educators observed soybean fields across the state again this fall to see what was out there for our annual fall soybean weed survey. I was supposed to share this early enough so you could at least get a fall application on to get a head start on controlling marestail, but it seems we have more problems than that to deal with.

Statewide our most frequently observed weed problem was again marestail. It was present in 36% of the fields. The second most likely observation was weed-free — at 29% of the fields. That’s a big jump over several years ago, and likely due to LibertyLink, Enlist, and Extend soybeans. Third, fourth and fifth places in a three-way tie were giant ragweed, volunteer corn and then giant foxtail (or just generic grass) — all in about 19% of the fields. Next, and getting ever more widespread, is waterhemp at 15% of the fields across the state. Continue reading Weed Management in Ohio, Update 2019 →

2019 eFields Releasing on January 8th

By Elizabeth Hawkins, John Fulton

Now that 2019 has come to an end, many of us are ready to leave the memories of the challenges we faced last season behind. However, the weather conditions we dealt with provided us an opportunity to learn how we can be more resilient in agriculture while learning how to deal with the growing conditions experienced. The 2019 eFields Research Report highlights 88 on-farm, field-scale trials conducted in 30 Ohio counties. Research topics include nutrient management, precision crop management, cover crops, and forages. Additional information about production budgets, planting progress, and the 2018 Farm Bill are also included. Continue reading 2019 eFields Releasing on January 8th →

ARC-IC in 2019 – Release of a 2019 ARC-IC Payment Calculator

By: Gary Schnitkey, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois

Agricultural Risk Coverage at the Individual Level (ARC-IC) should be considered as a commodity title alternative for 2019 and 2020 in two special cases:  1) if a Farm Service Agency (FSA) farm has all its acres as prevent plant or 2) the FSA farm has low yields.  Other cases may exist as well (see farmdoc daily, October 29, 2019, for more information). A newly released tool — the ARC-IC Payment Calculator — will calculate ARC-IC payments for one FSA farm enrolled in ARC-IC.  It will not handle the case of multiple FSA farms enrolled in ARC-IC.  This tool is part of the 2018 Farm Bill What-If Tool, a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that can be downloaded from the farmdoc website (https://farmdoc.illinois.edu/2018-farm-bill). We suggest farmers estimate 2019 ARC-IC payments by FSA farm, thereby allowing more informed decisions to be made between commodity title alternatives. Continue reading ARC-IC in 2019 – Release of a 2019 ARC-IC Payment Calculator →

OSU Extension to Offer Lunch and Learn Webinars

By: Chris Bruynis, Extension Educator

In the age of multi-tasking and convenience, OSU Extension is offering a lunch and learn webinar series for farmers. We have arranged for eight topics and speakers to provide a webinar every Wednesday starting on Wednesday, February 5, 2020, and concluding March 25, 2020. Join us for eight consecutive Wednesdays for this educational series starting at 11:45 am and lasting 1.5 hours. Learn important risk management information during this lunch and learn series from top industry, private sector, and university experts important to the success of farm businesses in 2020 and beyond. Continue reading OSU Extension to Offer Lunch and Learn Webinars →

2020 Northwest Ohio Crops Day

Received from Garth Ruff, Extension Educator, Henry County

Join Henry County OSU Extension Office on Friday, February 7 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the 2020 Northwest Ohio Crops Day at the Bavarian Haus (3814 SR 18, Deshler, Ohio). Highlighting this year’s program is Greg Roth, Penn State University Extension grain crops specialist. Other speakers include Ben Brown, Mark Loux, Aaron Wilson, Greg Labarge, and Bruce Clevenger. Vendors will also be onsite.

The registration fee is $35 by January 30, or $45 after the deadline. Light breakfast, lunch, and a presentation folder are included in the registration fee. Register at 419-592-0806 or ruff.72@osu.edu.

Education credits offered are:  1-hr ODA Fertilizer Recert; 3-hrs ODA Private Pesticide (Cat 1, 2, 6, CORE) Recert; 2.5-hrs ODA Commercial Pesticide (CORE, 2c, 10c); and 4.5-hrs CCA.

Please see the schedule of the day here: https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/u.osu.edu/dist/4/75282/files/2019/12/2020-NW-OH-Crops-Day-Web-Flyer_Page_1.jpg

Investing in your Soil Success Series

Why do you care about your soil and what are you willing to invest in it? As times are changing, our farming practices are changing. This series is to get farmers working together to learn hands-on soil health concepts and identify gaps and limits in resources in our communities. Each evening begins with a discussion from either a panel or a featured speaker. After the speaker, a roundtable discussion will follow using the Strategic Doing method. Participants will engage with the group as the evening continues with question and answer sessions. Join us in our 3-part series titled “Investing in your Soil Success”. The goal is for attendees to attend all three sessions as they build upon each other.

Join us in a soil health series. Investing in your soil is an interactive program where farmers will be completing hands-on soil health topics along with round table discussion after nightly speaker presentations. You won’t want to miss this program.  The first evening will consist of local farmers from the area in a panel setting.  A special thanks to The Nature Conservancy on co-sponsoring this program. Program open to farmers, consultants, family members, and the general public.

  • January 13: Featured Speaker Local Panel Discussion
  • February 24: Featured Speaker Jamie Scott
  • March 9: Featured Speaker Rick Clark

Location: Paulding County Extension Office, 503 Fairground Drive, Paulding, OH 45879

Cost: No Charge. Light refreshments included in registration.

Registration: Please register by calling the office or via https://investinginsoilhealthseries.eventbrite.com

Contact: Sarah Noggle, (419)399-8225, noggle.17@osu.edu Continue reading Investing in your Soil Success Series →

Master Gardener Training for 2020

While we are not holding training in Paulding County for new Master Gardener Volunteers, participants can still take the classes outside of the county and be an active Master Gardener Volunteer within Paulding County.

Why become a Master Gardener Volunteer? Master Gardener Volunteers have the opportunity to share the research-based education and knowledge they have learned in the classes throughout their community. They have the chance to make a difference in their community by spending time with others developing a love of gardening.  There are many areas of opportunities after attending the training such as international volunteerism in parks and gardens.  There is a trip each year for this opportunity.  But….. just because you take the class, it does not mean you must volunteer in the community (even though we may twist your arm to do so).  One could just participate in the educational aspect.

Just to note, you do not have to have any gardening experience to take this class.

In 2020, the training for the area will be held in Williams County on Wednesday evenings starting on February 12.  This is the first time in a while that OSU Extension has offered an evening option for classes. I would love to see more Master Gardener Volunteers in Paulding County.  They help strengthen our community in so many ways. Attached below is the flyer with additional information on registration: 2020 MG Training-Williams Co

Mental Health, First Aid Training for Adults

This is one of the most valuable pieces of training, I have attended in the past.  It is for any adult person and great awareness.  A little more about the training:

Most of us would know how to help if we saw someone having a heart attack—we’d start CPR, or at the very least, call 9-1-1. But too few of us would know how to respond if we saw someone having a panic attack or if we were concerned that a friend or coworker might be showing signs of alcoholism.

Mental Health First Aid takes the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health and substance use problems by improving understanding and providing an action plan that teaches people to safely and responsibly identify and address a potential mental illness or substance use disorder.

The Mental Health First Aid course is appropriate for anyone 18 years and older who wants to learn how to help a person who may be experiencing a mental health-related crisis or problem. This training is specifically targeted for our rural populations and our agriculture community.  The trainings remaining will be offered in Defiance and Fulton counties.

Please see more information on the specific dates of the training here: 2019 Rural Mental Health Flyer final

Corn – Soybean Day in Fulton County – January 17

From Eric Richer, Fulton County Ag/NR Educator

Please hold Friday, January 17, 2020, for the annual NW Ohio Corn-Soybean Day in Archbold at Founders Hall on the Sauder Village Campus.  Program runs from 8 am to 3 pm and includes a 3 hr Private Pesticide recertification plus 1 hour fertilizer; 2.5 hrs Commercial Recertification including 2d, 2c, core and fertilizer; and 4 hours of CCA credits. Prepaid registration is $35 if postmarked by Wednesday, January 8th.  A registration form/agenda for attendees is attached; print and send in ASAP with payment.  Please see the agenda for the day, located here: 2020 Corn-Soy Day agenda

Farm Bill Educational Sessions – January 9 and February 6

Ohio State University Extension and the USDA Farm Service Agency in Ohio are partnering to provide a series of educational Farm Bill meetings this winter to help producers make informed decisions related to enrollment in commodity programs.  Paulding County will be hosting two meetings at the OSU Extension Office in Paulding on January 9 and February 6, 2020.  Both meetings will start at 9:00 AM and will last approximately 1.5 hours. Please call the Paulding County Extension Office to register for this meeting. Continue reading Farm Bill Educational Sessions – January 9 and February 6 →

SWCD Photo Contest

Frank Lloyd Wright puts it best when he says “Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.”. Wright’s saying inspires us to believe in the healing and relaxing power that nature provides to all of us and how it can be a little escape from the world. Many are also familiar with 20th Century Environmentalist Aldo Leopold. Leopold cherished the value of the land and spent large amounts of time journaling, sketching, and observing the beautiful sights of nature that he encountered. Leopold inspires us all to be good stewards of the land while also taking time to relax and enjoy the beauty that nature has to offer us.

Are you like Leopold and enjoy taking a stroll through nature and love capturing every amazing sight? Then do we have a contest for you! Consider entering our 2020 photo contest running now through June 8, 2020, where you could win some cash prizes! See link for contest details: http://www.pauldingswcd.org/education-outreach-1/contests/photo-contest/ 

Participate in the Paulding County SWCD Poster Contest

From the Paulding County SWCD Office: The annual NACD and NACD Auxiliary Poster Contest provides students from kindergarten through 12th grade the chance to have their art displayed as part of a national conservation outreach initiative. Each year, the winning posters reflect NACD’s annual Stewardship theme and highlight the work of conservation districts and their state conservation associations, auxiliaries and agencies to protect and enhance natural resources. 

The contest starts at the district level; winners advance to the state level, and then to the national level, where they receive recognition at NACD’s annual meeting. The poster contest is open to public, private and home-schooled students in Kindergarten through 12th Grade. Submissions are received from all around Paulding County with the Top 10 submissions selected by SWCD Staff with these selections voted on by the public at the Paulding County Fair each year to select a 1st and 2nd place overall winner who then win a cash prize of either $25 or $10! Continue reading Participate in the Paulding County SWCD Poster Contest →

Paulding Chamber’s Annual Chili Cookoff

From Mikayla Pieper, Paulding Chamber of Commerce

The Paulding Chamber’s annual chili cook-off is quickly approaching on Friday, January 24th from 11-1 at Branch Christian Fellowship!

Think you have the best chili in town? Well, put it to the test! This year we’re making it easier than ever to enter your chili for a chance to win the traveling trophy (and bragging rights of course). Simply make your chili and have it ready in a black or grey crockpot (to help keep the chili anonymous to tasters) and the Chamber board will take care of the rest! We know it’s time-consuming to stand there and serve chili when you’ve got business to run so we’ve got you covered! Just drop off the chili and any toppings you may have by 10:30 AM at the Branch Christian Fellowship basement and you’re all set! If you can’t make it to Branch by then let us know and a Chamber board member can pick it up for you! Continue reading Paulding Chamber’s Annual Chili Cookoff →