Pesticide education programs
By
John Grimes-
Recently, I discussed the possibility of the weather changing at the opening of this column and Mother Nature certainly didn’t disappoint. The mud and slop around the farm has quickly been replaced by frozen ground.
Depending on your perspective, that is not necessarily a bad thing. Tractors don’t seem to get stuck as easily on frozen ground as they do in mud!
Pesticide education programs
OSU Extension is once again conducting pesticide recertification classes to enable individuals to maintain their Private Pesticide Applicator’s License. If your card expires in 2010, it is required that you recertify before the end of March. If your card expires in 2011 or 2012, recertification this year is optional.
Due to current budget constraints and staff reductions, we are making some significant changes with our Pesticide Education Program. The Highland County Pesticide Recertification School will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 24, starting at 12:30 p.m. at the Highland County Training and Employment Center located at 1575 N. High St. in Hillsboro.
If you are unable to attend this session, contact the Extension office at 937-393-1918 for a listing of all pesticide recertification opportunities in the Ohio Valley Extension Education and Research Area (EERA).
Keep in mind that you are required to attend a minimum of three hours of instruction to renew your certification. This can be accomplished at any time during your three year certification period. The $30 fee charged for the Private Pesticide Applicator’s License must be paid directly to the Ohio Department of Agriculture by the last day of March during the year that your certification expires.
As you may be aware, we have been charging an additional fee at the local level to cover OSU pesticide training expenses. Local registration fees have been raised to $35. For this fee, you will be provided a lunch and a copy of OSU Extension Bulletin 789, the 2010 Ohio and Indiana Weed Control Guide or another publication of similar value. Please contact us for a registration form as pre-registration is required or you will face a $45 registration fee at the door.
For individuals wanting to obtain a Private Pesticide Applicator’s License or add categories to an existing license, there are also certification testing opportunities available.
On Feb. 22, testing will be conducted at the South Campus of Southern State Community College in Fincastle. Testing will run from 1-5 p.m. with a review (study) session at 10:30 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. An additional testing date has been set for March 15 from 4-6 p.m. at the same location. Please call the Ohio Department of Agriculture Pesticide Regulations at 1-800-282-1955, Ext. 31 for reservations. If you have any questions about this information, please give us a call at the Extension office at 937-393-1918. We look forward to assisting you with your pesticide education needs.
Winter application of
P & K considerations
A lot of fertilizer has been going on fields in the last couple of weeks, and though it is certainly not an optimal time, there is one advantage to application now with the wet autumn in 2009: compaction is minimized on frozen soils compared to saturated ones. However, just like manure applications on frozen or snow-covered ground, the possibility of commercial fertilizers moving off-site in runoff increases greatly when P and K do not migrate into the soil profile (perhaps more so since commercial P and K sources are water soluble by design). Environmental concerns notwithstanding, fertilizer inputs are a significant part of a crop enterprise budget, and losses from the field equate to losses on a balance sheet.
Consider if an application of P and K to particular fields is even necessary by checking a recent soil test against the Tri State Fertilizer Recommendations for the planned crop and crop rotation. Also strongly consider an application setback from sensitive areas (ditches, waterways, streams, etc.) of at least 200 ft, especially on sloping land where surface movement is accelerated. For more information, there is an Extension fact sheet online: http://ohioline.osu.edu/agf-fact/pdf/0509.pdf.
Master Gardener School
OSU Extension is pleased to announce an upcoming Master Gardener Program in 2010 for area clientele. It will be held on Fridays for 14 weeks starting on Feb. 12 and concluding in May, 2010. (Dates may vary due to unforeseen circumstances.) All sessions will be held at the Southern State Community College (Fincastle), 12681 U.S. 62, Sardinia.
The Master Gardener Program is a practical and intensive training program designed to educate participants in the following horticultural topics: soils and fertilization, botany, herbaceous and woody ornamentals, weeds, plant pathology, entomology, plant propagation, integrated pest management, backyard fruit and vegetable production, houseplants, lawn maintenance, tree identification, and much more.
After completing the program and final exam, individuals will be required to volunteer a minimum of 50 hours and complete 10 hours of advanced training to become a Master Gardener volunteer.
These individuals volunteer their time assisting with educational programs and activities for area residents through OSU Extension. Volunteer hours can be completed in your county of residence. A background check and fingerprinting are required for all OSU Volunteers. This must be completed by Feb. 4, which is prior to the beginning of the Master Gardener classes.
A short interview to discuss your interest in becoming a Master Gardener is also required prior to Feb. 4. Please call the Brown County Extension office at 937-378-6716 for times and dates for the interviews.
The cost for the entire 14-week course is $175 per person if registered before Feb. 4. Registration received on Feb. 5 or later, cost will be $200. Questions about the Master Gardener program can be directed to David Dugan, County Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, at the OSU Extension-Brown County, Ohio Valley EERA, office at 937-378-6716.
John Grimes is the Ohio State University Extension Educator for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Highland County. Ohio State University Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all research and related educational programs are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or veteran status. This statement is in accordance with United States Civil Rights Laws and the USDA.
Keith L. Smith, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Director, Ohio State University Extension TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868.[[In-content Ad]]
Depending on your perspective, that is not necessarily a bad thing. Tractors don’t seem to get stuck as easily on frozen ground as they do in mud!
Pesticide education programs
OSU Extension is once again conducting pesticide recertification classes to enable individuals to maintain their Private Pesticide Applicator’s License. If your card expires in 2010, it is required that you recertify before the end of March. If your card expires in 2011 or 2012, recertification this year is optional.
Due to current budget constraints and staff reductions, we are making some significant changes with our Pesticide Education Program. The Highland County Pesticide Recertification School will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 24, starting at 12:30 p.m. at the Highland County Training and Employment Center located at 1575 N. High St. in Hillsboro.
If you are unable to attend this session, contact the Extension office at 937-393-1918 for a listing of all pesticide recertification opportunities in the Ohio Valley Extension Education and Research Area (EERA).
Keep in mind that you are required to attend a minimum of three hours of instruction to renew your certification. This can be accomplished at any time during your three year certification period. The $30 fee charged for the Private Pesticide Applicator’s License must be paid directly to the Ohio Department of Agriculture by the last day of March during the year that your certification expires.
As you may be aware, we have been charging an additional fee at the local level to cover OSU pesticide training expenses. Local registration fees have been raised to $35. For this fee, you will be provided a lunch and a copy of OSU Extension Bulletin 789, the 2010 Ohio and Indiana Weed Control Guide or another publication of similar value. Please contact us for a registration form as pre-registration is required or you will face a $45 registration fee at the door.
For individuals wanting to obtain a Private Pesticide Applicator’s License or add categories to an existing license, there are also certification testing opportunities available.
On Feb. 22, testing will be conducted at the South Campus of Southern State Community College in Fincastle. Testing will run from 1-5 p.m. with a review (study) session at 10:30 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. An additional testing date has been set for March 15 from 4-6 p.m. at the same location. Please call the Ohio Department of Agriculture Pesticide Regulations at 1-800-282-1955, Ext. 31 for reservations. If you have any questions about this information, please give us a call at the Extension office at 937-393-1918. We look forward to assisting you with your pesticide education needs.
Winter application of
P & K considerations
A lot of fertilizer has been going on fields in the last couple of weeks, and though it is certainly not an optimal time, there is one advantage to application now with the wet autumn in 2009: compaction is minimized on frozen soils compared to saturated ones. However, just like manure applications on frozen or snow-covered ground, the possibility of commercial fertilizers moving off-site in runoff increases greatly when P and K do not migrate into the soil profile (perhaps more so since commercial P and K sources are water soluble by design). Environmental concerns notwithstanding, fertilizer inputs are a significant part of a crop enterprise budget, and losses from the field equate to losses on a balance sheet.
Consider if an application of P and K to particular fields is even necessary by checking a recent soil test against the Tri State Fertilizer Recommendations for the planned crop and crop rotation. Also strongly consider an application setback from sensitive areas (ditches, waterways, streams, etc.) of at least 200 ft, especially on sloping land where surface movement is accelerated. For more information, there is an Extension fact sheet online: http://ohioline.osu.edu/agf-fact/pdf/0509.pdf.
Master Gardener School
OSU Extension is pleased to announce an upcoming Master Gardener Program in 2010 for area clientele. It will be held on Fridays for 14 weeks starting on Feb. 12 and concluding in May, 2010. (Dates may vary due to unforeseen circumstances.) All sessions will be held at the Southern State Community College (Fincastle), 12681 U.S. 62, Sardinia.
The Master Gardener Program is a practical and intensive training program designed to educate participants in the following horticultural topics: soils and fertilization, botany, herbaceous and woody ornamentals, weeds, plant pathology, entomology, plant propagation, integrated pest management, backyard fruit and vegetable production, houseplants, lawn maintenance, tree identification, and much more.
After completing the program and final exam, individuals will be required to volunteer a minimum of 50 hours and complete 10 hours of advanced training to become a Master Gardener volunteer.
These individuals volunteer their time assisting with educational programs and activities for area residents through OSU Extension. Volunteer hours can be completed in your county of residence. A background check and fingerprinting are required for all OSU Volunteers. This must be completed by Feb. 4, which is prior to the beginning of the Master Gardener classes.
A short interview to discuss your interest in becoming a Master Gardener is also required prior to Feb. 4. Please call the Brown County Extension office at 937-378-6716 for times and dates for the interviews.
The cost for the entire 14-week course is $175 per person if registered before Feb. 4. Registration received on Feb. 5 or later, cost will be $200. Questions about the Master Gardener program can be directed to David Dugan, County Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, at the OSU Extension-Brown County, Ohio Valley EERA, office at 937-378-6716.
John Grimes is the Ohio State University Extension Educator for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Highland County. Ohio State University Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all research and related educational programs are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or veteran status. This statement is in accordance with United States Civil Rights Laws and the USDA.
Keith L. Smith, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Director, Ohio State University Extension TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868.[[In-content Ad]]