Programs

Beef Quality Assurance on January 22

The Putnam County Extension office will be holding a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program on Wednesday, January 22 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. This is an excellent opportunity to become BQA-certified or to renew your certification. BQA certification lasts for a three-year period before it needs to be renewed. This program is offered at no cost to attendees. Light refreshments will be provided by the Putnam County Cattlemen’s Association.

Can’t make the program? Check out BQA.org for in-person classes, or take the online course to obtain your certification/recertification!

2025 Putnam BQA

Planning for the Future of Your Farm – January 23, 2025

 

We are excited to announce the opportunity for farm families to explore the future of their farm in this day-long workshop!

OSU Extension invites farm families to learn how to create a plan for the future transition of their farm’s ownership, management, and assets to the next generation. Learn how to have crucial conversations about the future of your farm.

Workshop topics include: Developing Legacy Goals; Planning for the Transition of Management; Planning for the Unexpected; Communication and Conflict Management; Legal Tools and Strategies; Developing Your Team; Getting Your Affairs in Order; and Selecting an Attorney.

The base registration fee of $65 includes course materials, refreshments, and lunch for two persons. Additional family members can attend for $20 per person. More information can be obtained by contacting Beth Scheckelhoff at 419-523-6294, scheckelhoff.11@osu.edu. This workshop is being co-sponsored by Ohio Corn and Wheat.

Printable flyer and registration form: Putnam Planning for the Future

Registration deadline is January 18!

Organic Grains Conference on January 4-5

Registration is open for the 2nd annual Ohio State Organic Grains Conference, January 4-5, 2024 at the Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center near Toledo, Ohio. The 2024 conference offers programming for experienced organic growers, growers transitioning to or considering organic, and consultants or educators who support these growers. Featured speakers will include Klaas Martens from Lakeview Organic Grain in New York; Léa Vereecke from Rodale Institute; former Ohio State soil fertility specialist Steve Culman; and Eugene Law, currently of USDA-ARS, but soon to be an Ohio State assistant professor in weed ecology.

Take advantage of Early Bird pricing until December 6 and register now! The cost of $100 per person includes two days of quality programming, meals throughout the event, and opportunities to network with organic farmers in the region as well as speakers and trade show vendors.

This event is brought to you by Ohio State University Extension and Ohio State’s Organic Food & Farming Education and Research (OFFER) program. Continuing education credits will be available for Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs). For more information, visit go.osu.edu/organicgrains.

Visit https://fulton.osu.edu/program-areas/agriculture-and-natural-resources/2023-organic-grains-conference to see information about the 2023 Organic Grains Conference, including recordings or slide decks from many of the presentations. In its first year, this event drew more than 180 participants.

2022 Putnam County Livestock Programs

Putnam county producers raise a large number of livestock each year – including hogs, cattle, sheep, and poultry. In 2022, producers will have the opportunity to attend both a Beef Quality Assurance Certification and Recertification program and a Livestock Mortality Composting Program.

Beef Quality Assurance
Thursday, January 13 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM

Many buyers only source beef from producers trained in Beef Quality Assurance (BQA). Ensure that you have complete market access by becoming BQA Certified or Recertified. Clint Schroeder, Extension Educator from Allen County, will conduct the program and answer producer questions and concerns.  There is no charge for this program.

Livestock Mortality Composting
Wednesday, February 2 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM

Composting is an economical and efficient method of disposal for livestock. Certification is needed in Ohio to compost cattle, horses, poultry, sheep, goats, and swine. This program will review how to appropriately construct, monitor, and manage your compost system. The course will be taught by OSU Extension Specialist Glen Arnold.  There is a $10 fee to attend this program and includes all materials.

Programs will take place at the Putnam County Extension Office.

 

 

Putnam County Coffee Talk Begins January 7

The extension office is excited to announce a new monthly series of programs that have been developed together with the Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation Service.  This series is called “Putnam County Coffee Talk” and will feature topics for both our agriculture industry as well as homeowners and the general public.

Putnam County Coffee Talk will take place on the first Friday of each month from 8:30 to 11:00 am at the OSU Extension office located at 1206 East 2nd Street in Ottawa. An agriculture-focused topic will begin at 8:30 and conclude at 9:30. Coffee and light refreshments will be available from 9:30 to 10:00 am. The homeowner/resident topic will run from 10:00 to 11:00 am.

The first segment of Coffee Talk will be on Friday, January 7 focusing on local and regional land values, a topic important to farmers, landowners, and residents alike. You might be interested to learn how land values have changed in and around Putnam County this past year and anticipated value changes for 2022 and beyond.

Both sessions will feature a panel of local land value experts, including Bob Benroth from the Putnam County auditor’s office, a local appraiser, and auctioneer. Sessions will discuss land values, CAUV, and the panel will be open for questions from all. Come to one session or stay for both and enjoy a coffee break in between!

Additional topics for the coming months include:

  • February 4: “Managing Manure on the Farm – Techniques and Regulations” followed by “The Scoop on Poop – Manure Applications in and Around the Home”
  • March 4: “The Why, How, and Where of Planting Windbreaks” followed by “Backyard Trees 101 – Ornamental and Fruiting Trees for Putnam County”
  • April 1: “Micronutrient Applications on the Farm – Bust or Benefit?” followed by “ABC’s of Lawn Care”
  • May 6: “Local Government Programs and Updates” followed by “Planting Primer for Your Putnam County Garden”
  • June 3: “Where Are We with Water Quality in Putnam County?” followed by “Managing Your Pond”

There will be no session in July, and Coffee Talk will resume on the first Friday from August through November. We hope to see you there!

 

Extension Office Taking Putnam County AG Hall of Fame Nominations

Since its creation in 1820, Putnam County has long been recognized as a highly productive agricultural county in Ohio. Past and present farmers have worked the ground, tended crops, raised livestock, protected our streams and rivers, and developed innovative equipment and methods to ensure that we have an abundance of food on our tables.

Early next year we will once again recognize our strong agricultural heritage by inducting recipients into the Putnam County Agriculture Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame honors individuals and businesses that have contributed significantly to Putnam County’s agricultural legacy. Last year, the Putnam County Agriculture Hall of Fame inducted Lewis Klass, formerly of Leipsic, Donald Kimmet of Ottawa, and Albert Maag of Findlay.

We need your help in identifying potential recipients for 2022 and beyond. If you know of someone who has contributed to the county’s agricultural base, please contact our office so that we may send them or a representative of their family a nomination form. Nomination forms may also be found on our website at www.putnam.osu.edu.

Award nominees, whether living or deceased, must have made their major contribution to agriculture as a result of being born in, living in, beginning or completing their career in Putnam County, Ohio. Nominations may be made in the following categories: producer or farmer; or an agricultural-related activity such as a business, industry association, education, or government.

A wooden plaque honoring our Putnam County Agriculture Hall of Fame recipients since 2018 is on display at the Courthouse in the Recorders office.

Putnam County Ag Hall of Fame Application

 

Webinar for 2021 ARC and PLC Program Year

OSU Extension will be offering two webinars this winter focused specifically on the ARC/PLC decision, reviewing decision-tool calculators available to evaluate options, and current market outlook. The dates for these webinars are January 13th from 1:00-3:00 pm and February 25th from 9 -11 am. Both programs are free to attend, but registration is required. Register online at: http://go.osu.edu/arcplc2021.

Additionally, OSU Extension and the Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics (AEDE) are offering several webinars between now and the March 15th enrollment deadline for producers to get up to date market outlook information. For information about AEDE’s 2021 Winter Outlook Meetings, visit https://aede.osu.edu/research/agricultural-policy-and-outlook-conferences/county-meetings.

 

2021 Small Farm College – POSTPONED UNTIL FALL 2021

THE SMALL FARM COLLEGE WILL BE POSTPONED UNTIL FALL 2021 WHEN WE CAN MEET IN PERSON.

Are you a small farm landowner wondering what to do with your acreage?  Are you interested in exploring options for land uses but not sure where to turn or how to begin?  Have you considered adding an agricultural or horticultural enterprise, but you aren’t sure what may be required for equipment, labor, and/or management?  Are you looking for someplace to get some basic farm information?

If you or someone you know answered yes to any of the above questions – then the Ohio State University Extension New and Small Farm College program may be for you!

OSUE’s New and Small Farm College is a five-session short course that will be held one night a week beginning in January.  The 2021 Ohio New and Small Farm College program will be held in four locations across the state including right here in Putnam County!  These sessions will be held at the OSU Putnam County Extension Office, 1206 East Second Street in Ottawa.  Classes will be held on Thursdays beginning January 21 and concluding February 18, 2021.

Face-to-face sessions will address the following topics:

  • Getting started with a small farm (goal setting, family matters, business planning, budgeting, resources)
  • Appropriate land use -Walking the Farm;
  • Small farm legal checkup and farm insurance;
  • Financial and business management strategies for decision makers of small farms;
  • Where to get help – an overview of County resources; OSU Extension, government agencies and programs, (i.e. CAUV, EQIP, grants, etc).

In addition to the five traditional face-to-face sessions, the 2021 Small Farm College includes on-demand webinars, podcasts and other resources and content that participants can access virtually. These topics will include: Horticulture and Livestock Production Enterprises; Natural Resources and Wildlife; Honeybees; New Crops such as Hops, Malting Barley, and Hemp; Marketing Alternatives, and more.

All sessions begin each evening at 6:00 PM with a light dinner followed by the nightly presentations from 6:30 PM to 9:00PM. COVID-19 precautions will be in place at all locations.  Due to spacing and social distancing requirements, class size at each location will be limited. 

The cost of the course is $100 per person, $75 for an additional family member.  Each participating family will receive a small farm college notebook full of the information presented in each class session plus additional materials.  Registrations are now being accepted. You may also find more information at the following website: https://agnr.osu.edu/small-farm-programs/new-and-small-farm-college.  For more details about the course contact Tony Nye, Small Farm Program Coordinator (937)382-0901 or email at nye.1@osu.edu.

Registration forms can be found on our website (putnam.osu.edu), by calling the Putnam County Extension office at 419-523-6294, by email at Scheckelhoff.11@osu.edu or stop in at 1206 East Second Street in Ottawa. You can also find us on Facebook by searching for OSU Extension Putnam County.