Month: March 2020

Joining the Virtual Meetings or Educational Events – Using Zoom.

Over the past week, I have found that everyone is not always as tech-savvy as I thought they were.  Additionally, I am finding that due to the stay at home order, we are all missing connecting with our family and friends.  Maybe your church is using Zoom to show your church service.  Here is a helpful video on how to use the platform called Zoom.

This program is free and one of the ways the OSU Extension is helping to hold our virtual meetings.  I am using this for our Virtual Coffee Shop, our Master Gardener Meetings, additionally, Zoom is being used for educational events, 4-H meetings, Camp Counselor training, school classes, school labs, or other business meetings in the county.  It is a way to connect groups.

There were so many questions last week, that I felt I needed to make a video on how Zoom works whether using a landline phone, flip phone, smartphone, iPad or a computer.   The video goes through Zoom in general — the first 17 minutes will talk about joining via the phone, both landline and smartphone, at the 17-minute mark the video talks about how to join Zoom via a computer or other device.  I recommend watching the first 2 minutes of the video with any type of device you are using.

Finally, if you watch this a feel like you could host your own meeting Zoom is free for up to 100 participants and 45 minutes at a time.  I think this is a great option to talk with your family.  Last week, we celebrated my brother’s birthday via Zoom.  We were all in our homes (Ohio, Arizona) but it was great to have all 5 families virtually face to face for a little celebration.   I think one could use this to reach out to a family member in a nursing home.

Again, we are all learning to live in a different type of world from at home.  I appreciate the opportunity to talk with each of you and I do miss seeing you in person.  For now, please call, text or Zoom with me.  Help keep Ohio safe by staying home. Please reach out if you have more questions on Zoom or any other agricultural topic.

The link to the Zoom Video is on YouTube at https://youtu.be/ndYBBEAz9x0

H2Ohio Deadline For Accepting Applications Moved Back to March 31

Taken from Ohio Department of Agriculture and Paulding Soil and Water Conservation District

The deadline for farmers to submit applications for the H2Ohio program is moving back to the original date of March 31, 2020.

Governor DeWine strongly believes in the H2Ohio water quality initiative and farmers have shown overwhelming interest to implement the program’s best practices.  Our state and nation are facing an unprecedented economic crisis as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  In an effort to preserve resources for H2Ohio, ODA is suspending the acceptance of new applications after March 31 but will continue to process all current applications.

ODA recently extended the deadline to accommodate workflow changes due to COVID-19 and ensure all applications could be processed electronically or via telecommunications.  The work transition has gone smoothly and all remaining applications will be handled similarly within the original timeline.

Further information regarding the H2Ohio program will be forthcoming.  Updates will be posted to this website and distributed through the Soil and Water Conservation Districts.  For a complete list of SWCD offices, go to http://h2.ohio.gov/agriculture/.

Additionally, information from the Paulding SWCD

Phone number to office 419-399-4771.  Link to the website for H2Ohio information http://www.pauldingswcd.org/technical-programs/h2ohio/

New Podcast Series – Legal Resilience on the Farm through COVID-19

From Eva Moss, Farm Commons

Our work at Farm Commons is all about supporting farmers in cultivating legal resilience for the farm business. With the devastating spread of COVID-19, the nature of farm business has been turned on its head. We know all you farmers are making quick and significant changes to your marketing channels, staff, food safety protocols, and more to stay afloat through this crisis. Continue reading New Podcast Series – Legal Resilience on the Farm through COVID-19 →

Celebrate National Ag Day March 24 — Thanks to our Farmers …. Food brings everyone to the Table

Taken from www.agdaily.com/news/national-ag-day-2020/

Today, we celebrate National Agriculture Day, even if that means celebrating with 6 feet between us or online. It takes a lot more than a virus to stop farmers and ranchers from celebrating this special day. The Agriculture Council of America will host National Agriculture Day today, March 24, 2020. This will mark the 47th anniversary of National Ag Day which is celebrated in communities across the country. The theme for National Ag Day 2020 is “Food Brings Everyone to the Table.”

In a Proclamation on National Agriculture Day, President Donald Trump said, “As our nation continues to face the unique challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, we pay tribute to the unbeatable strength of America’s agricultural producers as they once again answer the call to feed our country and the world.  On this National Agriculture Day, and now more than ever, we salute and honor the men and women who contribute daily to our national prosperity. Continue reading Celebrate National Ag Day March 24 — Thanks to our Farmers …. Food brings everyone to the Table →

Winter Wheat Stand Evaluation

Evaluating wheat standBy:  Laura Lindsey

Between planting in the fall and Feekes 4 growth stage (beginning of erect growth) in the spring, winter wheat is vulnerable to environmental stress such as saturated soils and freeze-thaw cycles that cause soil heaving. All of which may lead to substantial stand reduction, and consequently, low grain yield. However, a stand that looks thin in the spring does not always correspond to lower grain yield. Rather than relying on a visual assessment, we suggest counting the number of wheat stems or using the mobile phone app (Canopeo) to estimate the wheat grain yield. Continue reading Winter Wheat Stand Evaluation →

OSU Extension Seeking Farmer Cooperators for Fallow Syndrome eFields Trial

By:  Stephanie Karhoff, AgNR, Williams County

Wet weather conditions last spring prevented Williams County farmers from planting over 85,000 acres (USDA-Farm Service Agency Crop Acreage Data). When fields are left unplanted or fallow, there may be a decline in beneficial mycorrhizal fungi, which is commonly referred to as fallow syndrome.

Mycorrhizae are beneficial fungi that colonize plant roots. They aid plants in scavenging for soil nutrients, by extending the root system via thread-like structures called hyphae. In return, plants provide sugars produced during photosynthesis to the mycorrhizae.

Stunting and phosphorus deficiency are common symptoms associated with the fallow syndrome. Continue reading OSU Extension Seeking Farmer Cooperators for Fallow Syndrome eFields Trial →

March Madness in an Agriculture Way

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Julie Strawser (strawser.35@osu.edu), Teresa Funk (funk.67@osu.edu)

OSU Extension Announces Agriculture and Natural Resources Madness:
A Tournament of Education

Columbus, OHIO – Did your usual conference get canceled? Looking to fill the void of the big basketball tournament? Ohio State University Extension is here to help with a new virtual education program for farmers.

Agriculture and Natural Resources Madness: A Tournament of Education will include 64 educational events broken into daily brackets. Each day, a virtual educational session will be held at 9 a.m., noon, and 3 p.m. The education tournament is free of charge and will likely continue until mid-May.

“This effort is a direct response to providing a variety of useful and timely sessions for farmers across the state during Governor DeWine’s stay-at-home order,” said Jacqueline Wilkins, interim director of OSU Extension. “While our ‘tournament’ is being loosely tied to March Madness, it’s not a competition, and people can join in at any time for as many or as few sessions as they desire.” Continue reading March Madness in an Agriculture Way →

Resiliency in a time of Pandemic

Many of our Ohio agricultural business partners are settling into teleworking, the challenges of setting home office boundaries with children who are out of school and taking care to keep family and friends most at risk for COVID-19 infections. It can be challenging.

Meanwhile, our Nation’s farmers are entering a third consecutive year of “never before seen” impacts on their livelihoods – First trade wars, then disastrous climate change impacts, and now… a global pandemic plus sharp commodity price drops associated with effects of crude oil price drops on ethanol production.

To paraphrase John Piotti, President and CEO of American Farmland Trust: “None of us know how this is going to unfold over the next few months, but one thing is certain: America’s farmers and ranchers will be out in the field planting and getting ready for the 2020 season.”

Unsurprisingly, those who work in food and agriculture are “essential critical infrastructure workers” according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

The stress is enormous. Still – across Ohio, farmers are getting ready for the spring planting season. Some operations have commenced in the southern part of the state. They are a resilient bunch. Continue reading Resiliency in a time of Pandemic →

Questions Regarding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Farms with Employees

Click on the links below to view the Spanish and English versions of “Questions Regarding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Farms with Employees” developed by Gustavo M. Schuenemann, DVM, MS, Ph.D., Professor & Extension Veterinarian, and Jeffrey D. Workman, Ph.D., Extension Program Coordinator.

English Version

Spanish Version

Omitting residual herbicides in soybeans – really – we have to have this argument again?

By Dr. Mark Loux OSU Weed Science

According to our network of sources, the effectiveness of new soybean trait systems has some growers once again thinking about omitting preemergence residual herbicides from their weed management programs.  Some people apparently need to learn the same lessons over and over again.  Having gone through this once in the early 2000s when Roundup Ready soybeans had taken over and we all sprayed only glyphosate all day every day, we think we’re pretty sure where it leads.  We’re sensitive to concerns about the cost of production, but the cost-benefit analysis for residual herbicides is way in the positive column.  We’re not the ones who ultimately have to convince growers to keep using residual herbicides, and we respect those of you who do have to fight this battle.  Back in the first round of this when we were advocating for use of residuals, while the developers of RR soybeans were undermining us and telling everyone that residuals would reduce yield etc, we used to have people tell us “My agronomist/salesman is recommending that I use residuals, but I think he/she is just trying to get more money out of me”.  Our response at that time, of course, was “no pretty sure he/she is just trying to save your **** and make sure you control your weeds so that your whole farm isn’t one big infestation of glyphosate-resistant marestail.”  And that answer probably works today too – maybe substituting waterhemp for marestail. Continue reading Omitting residual herbicides in soybeans – really – we have to have this argument again? →

Cover Crop Termination

Cereal RyeBy: Alyssa Essman and Mark Loux, Ohio State University Extension, Weed Science Specialist

The 2019 growing season came and went and left many fields in a state of disarray heading into 2020. Many growers that were unable to plant decided to use cover crops, to reduce soil erosion and provide some weed suppression during the extended fallow period. Terminating these cover crops using the right methods at the right time will be critical to ensure timely planting and prevent the cover crops from competing with cash crops. The three main methods of cover crop termination are natural (species that winter kill), chemical, and mechanical. Cover crops may also be bailed, grazed, or harvested as silage. Most species require some sort of management decision for termination. Cover crop species, growth stage, weather, and cover cropping goals should all be considered when planning termination method and timing. These decisions require a balance between growing the cover long enough to maximize benefits and terminating in time to prevent potential penalties to the following cash crop. Continue reading Cover Crop Termination →

Virtual Coffee Shop – Get online or call in on Tuesdays and Thursdays

Flowers and Birds

Native flowers and birds

I’m sure most of you have heard that The Ohio State University, along with many other organizations and businesses, have closed classes and reduced services.

All OSU offices have been closed in an attempt to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Though we are closed, all employees in our office will still be working full time from remote locations. We want to continue to serve our community, but do it in a safe way that does not contribute to the spread of the Coronavirus.

Here is how you can contact me during this time:
Email: noggle.17@osu.edu
Remote Work Phone Line: 567-344-5013 or call the office (Katie will connect you  to me directly) 419-399-8225
Zoom/video conference by appointment Continue reading Virtual Coffee Shop – Get online or call in on Tuesdays and Thursdays →

OSU Extension Office is temporarily closed

March 18, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOCAL CONTACT: Paulding County Extension, 419-399-8225

OSU Extension offices throughout Ohio will implement teleworking options for staff amid current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak concerns

Columbus, OHIO – Governor DeWine recently issued a state of emergency for the state of Ohio, and along with the Ohio Department of Health, has implemented a variety of strategies to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To do our part in reducing risk to Ohio State University Extension employees or clientele, we have implemented a teleworking plan effective immediately, and all OSU Extension offices will be closed to the public until further notice. Continue reading OSU Extension Office is temporarily closed →