Sheep

Livestock Mortality Composting In Person Class on April 2

The Hancock County Ohio State University Extension Office along with the Hanock and Putnam County SWCD offices will be hosting a Livestock Mortality Composting Certification Training at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2nd at the Hancock County Agriculture Center meeting room located at 7868 County Road 140, Findlay, Ohio.

This training session will certify an operator to compost all approved livestock species and is available to all Ohio livestock producers. Composting is a natural process where bacteria and fungi decompose organic material in a predominantly aerobic environment. During the composting process, microorganisms break down organic materials into a stable mixture called compost. The compost resembles humus, and is spread on farming fields.

To legally compost dead livestock in Ohio from normal farming practices, producers must attend a certification program.

All who are interested in attending are asked to pre-register by April 1st by phone at 419-422-6569 or e-mail h2ohio@hancockswcd.com.  There is no cost to attend. Check out the Livestock Mortality Composting Workshop Flyer.

Join OSU Extension at the Small Farms Conference in Wooster, Ohio

Ohio State Extension announced plans to host a Small Farm Conference in Wooster, OH on March 8th. The theme for this year’s Small Farm Conference is “Sowing Seeds for Success.”

Conference session topics are geared to beginning and small farm owners as well as to farms looking to diversify their operations. There will be five different conference tracks including Horticulture and Crop Production, Business Management, Livestock, Natural Resources, and Diversifying Your Enterprise. Check out the official program guide here. Continue reading Join OSU Extension at the Small Farms Conference in Wooster, Ohio →

NW Ohio Newsletter 2025

📬 The 2025 Northwest Ohio Newsletter is Coming!

Exciting news! The 2025 Northwest Ohio Newsletter will be hitting mailboxes near the end of December! 🗓️

Packed with the latest updates on agriculture, Extension programming, and community opportunities, this newsletter is your go-to resource for staying informed and connected.

Prefer to read online? 📲 Check out the Virtual Version here.

Stay tuned—there’s a lot to look forward to as we kick off a new year together! 🌾

#Agriculture #Extension #NWOhio #StayConnected #LeanOnYourLandGrant #PauldingCountyStrong #OSUE

NW Ohio Small Ruminant Tours

Defiance and William County OSU Extension are working together to host farm visits across both counties. During May, six (6) farm visits will focus on local sheep production facilities.  The aim of the program is for students, farmers, and community members to have the chance to interact and ask questions to local sheep producers. The tour is a great opportunity to have a boots-on-the-ground experience and learn more about agriculture in the community. The events are completely free, we ask that you register in advance so we can take the proper biosecurity steps. The Defiance County stops on the tour will be held starting at 6 pm on May 9th outside of Edgerton, May 16th outside of Holgate, and May 23rd outside of Defiance. For more information and to register contact us at the Defiance County Extension office (419-782-4771) or follow the link go.osu.edu/sheeptour.

To see the official flyer click here.

OSU Precision Livestock Farming education series

Technology is changing the way we manage plants and animals. When someone says Precision Agriculture, we often think about crop production but there are many opportunities for technology to enhance our abilities to care for livestock. This winter OSU Extension is offering a glimpse at some of these technologies through hour-long weekly webinars. Each week we will have an expert join us to discuss a precision livestock topic for the species of livestock they work with, or forage production. These technologies are allowing us to improve animal husbandry and management efficiency.

The webinars will be from Noon until 1:00 PM throughout the winter 2024 months on January 31, February 7, February 14, February 21, February 28, and March 6. You can register to attend all of the topics or just the one of interest to you.  Registration is located at http://go.osu.edu/PLF24 or you can scan the QR Code below.  

Reach out to Jason Hartschuh at hartschuh.11@osu.edu with questions. To see the official flyer on Precision Livestock Farming flyer

Monthly topics include:

  • January 31, 2024 – Utilizing Drones and remote imagery to determine forage quality and quantity in pastures and hay fields. Speaker: Dr. Josh Jackson, UK Extension
  • February 7, 2024 – How does precision livestock farming relate to swine health? Speaker: Dr. Talita Pilar Resende, OSU Extension
  • February 14, 2024 – Sprinkler Effects on Cooling Water Use, Litter Moisture, and Broiler House Environment. Speaker: Dr. Tom Tabler, UT Extension
  • February 21, 2024 – Benefits of Data collection at lambing using RFID and handheld recorders. Speaker: Dan Persons, Shearwell Data
  • February 28, 2024 – Activity and temperature monitoring systems for dairy calves, heifers, and cows, Speaker: Jason Hartschuh, OSU Extension
  • March 6, 2024 – Pen-side Diagnosis of BRD pathogen, Speaker: Mohit Verma, Purdue Extension

2024 Small Ruminant Feed and Water Use Efficiency Survey

Thank you for your interest in responding to this survey.

Before proceeding, please review the following information related to the study and your rights. By completing the survey you will help us determine the average level of awareness and base knowledge of feed and water use efficiency in small ruminant livestock. This online survey will direct you through a set of questions. You can access the survey at https://go.osu.edu/2024smallruminantefficiency or this QR Code

Continue reading 2024 Small Ruminant Feed and Water Use Efficiency Survey →

You are invited to the 2024 Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council Annual Meeting

Dear Past, Present, and potential Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council Members,

You are invited to attend the 2024 OFGC Annual Meeting that will be held on Friday, February 9, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Deerassic Park Education Center in Cambridge, Ohio. We encourage all Ohioans with an interest in forage production to attend. We hope you will consider attending and renewing your OFGC membership. The mission of OFGC is to enhance the profitability of Ohio Farmers through the use of forage and grassland resources.  Your membership will invite you to several forage-related field days throughout the year, automatic membership to the American Forage and Grassland Council, and a free subscription to Progressive Forage Grower magazine. Official Registration and Flyer with Speaker Details Continue reading You are invited to the 2024 Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council Annual Meeting →

Forage Challenges as the Weather Turns Cooler to Keep Livestock Safe

From OSU Extension’s CORN Newsletter:

By Kyle Verhoff, ANR Educator, Defiance County, and Jason Hartschuh, CCA, Field Specialist, Dairy & Precision Livestock

As the year begins to wrap up and temperatures drop, there are countless things to consider including how the coming frosts impact the toxicity of our forages. This past week many portions of the state began to flirt with possible overnight frosts which raises concerns of prussic acid poisoning, nitrate poisoning, and increased bloat as a result of feeding certain fall forages. Continue reading Forage Challenges as the Weather Turns Cooler to Keep Livestock Safe →

Farm Science Review is just around the corner!

LONDON, Ohio – More than 50 companies will join the ranks as exhibitors for the 61st Farm Science Review Sept. 19-21 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center. The new exhibitors represent various sectors in the agriculture industry including livestock handling, equipment advancements, agronomic technology, agricultural policy, and more.

Paulding County Extension Office has tickets for sale at a discounted price total of $10 per ticket. Tickets will be for sale until Monday, September 18 at noon. Continue reading Farm Science Review is just around the corner! →

Certified Livestock Manager Webinar 4: A Summary of eBarnsOn-Farm Research – CLM Credits Offered

Join the Water Quality Team for our 4th Certified Livestock Manager Webinar of the series on February 6th from 10-11:30 am for “A Summary of eBarns On-Farm Research”.  Speakers include OSU’s own Dr. Brady Campbell, Assistant Professor, and Small Ruminant Specialist, Courtney Krieger, Water Quality Extension Associate, and USDA’s Dr. Jessica Pempek, Research Animal Scientist.  CLM and CCA Credits will be offered at the end of the program. Register at go.osu.edu/CLM to attend this webinar. For questions email emmons.118@osu.edu

eBarns was new in 2022 and focuses on applied livestock, forage, and manure management research across Ohio. The report can be found online at go.osu.edu/ebarns2022. Continue reading Certified Livestock Manager Webinar 4: A Summary of eBarnsOn-Farm Research – CLM Credits Offered →

Ohio Sheep Tour set for October 15 & October 16.

Sheep looking at the camera in the wooden barn. In the background group of sheep animals standing and eating on the farm.

OSIA_OSU Statewide Sheep Production Tour Flyer

A statewide sheep production tour of Knox, Licking, and Crawford Counties has been planned for Ohio Sheep Producers for the weekend of Saturday, October 15, and Sunday, October 16, 2022. This year’s tour is jointly sponsored by the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association and Hardin County OSU Extension. Join us for a drive your own, sheep production tour focusing on dry lot/confinement sheep operations. There will be four tour stops on this year’s statewide tour, with each farm stop only being offered at the time listed. Continue reading Ohio Sheep Tour set for October 15 & October 16. →

eBarns- Putting Data in Producers’ Hands

by: Garth Ruff, Beef Cattle Field Specialist
Source: https://u.osu.edu/beef/2022/08/24/ebarns-putting-data-in-producers-hands/
In 1914, the Smith-Lever Act called for the establishment of an Extension program within land grant universities. The Act spells out that Extension is to disseminate “useful and practical information on subjects related to agriculture” and to disseminate reach being conducted at the experiment stations (OARDC here in Ohio). Over the year this “translation” of research has been done in a variety of ways including field days, seminars, one-on-one instruction, and via printed or digital newsletters. Traditionally, faculty who had Extension responsibilities on campus led research efforts, wrote academic journal articles, and then it was up to someone to share and interpret data that was meaningful to clientele in the counties across the state. eBarns, much like Ohio State Extension’s eFields publication does just that, putting the data of applied research into the hands of producers who can then interpret the research to make production decisions. eBarns in new in 2022, focusing on applied livestock, forage, and manure management research across Ohio. The report can be found online at go.osu.edu/ebarns2022. Within the report readers will find forages, dairy, beef, small ruminants, manure nutrients, and swine research projects highlighted and summarized in a user-friendly format. If there are questions regarding a study within the 2022 eBarns report or interest in becoming involved with eBarns efforts in the future contact Garth Ruff at ruff.72@osu.edu.

Livestock and Grain Producers: Dealing with Vomitoxin and Zearalenone

Vomitoxin in the 2020 corn crop continues to plague both livestock and grain producers. Livestock producers are trying to decide how best to manage corn and corn by-products with high levels of vomitoxin, and those who grow corn are trying to decide how best to avoid vomitoxin contamination in 2021.

In the 15 minute video below, OSU Extension Educations John Barker, Rob Leeds, and Jacci Smith discuss where and why this year’s vomitoxin issues originated, considerations for avoiding problems in coming years, how it impacts livestock, and what’s involved in testing grain for vomitoxin.

COVID-19 Impact on Ohio Sheep Producers

By Tim Barnes OSU Extension, Marion County

Lambs are just one of the many agricultural commodities that have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. There is never a good time for a pandemic to strike, but COVID-19 hit the sheep industry at the traditional best market price.  Spring lambs are a family favorite for traditional Easter meals (April 12), Orthodox Easter (April 23), the Muslin feasts of Ramadan (April 23 to May 23), some Jewish sects for Passover (April 8-16), and the secular May 10 Mother’s Day celebration.

America’s biggest market for fresh lamb is in the area from Baltimore to Boston.  Major East Coast packers relay on the close location of Ohio producers (Ohio has the 5th most producers in the US) to provide a steady source of fresh lamb.  The “white tablecloth restaurants” and the other segments of the foodservice industry account for over 50% of the United State lamb consumption.  As demand builds back to pre-pandemic levels, Ohio lambs will continue to be a large part of the East coast supply chain. Continue reading COVID-19 Impact on Ohio Sheep Producers →