Steer tagging event Dec. 4

The passing of Thanksgiving weekend means that the holiday season is literally in full swing.  Hopefully you were able to spend Thanksgiving Day with family and friends that are important to you.  

The Christmas shopping season is also under way. Many people enjoy the crowds and thrill of “Black Friday” as it is the “official” kickoff to the shopping season. I, for one, do not include myself in that group. Something that would certainly add some extra enjoyment to the weekend for many folks in the area would be another Ohio State football victory over Michigan! 

OSU announces 2011 

Southern Ohio New and 

Small Farm Colleges 

Farmers interested in exploring land use options, expanding an agricultural or horticultural enterprise, or diversifying their acreage have the opportunity to attend the 2011 Southern Ohio New and Small Farm College. 

The program, sponsored by Ohio State University Extension, will be offered at three locations: 

• Clinton County Extension and Agriculture Center, 111 S. Nelson Ave., Wilmington, on Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 4, 2011 through Feb. 22, 2011. Classes run from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. each week. For more information, call 937-382-0901. 

• Washington County Extension Office, 202 Davis Avenue, Marietta, Ohio on Thursdays, beginning Jan. 20, 2011 through March 10, 2011. Classes run from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. each week. For more information, call 740-376-7431. 

• Barnesville Library Annex, 611 N. Chestnut Street, Barnesville, Ohio on Thursdays beginning Jan. 20, 2011 through March 10, 2011. Class run from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. each week. For more information, call 740-695-1455. 

The Southern Ohio New and Small Farm College is an 8-week program that introduces new and seasoned farmers to a wide variety of agricultural production topics to help them diversify and explore new enterprises and new markets. 

Many program participants don’t expect to make a living off the land, but do want to recoup something,” said organizer Tony Nye, an OSU Extension educator in Clinton County. “First-time farmers want their interaction with their land to be productive.” 

The program will teach participants how to set goals, plan, budget, and where to find resources available for them in starting a small farming operation. The courses will lay out how to manage financial and farm records. Extension educators will illustrate many different enterprises that can be profitable on land as small as one acre. To round out the experience, a bus tour will be held around area farms to see firsthand how small farm life works, and also make contacts with practicing farmers in the area. 

Previous Southern Ohio New and Small Farm Colleges have helped 420 individuals representing 338 farms from 43 Ohio counties improve the economic development of their small family-owned farms. Registration is $150 per person and $50 for each additional family member. Registration is limited to the first 50 participants per location. Registration fee includes resource materials, a soil test, refreshments and the bus tour. 

For more information, contact Tony Nye 937-382-0901 or e-mail nye.1@osu.edu.

Cold weather reminders 

With fall weather being relatively mild this fall across Ohio, it is easy to put off preparing for the cold weather that will soon be upon us. Now is the time to do a quick readiness inventory! 

• Do all family members have appropriate cold weather gear such as waterproof footwear and outerwear? What about hats, gloves, and scarves? 

• Are doors, windows, shingles, gutters, siding, chimneys, sidewalks, and steps in good repair? 

• Has the furnace, woodburner, flue, portable heaters, and other heating equipment been cleaned and prepped for winter? 

• Has the car been winterized and tire treads checked? 

• Are there cold weather and first aid items, such as blankets, water, energy bars, small shovel, sand, and flares in vehicle? 

• Are smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers in working order? 

• Does your family have a current emergency preparedness plan and an evacuation plan? 

For more information, visit http://www.ready.gov/. 

Ohio minimum wage 

increases Jan. 1, 2011                                                                                                                                                                                                             Ohio’s minimum wage rate is $7.30 per hour. However, employers who gross under $267,000 annually, or have employees 14 or 15 years of age are only required to pay these employees at least the federal minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour. 

Effective Jan. 1, 2011, Ohio’s minimum wage increases to $7.40 per hour for employees not receiving tips. Employees of employers who gross less than $271,000 annually or who are 14 or 15 years old are subject to a minimum wage of $7.25 (tied to the federal minimum wage.) 

Steer tagging Dec. 4

One of the first official functions relating to the 2011 Highland County Fair is coming up on Saturday, Dec. 4.  Individuals wanting to show a market steer at next year’s fair need to bring their steers to the Union Stock Yards that day from 7-9 a.m. that day for tagging and noseprinting. This will be your only opportunity to have your calves be identified for next year’s market steer show at the fair. If you have any questions, call 937-393-1918.                                                                                                                                                      

John Grimes is the OSU Extension educator for agriculture and natural resources in Highland County.

The passing of Thanksgiving weekend means that the holiday season is literally in full swing. Hopefully you were able to spend Thanksgiving Day with family and friends that are important to you.  

The Christmas shopping season is also under way. Many people enjoy the crowds and thrill of “Black Friday” as it is the “official” kickoff to the shopping season. I, for one, do not include myself in that group. Something that would certainly add some extra enjoyment to the weekend for many folks in the area would be another Ohio State football victory over Michigan! 

Farmers interested in exploring land use options, expanding an agricultural or horticultural enterprise, or diversifying their acreage have the opportunity to attend the 2011 Southern Ohio New and Small Farm College. 

The program, sponsored by Ohio State University Extension, will be offered at three locations: 

• Clinton County Extension and Agriculture Center, 111 S. Nelson Ave., Wilmington, on Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 4, 2011 through Feb. 22, 2011. Classes run from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. each week. For more information, call 937-382-0901. 

• Washington County Extension Office, 202 Davis Avenue, Marietta, Ohio on Thursdays, beginning Jan. 20, 2011 through March 10, 2011. Classes run from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. each week. For more information, call 740-376-7431. 

• Barnesville Library Annex, 611 N. Chestnut Street, Barnesville, Ohio on Thursdays beginning Jan. 20, 2011 through March 10, 2011. Class run from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. each week. For more information, call 740-695-1455. 

The Southern Ohio New and Small Farm College is an 8-week program that introduces new and seasoned farmers to a wide variety of agricultural production topics to help them diversify and explore new enterprises and new markets. 

Many program participants don’t expect to make a living off the land, but do want to recoup something,” said organizer Tony Nye, an OSU Extension educator in Clinton County. “First-time farmers want their interaction with their land to be productive.” 

The program will teach participants how to set goals, plan, budget, and where to find resources available for them in starting a small farming operation. The courses will lay out how to manage financial and farm records. Extension educators will illustrate many different enterprises that can be profitable on land as small as one acre. To round out the experience, a bus tour will be held around area farms to see firsthand how small farm life works, and also make contacts with practicing farmers in the area. 

Previous Southern Ohio New and Small Farm Colleges have helped 420 individuals representing 338 farms from 43 Ohio counties improve the economic development of their small family-owned farms. Registration is $150 per person and $50 for each additional family member. Registration is limited to the first 50 participants per location. Registration fee includes resource materials, a soil test, refreshments and the bus tour. 

For more information, contact Tony Nye 937-382-0901 or e-mail nye.1@osu.edu.

With fall weather being relatively mild this fall across Ohio, it is easy to put off preparing for the cold weather that will soon be upon us. Now is the time to do a quick readiness inventory! 

• Do all family members have appropriate cold weather gear such as waterproof footwear and outerwear? What about hats, gloves, and scarves? 

• Are doors, windows, shingles, gutters, siding, chimneys, sidewalks, and steps in good repair? 

• Has the furnace, woodburner, flue, portable heaters, and other heating equipment been cleaned and prepped for winter? 

• Has the car been winterized and tire treads checked? 

• Are there cold weather and first aid items, such as blankets, water, energy bars, small shovel, sand, and flares in vehicle? 

• Are smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers in working order? 

• Does your family have a current emergency preparedness plan and an evacuation plan? 

For more information, visit http://www.ready.gov/. 

Ohio minimum wage increases Jan. 1, 2011                                                                                                                                                                  Ohio’s minimum wage rate is $7.30 per hour. However, employers who gross under $267,000 annually, or have employees 14 or 15 years of age are only required to pay these employees at least the federal minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour. 

Effective Jan. 1, 2011, Ohio’s minimum wage increases to $7.40 per hour for employees not receiving tips. Employees of employers who gross less than $271,000 annually or who are 14 or 15 years old are subject to a minimum wage of $7.25 (tied to the federal minimum wage.) 

Steer tagging Dec. 4

One of the first official functions relating to the 2011 Highland County Fair is coming up on Saturday, Dec. 4.  Individuals wanting to show a market steer at next year’s fair need to bring their steers to the Union Stock Yards that day from 7-9 a.m. that day for tagging and noseprinting. This will be your only opportunity to have your calves be identified for next year’s market steer show at the fair. If you have any questions, call 937-393-1918.