The Eagle Gazette

Last Call for Agronomy Day Reservations

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Agronomy Day 2022 in Fairfield County, including Pesticide & Fertilizer Recertification,  is scheduled for Tuesday, February 8, 2022 – 9:00am to 3:30pm at the Fairfield County Ag Center.  Much of the program will focus on the effective use of appropriate amounts of fertilizer, and correctly choosing and applying pesticides. Those in attendance can earn both Pesticide and Fertilizer REcertification.

Reservations are required and may be made by calling 740-653-5419. Registration for the Agronomy Day program is $20 per person, and includes lunch. Participants who bring at least one of their recent soil test reports will receive, for free, a copy of the new Tri-State Fertilizer Recommendations for Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, and Alfalfa (Extension Bulletin E-2567).

Agronomy Day is sponsored in part by Ohio Soybean Council. For more information, call OSU Extension at 740-653-5419 or contact Carrie Brown at brown.2766@osu.edu or Stan Smith at smith.263@osu.edu

To register on-line for Agronomy Day go to: http://go.osu.edu/PestFert

 

Listen in to OSU Extension Educator, Carrie Brown shares the details of the 2022 Fairfield County Agronomy Day slated for February 8 at the Ag Center!!

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PAT_FACT Flyer 2022

ARC/PLC Farm Program Enrollment is Now Open

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Enrollment for the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2022 crop year is currently open at Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices. The deadline to make amendments to program elections and enroll is March 15, 2022.

Producers have the option to enroll covered commodities in either ARC-County (ARC-CO), ARC-Individual (ARC-IC), or PLC. These are the same program options that were available to producers during the 2019, 2020 and 2021 crop years.

In some cases, producers may want to amend Continue reading →

Time to take down your Christmas Tree?

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When you are ready to take the tree down after the holidays, do not be in hurry to send it to a landfill. Evergreen boughs make a great mulch for perennial flowering plants that do not tolerate other mulches that can hold excessive moisture around their crowns. They can also be placed on the ground near bird feeders to create a little shelter for ground-feeding birds. Also, many communities have a special pick up or designate a drop off site for Christmas trees. They may hold a big community bonfire or grind the trees into mulch that can be used for the garden in spring.

Save The Date… Beating the Winter Blues Series Returns 

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Once the holidays are over, do you ever feel sad or just “blah” in the winter? Maybe you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), or a milder form of this condition we commonly refer to as the “winter blues.” In this four-part webinar series, OSU Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Educators will share information about SAD and what you can do to beat the winter blues.

The series begins on January 11, 2022 at 1 pm and continues on January 18, 25 and February 1, 2022 respectively.  The series is hosted by the Fairfield County District Library—Main Branch, 219 N. Broad St, Lancaster, OH or via Zoom.

To register:       fcdlibrary.org or call 740-653-2745, ext. #160

(Zoom link will be provided upon registration if you would like to attend virtually.)  Cost is free and open to all.

Program flier:

https://u.osu.edu/thenews/files/2021/12/BWB-Library-series.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not a Creature Was Stirring, Not Even a Mouse . . .

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 One of the most popular references to a mouse at Christmas is in the iconic and very old poem, “Twas the Night before Christmas.”  The poem which belongs to the early 19th century opens with the lines  ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro’ the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse”

In “The Nutcracker and the king of mice” the hero is a toy nutcracker who confronts the king of mice and his army. A little girl helps the nutcracker win the battle and overcome his curse.  As with most fairytales, the nutcracker and the little girl live happily ever after.

Meanwhile, the mouse also enjoys a prominent place in Christmas stories like “The Christmas Mouse” “The Christmas mouse” is another story about a tiny mouse that was hungry and cold after the house he lived in was vacated. However, at Christmas time a new family moves in. This family cheerfully celebrates the days leading up to Christmas with plenty of food. Thus, the mouse and his family find food and enjoy a fantastic Christmas feast.

Just like the Christmas Mouse story, this is the time of year we might also find we have unknowingly Continue reading →

Tips for Caring for a Cut Christmas Tree

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Precut Christmas Trees at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds with Bernie Fleming- Keller Farms 2021

To check a pre-cut tree for freshness, look for flexible needles that remain firmly attached when you tug on them. All needled evergreens shed their oldest needles every year, so do not be concerned when brown needles fall from the interior of the tree when you knock the base of the tree on the ground. Just make sure they are thoroughly shaken off the tree before taking it indoors. If the needles pull out easily, or if they appear a dull, lifeless green, that tree may be past its prime.

Maintaining freshness is key

Maintaining a high moisture level in the tree is the single most important factor in reducing Continue reading →

TRACTOR MAINTENANCE & SMALL ENGINES 4-H CLUB

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Do you know someone who works with dirt bikes, lawn mowers, tractors, or other small engine powered equipment? Is this something you want to learn more about?

The Tractor Maintenance & Small Engines 4-H Club is looking for new members! 4-H is a non-formal, educational youth development program for individuals age 8 and in 3rd grade or 9 years old through age 18, as of January 1, 2022.

This 4-H club teaches individuals how to work on small engines and tractors while visiting different businesses and agriculture shops throughout the county. No experience is necessary – This is a great opportunity to learn something new!

Want to learn more about tractor safety and how to work on them? The club will be using a new curriculum that focuses on tractor safety and how to properly perform tractor maintenance. The Tractor Maintenance courses are available to members who have taken the small engine project books or have had previous experience working on machinery.

The club meets every Monday in January through Mid-March. The first meeting will be Monday, January 10th at 7:00p.m. at the Fairfield County Ag Center, 831 College Ave, Lancaster. All interested members are welcome to attend this first meeting to learn more and get registered! For more information, contact the Fairfield County Extension Office at 740-653-5419.

TIPS TO KEEPING HOLIDAY SPENDING IN CHECK

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Increased expenses that typically occur during the winter holiday season can make it hard for some consumers to avoid overspending, with many struggling to stay within normal spending limits, often taking months into the next year to pay off the resulting debt.

Coins in glass money jar with holidays label, financial concept.

While this has become an annual issue for many consumers, the economic stress many faced last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic has many consumers saying this year they plan to spend more to make up for missed celebrations put on hold to prevent virus spread last year.

In fact, some 40% of consumers say that the pandemic won’t impact their spending this year, and an additional 30% of consumers say they plan to spend more this year than last year, a time when fear and uncertainty caused by the pandemic resulted in many consumers lowering their holiday budgets.

According to the 2021 Holiday Outlook by PwC, formerly Price Waterhouse Coopers, total holiday spending this year will be Continue reading →

SAFE and HAPPY HOLIDAYS

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How many of you are guilty leaving those Christmas tree lights on all the time just because you enjoy seeing those twinkling lights?  I recently learned that I was putting my family at risk with a simple decision I was making; leaving my tree lights on!  Holiday decorations can increase the chance of fire in your home if not done safely. According to the National Fire Protection Association, tree fires during the holidays are more likely to be serious. Lighting on trees is involved in more than Continue reading →