A GRAZING FIELD DAY…and Pasture Walk will be held in Washington County on Saturday, June 11, from 9am to noon at Henry McNaab’s Farm (1355 Laurel Ridge Rd, Lowell). Clif Little will join Eric Barrett and Mark Reynolds to cover Plant & Weed ID; The do’s and don’ts of Grazing; and Rotational Grazing.  This event is co-sponsored by USDA-NRCS’s Marietta Office.  DETAILS… http://go.osu.edu/DJs

WHAT IS THE BEST…thing to do in regards to getting crops in the ground during this ‘wet’ spring? OSU Extension has created an Ohio Decision Aid to assist producers in exploring the option of late planted corn, switching to soybeans, or accept preventative plant payments.  Use this information to help you decide what to do.  The aid is available at http://ohioagmanager.osu.edu   
 
OUR FORAGE BLOG…shares information about forage growth during the season, meetings, events and more!  Find out details on how to manage your muddy pastures and this spring flush of grass. Check us out at: http://ohioforages.blogspot.com/
 
LATE PLANTED CORN…does not necessarily mean lower yields. Rainfall and temperatures in July and August are still the most important factors in determining yields. As of May 15, USDA reported that only 7 percent of Ohio's corn crop had been planted. That's 76 percent behind last year, and 63 percent behind the five-year average. READ: http://go.osu.edu/DPB
 
CROP BUDGETS…from Ohio State are the best way to see what your options may be in this difficult planting year where risk management is even more challenging than usual: DOWNLOAD:
http://aede.osu.edu/Programs/FarmManagement/Budgets/crops-2011/index2011.htm
 
A TRACTOR SAFETY COURSE…and certification for youth will be held at the Warren High School Agricultural Education Department from June 13-17.  Any youth interested should contact Mr. Allen Clark at 740-678-2395 or wl_aclark@SEOVEC.org
 
QUALITY ASSURANCE...for all youth taking a market livestock project AND lactating dairy cattle or goats will be offered four times in the county.  The fourth and FINAL session will be at the Washington County Fairgrounds in the multipurpose arena, Saturday, June 4 at 10:15am.
 
A REGIONAL FARM POND CLINIC…will be held on Thursday, June 9, from 6-8pm at the Eastern Agricultural Research Station (near Belle Valley), located at 16870 Township Hwy 126, Caldwell. Topics to be covered • Weed Control & Fish Stocking, Nuisance Wildlife Control & Habitat Enhancement, and Construction & Design.  DETAILS: 740-732-5681 for this FREE event
 
SHEEP & GOAT FAMACHA©…Training will be held on Thursday, June 30, from 6-9 pm at the
Eastern Agriculture Research Center on St. Rt. 215 in Belle Valley. This program will train sheep & goat producers in the use of FAMACHA© as a selective deworming tool.
FAMACHA©  may help to reduce the development of internal parasites which are resistant to drugs.
FAMACHA© allows sheep & goat producers to use a colored eye chart to identify animals needing dewormed. Clif Little, OSU Extension Educator will conduct this training. Cost is $20 per farm, non-refundable. DETAILS: 740-489-5300 or 740-732-5681.
 
THE RIVER CITY FARMERS MARKET…continues their winter market on Saturdays from 9a-1pm and Wednesdays from 3-6pm at their site on the Washington County Fairgrounds.  DETAILS:  http://rivercityfarmersmarket.org/ OR http://rivercityfarmersmarket.blogspot.com/ CALL: Gary Smith 740-984-2840; Lynn Davis 304-428-4641
 
~OTHER EXTENSION PROGRAMS~
LIVESTOCK SHOW/ANIMAL CARE CLINIC…June 18, sponsored by the Noble County Country Club.  FREE for all 4-H & FFA members.  Sessions will cover care, manageme4nt, selection, showing, grooming and nutrition.  Schedule:  9am- Swine; 10:30-Beef & Dairy Beef; 12:30-Goats; 1:30-Chickens; 2:30-Rabbits; 3:30 Lambs.  Club with the most members attending wins a cash prize!
 
OSU QUIT SMOKING STUDY…Adults who smoke but want to quit can now get help through a research partnership between The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Public Health and OSU Extension in Washington County. This partnership will provide telephone support and up to 8 weeks of nicotine patches for 60 adult smokers in Washington County. To participate in this project, smokers need to be: 18 years or older; no recent, major health issues; daily smoker; and not pregnant. Men and women can participate. People must also be willing to try to quit in the next month by using telephone support and nicotine patches, which will be provided free of charge as long as they remain in the study. Participants will receive a small gift card after each data collection to thank them for their time. Anyone interested in participating should call Carol Schaad at 740-616-9160.
 
Agriculture Calendar
May 26 – Large and Small Animal Committees, 6pm, 7pm, 8pm – OSU
June 4 – Washington County Fair Livestock Project Tag-In 8am-10am
June 4 – Quality Assurance Training for Youth, 10:15am, County Fairgrounds
June 9 – Regional Farm Pond Clinic – 6-8pm, Belle Valley OSU Research Station
June 11 – Grazing Field Day & Pasture Walk, 9am-Noon, Henry McNabb Farm, Lowell
June 13-17 – Tractor Safety Course for Youth, daily at Warren High School
June 30 – Sheep & Goat FAMACHA© Training, June 30, Belle Valley OSU Research Station

DEER HUNTING LEASES…are becoming more popular on farms in our area.  I even had a call from a WV group of federal employees who are looking to lease ground this week!  Here are some links to help you decide if this is a viable option for your farm for additional income.  Be sure to go through all of the details in the publication to make an informed decision.  DETAILS:
http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/agritourism/files/fee_hunting.pdf
http://www.naturalresources.umd.edu/Publications/Rural%20Enterprise%20Series/RES_07HuntingLease.pdf 
 

Agriculture Newsletter - http://athens.osu.edu/topics/agriculture-and-natural-resources/agnews     This is a  bi-monthly newsletter of information of note to agricultural producers in the Southeast Ohio area.

 
 GIVE THE GIFT OF GARDENING…to your friends and family this year.  For just $90 you can give someone the opportunity to be a Master Gardener! The Master Gardener Volunteer program trains individuals in the art and science of gardening through an in-depth training program. Classes include everything from vegetables and fruit to plant diseases and perennials. DETAILS: http://meigs.osu.edu