OSU Extension to host Ohio Small Farm Conference: April 6, 2024

Julie Wayman, OSU Extension Community Development Educator, Ashtabula County

2024 Small Farms Conference Brochure 

Ohio State Extension announced plans to host a Small Farm Conference in Senecaville, Ohio on April 6, 2024. The theme for this year’s Mid-Ohio 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 operation. There will be five different conference tracks including: Horticulture and Produce Production, Business Management, Livestock, Natural Resources and new this year The Farm Kitchen.

Some conference topic highlights include: Raising Meat Rabbits, Making Goat Milk Soap, Timber Harvesting and Marketing, Basics of Growing PawPaw’s, Food Preservation Basics, Herb Vinegars, Organic Pest Management, Growing Produce with Hydroponics, Starting and Setting up a business, Solar and Wind Leasing.

Anyone interested in Continue reading OSU Extension to host Ohio Small Farm Conference: April 6, 2024

Precision Livestock Farming for Small Ruminant Producers

Jason Hartschuh, Dairy Management and Precision Livestock, Field Specialist

This winter the OSU Extension Digital Ag team is offering a 6 part Zoom series on precision livestock farming. Programs will begin on Wednesday, January 31st from noon to 1 and continue for 6 weeks. Each program will feature a different speaker on various precision livestock topics. Two of the topics will be of particular interest to small ruminant producers. The first on January 31st will focus on utilizing drones and remote imagery to determine forage quality and quantity in pasture and hay fields. Dr. Josh Jackson, Assistant Extension Professor with the University of Kentucky will be our featured speaker for this presentation. The next program of interest will be on February 21st covering the benefits of Data collection at lambing and the utilization of RFID technology with handheld readers and data recording. Our featured presenter for this program will be Dan Persons with Shearwell Data.

Other programs will feature technology for beef, dairy swine, and poultry producers.

To sign up for these programs register for free at go.osu.edu/plf24

2023 Buckeye Shepherd’s Symposium Announced

Dr. Brady Campbell, Assistant Professor, OSU State Small Ruminant Extension Specialist

2023 Buckeye Shepherd’s Symposium Flyer 

(*To register, please following the link below or scan this QR code.)

On behalfof The Ohio State University, Ohio Sheep and Wool Program, and Ohio Sheep Improvement Association, we are pleased to announce the date of the 2023 Buckeye Shepherd’s Symposium to be held on Saturday, December 2, 2023 at The Ohio State University Wooster Campus Shisler Conference Center (1680 Madison Avenue, Wooster, Ohio 44691). The theme of the 2023 symposium is Nutrition and Marketing. Throughout the day, we will hear reflections and insights about changes in the sheep, lamb and wool industry. We will discuss nutrition as it primarily relates to sheep flocks including an emphasis on club lamb flock nutrition. We will also hear from speakers on marketing insights of both sheep, lamb and wool. Speakers and discussions will lead to the betterment of the flock and the American Sheep Industry.

Speakers at this years event include: Continue reading 2023 Buckeye Shepherd’s Symposium Announced

2023 Statewide Sheep Production Tour

Mark Badertscher, OSU Extension Educator ANR, Hardin County

2023 Statewide Sheep Production Tour Flyer

A OSU Statewide Sheep Production Tour 2023 statewide sheep production tour of the State up North (Michigan) has been planned for Ohio Sheep Producers the weekend of Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1, 2023. This year’s tour is jointly sponsored by the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association (OSIA) and Hardin County OSU Extension. Join us for this sheep production tour focusing on Michigan lamb marketing and dry lot/confinement sheep operations. A schedule of the included visits are as follows:

Saturday September 30, 2023 Continue reading 2023 Statewide Sheep Production Tour

Small Ruminant Workshops: FAMACHA and Integrated Parasite Management Workshops Announced

Dan Lima, OSU Extension Educator, Belmont County

Learn about parasite management in sheep and goats and receive your FAMACHA certification.

• DATE & TIME: Thursday, August 31, 2023 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• LOCATION: 48544 Centerville-Jacobsburg Rd., Jacobsburg, OH 43933
• COST: $25.00 per person
• Class has a 20 person cap- light refreshments will be served

For those interested in the course, please view the event announcement here for registration details.