Livestock workshop planned May 24
By
John Grimes-
Anyone involved with production agriculture knows that there is always some degree of uncertainty involved with any given crop season. Will we get enough rain to provide satisfactory yields? What is the future for crop prices? How much higher will fuel prices go? Will we face any major insect or disease pressures with this year’s crop? I’m sure you can add many more valid questions to this list.
OSU Extension-Highland County also faces an uncertain future as a result of the May 4 election. County voters rejected Issue 5, a proposed .45-mil tax levy that would have provided funds to keep the Extension office operating. A similar proposal, Issue 4 for the Highland County Soil and Water Conservation District, was voted down as well. While it was not the results that were hoped for, I would like to express special thanks to those individuals who donated their time and other resources toward the passage of these two Issues.
Appropriated funding for the Extension office will run out later this year which will result in some tough decisions in regard to future staffing patterns and program availability. We are still open for business and will do our best to service your needs as efficiently as our resources allow.
Livestock Mortality
Composting Clinic
Livestock producers involved with any species are unfortunately faced with the unpleasant task of disposing dead animals. While there are very few viable options available options for disposal, one option that is certainly growing in popularity is livestock mortality composting.
OSU Extension of Highland and Fayette Counties and the Highland County Cattlemen’s Association have scheduled a Livestock Mortality Composting Workshop on Monday, May 24. The program will be held at the Union Stock Yards located at 7510 St. Rt. 138 near Hillsboro. The schedule begins with dinner at 6 p.m. and the program getting under way at 6:30 p.m.
This program is designed to provide livestock producers with the most up-to-date information on the proper techniques for safe, odor-free, economical livestock mortality composting. Those in attendance will receive mortality composting certification.
This program is free and open to the public and any interested livestock producer is encouraged to attend. Those planning to attend are encouraged to contact OSU Extension-Highland County at 937-393-1918 to pre-register.
FSA program signup
deadline approaching
Farmers have until June 1 to get signed up for the farm program of their choice through the Farm Service Agency. Farmers need to understand that the requirement to re-enroll each year did not change with the DCP/ACRE election in 2009. Each farm still needs to be enrolled in either DCP or ACRE before the deadline to participate in the government farm programs. If farmers do not enroll, they will not receive DCP or ACRE payments for 2010.
Fire blight
Fire blight, which is caused by a bacterium (Erwinia amylovor) develops with the combination of rainy or humid weather and daytime temperatures reaching 75-85F. This bacterial disease affects certain species in the rose family. The most susceptible are apples (Malus spp.) and pears (Pyrus spp.)
Disease incidence varies from year to year. Severity is influenced by cultivar susceptibility, tree age, succulence of tissue and weather conditions.
Onlookers may think the quick blossom kill is caused by an angry neighbor or incidental pesticide drift and should make note of the common symptoms. Symptoms include dead branches, water-soaked blossoms, light brown to blackened leaves, discolored bark, black “shepherd’s crook” twigs, and dried fruit.
Fire blight is much less destructive on ornamental pear, particularly Callery pears than apple and pear trees grown for fruit. Even though the trees look awful, the infections usually do not extend into the vascular tissue, and the trees recover without pruning. In fact pruning could result in more harm than good, because the open wounds from pruning could serve as points for stem infections! Ornamental pear cultivars that are highly susceptible to fire blight include, ‘Aristocrat’, ‘Autumn Blaze’, ‘Capital’, ‘Fauriei’, and ‘Redspire.’
Fire blight affects pear and apples grown for fruit as well as crabapples much more harshly than ornamental pear. Thus for the aforementioned fruit trees and crabapples, the recommendation is to prune and to make pruning cuts anywhere from 12-18” below the fire blight stem canker.
May is National
Electrical Safety Month
Fire safety has been around since cavemen first struck their flint. Electrical safety been around since Benjamin Franklin flew his kite. Today’s age must be sure to practice electrical safety because electricity is in nearly every task we perform!
Common problems:
1. Using a cracked or damaged extension cords.
2. Overloading electrical outlets.
3. Removing or by-passing the grounding prong on electrical receptacles.
4. Using power tools in or near bodies of water.
5. Ignoring signs of faulty electrical conditions: frequent tripping of circuit breakers or blowing fuses, flickering or dimming lights, sparks from an outlet, discolored or warm wall outlets, a burning or rubbery smell coming from appliances, or a tingling feeling when touching an electrical appliance
Check out some of these great fire safety resources for kids and families from the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA): USFA for Kids: www.usfa.dhs.gov/kids/parents-teachers/discuss.shtm.
John Grimes is the Ohio State University Extension Educator for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Highland County.[[In-content Ad]]
OSU Extension-Highland County also faces an uncertain future as a result of the May 4 election. County voters rejected Issue 5, a proposed .45-mil tax levy that would have provided funds to keep the Extension office operating. A similar proposal, Issue 4 for the Highland County Soil and Water Conservation District, was voted down as well. While it was not the results that were hoped for, I would like to express special thanks to those individuals who donated their time and other resources toward the passage of these two Issues.
Appropriated funding for the Extension office will run out later this year which will result in some tough decisions in regard to future staffing patterns and program availability. We are still open for business and will do our best to service your needs as efficiently as our resources allow.
Livestock Mortality
Composting Clinic
Livestock producers involved with any species are unfortunately faced with the unpleasant task of disposing dead animals. While there are very few viable options available options for disposal, one option that is certainly growing in popularity is livestock mortality composting.
OSU Extension of Highland and Fayette Counties and the Highland County Cattlemen’s Association have scheduled a Livestock Mortality Composting Workshop on Monday, May 24. The program will be held at the Union Stock Yards located at 7510 St. Rt. 138 near Hillsboro. The schedule begins with dinner at 6 p.m. and the program getting under way at 6:30 p.m.
This program is designed to provide livestock producers with the most up-to-date information on the proper techniques for safe, odor-free, economical livestock mortality composting. Those in attendance will receive mortality composting certification.
This program is free and open to the public and any interested livestock producer is encouraged to attend. Those planning to attend are encouraged to contact OSU Extension-Highland County at 937-393-1918 to pre-register.
FSA program signup
deadline approaching
Farmers have until June 1 to get signed up for the farm program of their choice through the Farm Service Agency. Farmers need to understand that the requirement to re-enroll each year did not change with the DCP/ACRE election in 2009. Each farm still needs to be enrolled in either DCP or ACRE before the deadline to participate in the government farm programs. If farmers do not enroll, they will not receive DCP or ACRE payments for 2010.
Fire blight
Fire blight, which is caused by a bacterium (Erwinia amylovor) develops with the combination of rainy or humid weather and daytime temperatures reaching 75-85F. This bacterial disease affects certain species in the rose family. The most susceptible are apples (Malus spp.) and pears (Pyrus spp.)
Disease incidence varies from year to year. Severity is influenced by cultivar susceptibility, tree age, succulence of tissue and weather conditions.
Onlookers may think the quick blossom kill is caused by an angry neighbor or incidental pesticide drift and should make note of the common symptoms. Symptoms include dead branches, water-soaked blossoms, light brown to blackened leaves, discolored bark, black “shepherd’s crook” twigs, and dried fruit.
Fire blight is much less destructive on ornamental pear, particularly Callery pears than apple and pear trees grown for fruit. Even though the trees look awful, the infections usually do not extend into the vascular tissue, and the trees recover without pruning. In fact pruning could result in more harm than good, because the open wounds from pruning could serve as points for stem infections! Ornamental pear cultivars that are highly susceptible to fire blight include, ‘Aristocrat’, ‘Autumn Blaze’, ‘Capital’, ‘Fauriei’, and ‘Redspire.’
Fire blight affects pear and apples grown for fruit as well as crabapples much more harshly than ornamental pear. Thus for the aforementioned fruit trees and crabapples, the recommendation is to prune and to make pruning cuts anywhere from 12-18” below the fire blight stem canker.
May is National
Electrical Safety Month
Fire safety has been around since cavemen first struck their flint. Electrical safety been around since Benjamin Franklin flew his kite. Today’s age must be sure to practice electrical safety because electricity is in nearly every task we perform!
Common problems:
1. Using a cracked or damaged extension cords.
2. Overloading electrical outlets.
3. Removing or by-passing the grounding prong on electrical receptacles.
4. Using power tools in or near bodies of water.
5. Ignoring signs of faulty electrical conditions: frequent tripping of circuit breakers or blowing fuses, flickering or dimming lights, sparks from an outlet, discolored or warm wall outlets, a burning or rubbery smell coming from appliances, or a tingling feeling when touching an electrical appliance
Check out some of these great fire safety resources for kids and families from the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA): USFA for Kids: www.usfa.dhs.gov/kids/parents-teachers/discuss.shtm.
John Grimes is the Ohio State University Extension Educator for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Highland County.[[In-content Ad]]