OSU Extension Darke County
Western Ohio OSU Extension Winter Meetings
By Sam Custer 

Adapting Agriculture to Extreme Weather - February 6 

The winter meeting topic of the Ohio Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society will be: “Adapting Agriculture to Extreme Weather”.  Featured speakers will be Dr. Lonnie Thompson, Distinguished Professor with the Byrd Polar Research Center on:  “Global Climate Change: Glaciers, Agriculture and People”.  Also Jeff Rodgers, Ohio State Climatologist on: “Ohio Weather & Climate Trends”.  Dr. Brent Sohngen, OSU Professor of Economics on:  “The Economics of Adapting to Climate Change”.  Also Extension Educators will give presentations on:  “Farmer Attitudes & Survey Data on Weather and Climate”, “Carbon, Climate & Terms”, “Adapting Agriculture to Extreme Weather”, “Climate Change & 21st Century Agriculture”. 

The meeting will take place on February 6, 2013 starting at 8:30 am to 3:30 pm located at the Ohio Department of Agriculture Headquarters, 8995 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 

Cost is $35 payable to All Ohio Chapter SWCS, mail to John Armentano, 3635 Dayspring Drive, Hilliard, OH  43026 or call 937-483-8581. 

Intensive Soybean Workshop – February 7 

Hands-on Learning for Soybean Pest Scouting and Management Updates – 2013 

Join OSU Extension as we present an intensive soybean workshop for western Ohio crop producers. This Sidney, Ohio workshop will help you become a more profitable soybean producer. This workshop will feature Dr. Laura Lindsey who is Ohio State’s new Soybean/Small Grain Extension Specialist; Dr. Andy Michel, Ohio State University, Field Crop Extension Entomologist; and Dr. Anne Dorrance, Ohio State University’s Field Crop Extension Pathologist. 

The topics which will be discussed during this workshop include: Agronomic factors to maximize yield, Hands on evaluation of soybean yield components, What’s “bugging” soybeans, Identification of key insects, Thresholds and insecticide timing, Stink Bugs-the new bug in town, Key soybean diseases for northeast Ohio, Pathogen biology, Local research results, Genetic disease resistance, Foliar fungicides, Seed treatments, and Hands-on identification of soybean pests and diseases. This will be a great opportunity to see our major pests and diseases up close and to learn how to properly identify them. 

February 7 – Shelby County Agriculture Center, 820 Fair Rd., Sidney, OH 9:30a – 3:30p 

CCA Credits applied for: 3 hours of Pest Management, 1.5 hours of Crop Management 

Cost for the Day, payable at the door:  $50.00. Includes lunch, hand-outs, packet of materials. 

Reserve your spot by February 5th with Debbie Brown, Shelby County Agriculture & Natural Resources educator, by email: brown.1522@osu.edu, or phone 937 498-7239. Class size is limited to 28. 

Spring Nitrogen Decisions for High Yield Wheat, Findlay, OH – February 13 

Latest research and university recommendations will be discussed for nitrogen rates, timing, source, loss inhibitors, and other issues affecting nitrogen management in wheat. Program will be held at the Hancock County Agricultural Service Center, February 13, 10:00 a.m. to noon. No registration required. Free to the public. CCA credits have been requested for Nutrient Management. Contact Ed Lentz at 419-422-3851 or lentz.38@osu.edu for additional information. 

Introductory & Advanced Agronomy Workshops February 19 & 20 

Two agronomic crop workshops to be offered in late February at the Wooster campus of OSU/OARDC at the Fisher Auditorium. These workshops continue the every other year update from the Plant Pathology and Entomology folks in Wooster. This year Dr. Laura Lindsey, the new Extension Soybean & Small Grain Specialist, will be joining the group to provide a day of basic field crop management with class, greenhouse and lab experience. Day two will go the next step to provide more advanced training. 

Join Anne Dorrance, Ron Hammond, Pierce Paul and Andy Michel along with Laura from 9 to 3 on February 19 for the Introductory workshop; the group will build on the basics of the previous day with the February 20th workshop on Advanced Field Crop Management also from 9 AM to 3PM. The price of each workshop is $35; you may register on-line with a credit card for the event of your choice. You may attend either or both events. Please register by February 12th. 

Registration:

Feb. 19th Introductory Field Crop Management

Registration link: http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/?eventid=923251

Feb. 20th Advanced Field Crop Management Workshop

Registration link: http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/?eventid=1180508

Registrations may also be made with Teresa Funk, Phone: (614) 292-4077 Fax: (614) 292-3747 E-Mail: funk.67@osu.edu. 

Livestock Mortality Composting Certification Training – February 21 

The Darke County OSU Extension and the Darke County SWCD offices will be hosting a Livestock Mortality Composting Certification Training Session. The session will be held on Thursday, February 21st from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Darke County Extension Office. The office address is 603 Wagner Avenue in Greenville. 

This training session will certify an operator to compost all approved livestock species and is available to all Ohio livestock producers. Composting is a natural process where bacteria and fungi decompose organic material in a predominantly aerobic environment. During the composting process, microorganisms break down organic materials into a stable mixture called compost. The compost resembles humus, and is spread on farming fields. 

Composting, rendering, incineration and burial are the four most common ways to dispose of livestock mortality. To legally compost dead livestock in Ohio producers must attend a certification program. 

For producers who utilize composting, sawdust is the most commonly used carbon source for composting livestock mortality in Ohio. Surveys indicate farmers utilizing composting find it a cost effective and convenient method to dispose of livestock mortality. 

All who are interested in attending are asked to pre-register at least 2 days prior to the session they wish to attend.  The fee is $20.00 per person and is payable at the door.  To register, please contact the Darke County OSU Extension office at 937-548-5215 or Sam Custer at custer.2@osu.edu.

Advanced Corn Production Workshop, Findlay, OH – February 26 

This all day in-depth workshop will address topics relating to yield and diagnostics, such as ear development and growth abnormalities, seed treatments and biotechnology for insect management, and nitrogen management and utilization. Workshop will be held at the Hancock County Agricultural Services Building, Findlay, OH, February 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Cost: $50 for materials, lunch, CCA credits and hands-on activities. Instructors will be Dr. Peter Thomison, Dr. Andy Michaels, and Dr. Ed Lentz. Registration required by February 19; class limited to first 25 paid participants. Registration flyer may found at the following website: https://hancock.osu.edu. Contact Ed Lentz at 419-422-3851 or lentz.38@osu.edu for additional information.

Darke County Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification Training – February 27 

If you are considering getting a pesticide applicator license or need to be recertified start first at the OSU Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program website at www.pested.osu.edu website.  You will find all of the resources there that you will need to get started. 

We have study materials in the office for you to borrow in preparation for the Licensure exam. 

We will be conducting Pesticide Recertification Training for Core and categories 1, 2 & 6 on February 27, 2013, at the VFW Hall, 219 N. Ohio St., Greenville OH. We are hosting two sessions at 1:00 and 6:00 p.m. All registration is completed at the website listed above. No registrations will be accepted at the Darke County office. Letters will be sent out by OSU Extension, and also the ODA will send out the license recertification letters.  If you need recertification in the other areas please contact the office to be scheduled for a session on March 13, 2013. 

For more detailed information, visit the Darke County OSU Extension web site at www.darke.osu.edu, the OSU Extension Darke County Facebook page or contact Sam Custer, at 937.548.5215.