Water Quality

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 →

Success Stories of Conservation program to be held February 20th

Ohio State University Extension and Northwest State Community College are partnering to provide a regional event focused on successful implementation of agricultural conservation practices, called “Success Stories of Conservation”.  The event will feature farmers giving 5-minute “lightning talks” that will discuss how specific conservation practices have benefitted them on their operations, followed by a panel-type question and answer session. In addition, Dr. Jim Uphaus, Professor and Chair of the Agriculture program at Rhodes State College, and Dr. Vinayak Shedekar, Assistant Professor of Agriculture Water Management at The Ohio State University, will host breakout sessions focusing on the return on investment of conservation practices and the benefits of utilizing farm drainage, respectively. The event’s keynote speaker will be Greg LaBarge, Field Specialist in Agronomic Systems at The Ohio State University, discussing his research in the Powell Creek Watershed and what watershed-scale implementation of conservation practices can do. Continue reading Success Stories of Conservation program to be held February 20th →

Register for Water Quality Wednesdays!

The Water Quality Team’s fifth annual webinar series, Water Quality Wednesdays, is back for 2025! Join OSU’s Water Quality Extension Associates for the series focusing on the interaction between agriculture and water quality. Each webinar will have a unique topic and speakers. We will be hosting three webinars, on the last Wednesday of the month, from January to March in 2025. Continuing education credits (CEUs) will be offered for Certified Crop Advisers (CCAs) for each webinar. Certified Livestock Manager (CLM) CEUs will be offered for relevant topics. All webinars will be recorded and posted to the OSU Agronomy Team YouTube channel (go.osu.edu/AgronomyYouTube) for later viewing. CEUs will not be available from the recordings.

The first webinar will be held on Wednesday, January 29 from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM. See the official flyer here 2025 WQW Series Flyer. Register at go.osu.edu/WQW25!

For more information, contact Rachel Cochran, Cochran.474@osu.edu, (567)344-5016 or visit waterqualityextension.osu.edu.

 

Join Paulding County Extension for January 7th Cover Crops Roundtable Meeting

Join OSU Extension Paulding County and escape the cold with some hot topics at our January 7th Cover Crops Roundtable meeting! Continue reading Join Paulding County Extension for January 7th Cover Crops Roundtable Meeting →

2024 Virtual Soil Health Tour

Ohio State University Extension’s fourth annual Soil Health Tour is live for 2024! This year’s virtual tour partnered with Michigan State University to showcase conservation practices in action through the Western Lake Erie Basin of Ohio and Michigan. Five tour stops showcase individual farmers who have implemented different conservation practices on their farms. Each producer’s video interview with an Extension staff member discusses the practice they are utilizing, why they chose to implement it, benefits they have seen thus far, and changes they would make, if any if they did it all over again. In addition to those sites, we are showcasing 8 regional locations of a study that members of OSU Extension have completed over the past few years, looking at soil health across the state. To view the interactive StoryMap, visit go.osu.edu/SHTour24.

If you enjoy learning about conservation practices in action, consider joining us for an event on February 20th, 2025, at Northwest State Community College. This event, Success Stories of Conservation, will be a place for farmers, landowners, and technical support staff to openly discuss how conservation has worked for them, as well as their challenges with these practices. More information can be found at our website, waterqualityextension.osu.edu.

Get Ready to Dig into Soil Health with the 2025 Ohio State Soil Health Webinar Series!

Are you ready to expand your knowledge of soil health? The 2025 Ohio State Soil Health Webinar Series is here, bringing expert insights on hot topics requested by viewers in recent years.

This free, virtual series offers a unique opportunity to learn from leading researchers, educators, and farmers who are shaping the future of soil health. Recordings will be available through the Ohio State Extension Agronomic Crops Team page, but event planners encourage live participation. Joining live sessions allows attendees to ask questions, share insights, and engage in meaningful conversations with experts.

Register now at go.osu.edu/SoilHealthWeb to receive meeting links and calendar reminders. Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) can earn continuing education credits by attending live sessions. Continue reading Get Ready to Dig into Soil Health with the 2025 Ohio State Soil Health Webinar Series! →

Cover Crops Roundtables – Join us monthly!

Join Paulding County Extension for their monthly, year-round series focusing on topics related to cover crops at their Cover Crops Roundtable meetings! These meetings are held on Tuesdays each month from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at the Paulding County Extension Office. Continue reading Cover Crops Roundtables – Join us monthly! →

Register for Soil Health Field Day on August 15

Hand holding soil

Article is taken from https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2024-23/register-soil-health-field-day-august-15 by Stephanie Karhoff, CCA, Randall Reeder, Amanda Douridas, CCA

Join Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio No-Till Council in partnership with Cargill RegenConnect® on Thursday, August 15 for a Soil Health Field Day featuring leading experts and hands-on field demonstrations.

The event will be held at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center (135 OH-38, London, OH 43140; East end of Farm Science Review exhibit area). Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a welcome message from Janelle Leach, Conservation Agronomist with Cargill, at 9:15 a.m. Morning sessions will include the following:

  • Cover Crop Management & Termination – Dr. Alyssa Essman, The Ohio State University
  • Rain Fall Simulator and Slake Test – Jay & Ann Brandt
  • Cover Crop Selection Decisions & Planting Rates and Timing – Jason Hartschuh, The Ohio State University

Free lunch courtesy of our sponsors will be followed by keynote speaker Dr. Paul Jasa of University of Nebraska-Lincoln discussing “What Research Shows about No Till Systems and Cover Crops.”

The field day will close with a farmer panel discussion and additional time to interact with vendors. Register online by clicking here.

Have you Registered for the July 31st Cover Crop ‘Til You Drop Field Day?

Soil depth tool next to crop

Article is taken from https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2024-22/have-you-registered-july-31st-cover-crop-%E2%80%98til-you-drop-field-day by Amber Emmons, CCA, Rachel Cochran, CCA

We are now only three weeks away from Ohio State University Extension’s Water Quality Team field day: Cover Crop ‘Til You Drop! View the video below for more information about this conservation-focused field day.

The field day will begin at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, July 31st, 2024, at 13079 Rd 10L, Ottawa, OH. The field day will wrap up at 2:00 PM with an optional wetland tour to follow. The keynote speaker for this event will be Dr. Manbir Rakkar, Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management State Specialist with The Ohio State University Extension. She will discuss how cover crops interact with both soil health and water quality.

Have you registered yet? We hope to see you on July 31st! Visit go.osu.edu/24WQTeamFieldDay or contact Rachel Cochran at Cochran.474@osu.edu with questions.

Celebrate our rivers at RiverFest 2024!

For the eighth year in a row, Defiance is celebrating the Maumee and Auglaize Rivers with RiverFest, hosted at Pontiac Park from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturday, June 29th, 2024. There will be activities, demonstrations, food, and fun for everyone! Bring your kids, ages 1 to 100 for Kids River Passport STEAM activities, including Project Wet and other demonstrations by Defiance Soil and Water Conservation District, Defiance City Schools, Defiance College Science Club, Yoga in the Park, Camp Lakota/Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, ODNR Scenic Rivers, OSU Extension, The Nature Conservancy, Maumee Watershed Alliance, and more! A living history encampment will provide a taste of local history, then you can grab a taste of current history by visiting one of the food trucks at the park! A kayak raffle will also be held during RiverFest! More information can be found at the Land To Lake website, landtolake.org, or Click here to view the event flyer.

Water Quality Wednesday Webinar — Economics of Conservation Webinar Coming on January 31st

Have you ever considered implementing conservation practices in your operation, but wanted to learn more about the economic side of doing so? Join OSU Extension on January 31st from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for the first Water Quality Wednesday Webinar of 2024: The Economics of Conservation.

Three speakers will provide insight into the economic benefits of utilizing different conservation practices, including cover crops and the use of manure as a nutrient source. Katie Wilts Johnson, Extension Economist, Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota, will use FINBIN data to discuss short and long-term cash flow positions and how this relates to utilizing cover crops. OSU Extension’s Farm Business Analysis Program Manager Clint Schroeder will discuss how OSU can help you figure out exactly how different management practices can benefit your farm economics.  Glen Arnold, Field Specialist in Manure Nutrient Management at The Ohio State University will wrap up the session by discussing the yield and financial benefits of utilizing manure in-season as a nutrient source.

Certified Crop Adviser CEUs will be available during the live session. Register to receive the connection link at go.osu.edu/WQW24. Can’t join live? The recording of this webinar will be posted to the OSU Agronomy YouTube Channel’s Water Quality Playlist following the event. Questions can be directed to Rachel Cochran, cochran.474@osu.edu or (567) 344-5016.

Water Quality Wednesday Webinar Series Flyer

January 2024 Water Quality Wednesday: The Economics of Conservation

Northern Ohio Crops Day

Join OSU Extension in Sandusky County for the 2024 Northern Ohio Crops Day on Thursday, February 1, 2024, from 8:00 AM until 3:30 PM at Ole Zim’s Wagon Shed (1387 SR 590, Gibsonburg, OH 43431). Registration Deadline: January 25, 2024. Call OSUE Sandusky County to RSVP at (419) 334-6340. The cost is $55.

Education Credits offered:
•3 hours private pesticide applicator Categories 1,2,3,6 and core. Others by request
•2.5 hours commercial pesticide applicator Categories 2A,2B, Core
• 1-hour fertilizer applicator re-certification
•Certified Crop Advisors CEUs

To view the official flyer and schedule click the 2024 NOH Crops Day agenda.

Fall is the perfect time to review the Phosphorus Loss Risk Assessment document for determining P application rates

Fall is a busy time of year for many of us involved in agriculture; from harvest to cover crop seeding, to wheat planting and fertilizer application, we have a ton of tasks to get done in a short window of time. But with the hectic nature of the season comes an opportunity to refresh ourselves with the recommendations for Phosphorus application rates. Continue reading Fall is the perfect time to review the Phosphorus Loss Risk Assessment document for determining P application rates →

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! →

Ohio’s Woodland Stewards: Friday’s Escape to the Forest series on February 10

Included are very high-resolution images of the Emerald Ash Borer Beetle. Specimens provided by Dr. David Wagner of the University of Connecticut.

Join us for our first Friday’s Escape to the Forest webinar of 2023.  Ohio State Extension Specialist in Forest Entomology, Kayla Perry will be our presenter as we get up to date on what is going on with emerald ash borer (EAB) and how our forests are doing post-invasion. She will discuss the status of Emerald Ash Borer in post-outbreak forests.

Join OSU’s Kayla Perry, State Extension Specialist in Forest Entomology, as we talk about Emerald ash borer (EAB; Agrilus planipennis). EAB has caused widespread decline and death of ash trees throughout eastern North America since it was first detected in southeastern Michigan in 2002. This presentation will provide an update on the distribution, management, and ecological impacts of EAB, with a focus on forests that have experienced the longest duration of invasion by this insect.

Register here for the webinar.  Continuing education credits for ISA and SAF will be offered. Continue reading Ohio’s Woodland Stewards: Friday’s Escape to the Forest series on February 10 →

New Factsheet: “Understanding How Soil Test Phosphorus Impacts Water Quality”

A factsheet discussing the relationship between the amount of Phosphorus in our soils and water quality, written by Greg LaBarge, Field Specialist, Agronomic Systems and Rachel Cochran, Water Quality Extension Associate at Ohio State University was released today. It discusses the importance of P management, as well as different studies that have examined the relationship between P levels and water quality. Many best practices for managing high P levels are discussed as well. View the factsheet at this link, or visit Ohioline and search for the factsheet ANR-0111.

2023 Ohio Woodland Water and Wildlife Conference

Registration is open for the 2023 Ohio Woodland Water and Wildlife Conference

Join us on March 1st for a diverse set of talks that will offer continuing education credits for ISA, SAF, and pesticides where applicable.  The program flyer is attached here WWW 2023 flyer.  You can register here.

Early registration per person – $65 before 2/10/2023 and $85 after 2/10/2023
Last Date To Register: 2/17/2023

Registration includes continental breakfast, lunch, breaks, and a resource notebook.

OSU Extension’s Water Quality Wednesday Webinar Series is back for 2023!

Join OSU’s Water Quality Extension Associates for their annual winter webinar series focusing on the interaction between agriculture and water quality. These webinars will take place monthly from January to March 2023. Continue reading OSU Extension’s Water Quality Wednesday Webinar Series is back for 2023! →

OSU Extension’s CLM Webinar Series is back for December!

Join OSU Extension’s Water Quality Team for the third installment of their Certified Livestock Manger (CLM) Webinar Series! The webinar to be held from 10-11:30AM on Monday, December 5th will discuss how to utilize manure as an organic fertilizer on your operation. Continue reading OSU Extension’s CLM Webinar Series is back for December! →

Join us for an Agriculture and Water Quality Program on August 4th

Join Paulding County Extension from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM on Thursday, August 4th for a program titled “Agriculture and Water Quality: How do TMDLs and Edge-of-Field Monitoring fit in?”

Greg LaBarge, Field Specialist in Agronomic Systems from Ohio State University Extension and Josh Griffin, Lake Erie Programs Manager from Ohio EPA will speak at this event.

This program will focus on water quality, the agricultural practices that impact it, and the potential solutions for improving it by discussing edge-of-field research being conducted by The Ohio State University. Curious what practices could be improving and impeding water quality on your farm? Have you been thinking about how the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) process will impact farming in Northwest Ohio? Join us to hear what the process for TMDLs consists of, where the Maumee Watershed is in that process, and what farming practices can contribute to improved water quality.

Register for this free event at go.osu.edu/TMDL. CCA credits for Soil and Water management will be provided.

Click here to see a flyer with more information