Hardin County – There is a segment of agriculture in southeastern Hardin County that specializes in commercial fruit and vegetable production. Hardin County is also home to the Scioto Valley Produce Auction near Mt. Victory where much of this produce is sold. Hardin County OSU Extension has planned a Fruit and Vegetable Crop Walk program on Wednesday, July 19 from 6:00-8:00 pm to help with fruit and vegetable production issues. The location of the program will be on a produce farm at 17956 Township Road 245, Mt. Victory. It is open to all fruit and vegetable producers, whether they are commercial or home gardeners.

Gary Gao, OSU Extension Small Fruit Production Specialist will provide information on growing raspberries. Matt Kleinhenz, OSU Extension Vegetable Production Specialist will provide a vegetable production update, Chris Galbraith, OSU/MSU Extension Vegetable Extension Educator, Northwest Ohio will provide a weed control update. Frank Becker, OSU Extension Educator, will provide a fruit and vegetable issues update from Wayne County. Tommy Becker, OSU Extension Educator, will provide a fruit and vegetable issues update from Lorain County.

The program will be held outside so bring your lawn chair and umbrella in case of rain. There will be a diagnostic table so be sure to bring along any weeds, plant nutrition problems, plant diseases, and insect specimens in a sealed plastic bag for questions and answers. The program will conclude with a walk through a produce field or hoop house, pointing out fruit and vegetable issues and steps to properly manage them. There is no cost to attend this event.

Hardin County – There is a segment of agriculture in southeastern Hardin County that specializes in commercial fruit and vegetable production. Hardin County is also home to the Scioto Valley Produce Auction near Mt. Victory where much of this produce is sold. Hardin County OSU Extension has planned a Fruit and Vegetable Crop Walk program on Friday, July 30 from 6:00-8:00 pm to help with fruit and vegetable production issues. The location of the program will be on a produce farm at 19809 County Road 200, Mt. Victory. It is open to all fruit and vegetable producers, whether they are commercial or home gardeners.

OSU Extension Integrated Pest Management Coordinator Jim Jasinski will provide information on managing insects with produce. OSU plant pathologist Melanie Ivey will provide information on managing plant diseases with fruits. OSU State Vegetable Production Specialist Matthew Kleinhenz will provide an update for growers on vegetable production. Hardin County OSU Extension Educator Mark Badertscher will provide information about Driftwatch; a voluntary communication tool that enables crop producers, beekeepers, and pesticide applicators to work together to protect specialty crops and apiaries through use of mapping programs.

The program will be held outside so bring your lawn chair and umbrella in case of rain. There will be a diagnostic table so be sure to bring along any weeds, plant nutrition problems, plant diseases, and insect specimens in a sealed plastic bag for questions and answers. The program will conclude with a walk through a produce field, pointing out fruit and vegetable issues and steps to properly manage them. There is no cost to attend this event

There is a segment of agriculture in southeastern Hardin County that specializes in commercial fruit and vegetable production.  Hardin County is also home to the Scioto Valley Produce Auction near Mt. Victory where much of this produce is sold.  Hardin County OSU Extension has planned a Fruit and Vegetable Crop Walk program on Tuesday, July 23 from 6:00-8:00 pm to help with fruit and vegetable production issues.  The location of the program will be on a produce farm at 17051 Township Road 199, Mt. Victory.  It is open to all fruit and vegetable producers, whether they are commercial or home gardeners.

OSU plant pathologist Dr. Sally Miller will provide information on managing plant diseases with vegetables.  OSU plant pathologist Melanie Ivey will provide information on managing plant diseases with fruits.  Hardin County OSU Extension Educator Mark Badertscher will provide information about Driftwatch.  Driftwatch is a voluntary communication tool that enables crop producers, beekeepers, and pesticide applicators to work together to protect specialty crops and apiaries through use of mapping programs.  It is not a substitute for any state regulatory requirements.

The program will be held outside so bring your lawn chair and umbrella in case of rain.  There will be a diagnostic table so be sure to bring along any weeds, plant nutrition problems, plant diseases, and insect specimens in a sealed plastic bag for questions and answers.  The program will conclude with a walk through a produce patch and high tunnel greenhouse, pointing out fruit and vegetable issues and steps to properly manage them.  There is no cost to attend this event.

By Mark Badertscher – Hardin County OSU Extension, Agriculture and Natural Resources

Hardin County – Are you a commercial fruit and vegetable grower who is looking for ways to manage pest issues in your produce? Maybe you raise vegetables in your home garden have spots on the leaves.  Do you have berries growing on your property or fruit trees in your yard that are not producing like they should?  Hardin County OSU Extension has planned a fruit and vegetable Crop Walk program on Tuesday, August 15 from 6:00-8:00 pm to help answer these concerns.  This program will include an emphasis on fruit and vegetable production.  The location of the program will be 21613 County Road 200, Mt. Victory.

OSU Extension entomologist Dr. Celeste Welty and OSU Extension Horticulture field specialist Jim Jasinski will be providing information about insect identification and recommendations, along with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques for fruit and vegetable production. Graduate students from OSU Plant Pathology and Weed Science have been invited to help growers with plant disease problems and weed control methods in produce.  Hardin County OSU Extension Educator Mark Badertscher will provide information on labeling honey, registering bees with the Ohio Department of Agriculture, and steps beekeepers and commercial produce growers can take to register their bees and crops with the Sensitive Crop Registry.

The program will be held outside so bring your lawn chair and umbrella in case of rain. There will be a diagnostic table so be sure to bring along any weeds, plant nutrition problems, plant diseases, and insect specimens for questions and answers.  The program will conclude with walk through a produce patch, pointing out fruit and vegetable issues and steps to properly manage them.

For more information about OSU Extension, Hardin County, visit the Hardin County OSU Extension web site at hardin.osu.edu, the Hardin County OSU Extension Facebook page or contact Mark Badertscher, at 419-674-2297.