WOOSTER, Ohio — It’s been 20 years since agronomists have developed fertilizer recommendations in Ohio.
But now, Ohio State University Extension is embarking on a major initiative to determine the optimal rates of fertilization on the state’s major crops. The goal is to not only maximize farm profitability, but also contribute to improved nutrient management and water quality in the state.
The Ohio State University On-farm Fertilizer Trials project plans to gather data from hundreds of farms statewide over the next two to three years, said Steve Culman, soil fertility specialist with the university’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and researcher with the college’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. OSU Extension is...
When I grill a steak, how can I make sure it’s not tough? Also, I just got a meat smoker as a gift. What cuts of beef would be best for the smoker?
Nothing is worse than grilling a steak, enjoying the aroma as it cooks, and then barely being able to cut through it with your best steak knife. The issue probably isn’t your skill on the grill. It’s most likely a bad match of cooking method and cut of beef.
Lean cuts of beef — those with little marbling and external fat — are better suited to slow cooking methods, such as smoking. Slow cooking allows connective tissue and muscle fibers to break down. The process tenderizes what otherwise would be a tough chew. Those cuts are from the parts of the animal that work the hardest, the muscles used for walking and...
In recent years, we have increasingly relied on convenience foods for our everyday meals. I am interested in shifting back to more whole, natural foods, but would it really be worth the time and energy?
Processed foods aren’t all bad. Sometimes they offer nutritional benefits: the phytonutrient lycopene, for example, is more bioavailable from canned tomatoes than fresh. Nutrition information on processed food labels can also be very helpful.
Still, there is growing evidence that trimming back on foods that have been highly processed, at least, could be a very healthful move.
A 2015 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition analyzed consumer food purchases from 2000-2012. More than 60 percent of calories came from highly processed foods and beverages. Plus, 60 percent of...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — It’s easy for farmers to get complacent when working with anhydrous ammonia, said Kent McGuire, safety and health coordinator with The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
But injuries from accidental exposure “could get very serious, very quickly,” McGuire said.
Anhydrous ammonia is one of the most widely used sources of nitrogen fertilizer among corn growers. The product is stored in tanks, called nurse tanks, as a liquid under pressure. Once it is released into the soil or the air it turns to vapor.
Anyone who handles anhydrous ammonia needs to understand the potential for injury and know how to respond in an emergency, McGuire said.
“Once anhydrous ammonia makes contact with...
My kids drink a lot of water, but with all the news about lead in water supplies, I am concerned about its safety. Just how safe are city water supplies for children?
Generally speaking, water is still the best beverage available to quench thirst in children and adults alike. It’s cheap, calorie- and sugar-free, and provides the hydration your body needs. But you’re right — it is important to be certain it’s safe.
Lead can get into a home’s drinking water from metal water taps, interior water pipes, the pipes connecting a house to the main water pipe in the street, or the water main. Federal law prohibited the use of lead in plumbing and fixtures after June 1986, so homes built before 1987 are more likely to have a problem. According to the Centers for...
Editor: March 6-12, 2016, is Ohio 4-H Week.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Paths to success aren’t always smooth. Some young people face greater obstacles than others, and that’s where a good mentor can make all the difference.
Tech Wizards, offered by Ohio 4-H to up to 240 youths this year, is an after-school and summer program made possible with funding from the National 4-H Council and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Once a week for a year, mentors gather with students to work on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) projects.
“We do STEM projects, but the focus is really on mentoring,” said Mark Light, Ohio 4-H youth development educator in Hardin County who is one of the program’s...
We’re thinking of incorporating more beans in our meals, primarily to reduce the amount of meat we’re eating (and buying), but also because they’re supposed to be very good for you. But my husband, who has type 2 diabetes, is worried about adding more carbohydrates. Is this a bad idea?
Actually, beans are a great option for everyone, perhaps especially for people with diabetes.
A 2012 study in Nutrition Journal tested the effect that pinto beans, black beans and dark red kidney beans have on blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes when eaten with white rice, which is known to cause blood sugar spikes. The researchers tested participants’ blood sugar every 30 minutes for three hours after the participants ate either white rice alone or rice with one type of the...
MASSILLON, Ohio — It wasn’t too long ago that the contribution of women farm operators was largely overlooked.
Up until 2002, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Census of Agriculture, conducted every five years, gathered demographic information on only a farm’s “principal operator.” That operator was usually a man.
But in 2002, census takers began asking for information about up to three operators on each farm. That’s when they found that women make up more than one-quarter of all farmers across the country.
The most recent agriculture census in 2012 revealed that in Ohio, 28 percent of farm operators are women, totaling 31,413, said Heather Neikirk, agriculture and natural resources educator for Ohio State University Extension....
A friend recently read a book on healthful eating and is now telling me I should stop eating yogurt because it contains so much sugar. I normally have a 6-ounce container after dinner, and I admit I was surprised at the sugar content when I looked at the label. Should I cut back?
First, take a second look at the label that surprised you so much. Currently, the Nutrition Facts label simply lists the amount of sugar in a product as a subset of its carbohydrates. This sugar can be naturally occurring, such as the sugars from the milk or fruit in the yogurt, or it can be sugars added during processing, such as sucrose, honey or high-fructose corn syrup. You can’t tell which is which from the Nutrition Facts label.
Nutrition professionals have long differentiated between...
Normally when we get our tax refund, we end up spending most or all of it on something we’ve wanted for a long time but couldn’t afford. But over the past year, we’ve had some major unanticipated expenses. This year, should we use the refund to pay down our credit cards, or would it be better to build up our emergency fund?
It may not feel like it, but paying down debt actually is a form of saving. The annual interest rate on credit cards, on average, ranges from 13 percent up to 23 percent. Think of it this way: If you put that refund in a savings account or invested it, could you earn 13 to 23 percent on it? Unlikely, or at least not without a lot of risk. By paying off high-interest debt, you’re saving in the long run.
If you have more than one credit card,...
My teenage son has taken a keen interest in healthy eating, and as part of this, he has started growing his own sprouts. I remember there was an issue with raw sprouts a few years ago. Are they safe to grow and eat?
It’s great that your son is interested in eating more healthfully, and if you do any home gardening, you know how inspiring it is to grow and enjoy your own food.
But raw sprouts do have some inherent issues related to food safety. In the last 20 years, there have been at least 30 outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with different types of raw and lightly cooked sprouts. A 2011 outbreak from fenugreek sprouts in Germany made thousands of people ill and was linked to 50 deaths.
Most sprout-related outbreaks are caused by Salmonella and toxin-...
Editor: February is American Heart Month.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Don Tedrow’s heart is full of gratitude.
In January 2015, Tedrow was shopping at a home improvement store when he began feeling “strange, feeling some pressure,” he said.
He went home, and he and his wife headed to the Emergency Department at the The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
“They kept me overnight, did some tests, and found out I had an 80 percent blockage in my main artery,” Tedrow said.
After a stent was inserted to open the blockage, Tedrow participated in the medical center’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.
“That was excellent,” he said. “A life-changer.”
While there, Tedrow learned about the new Ross Heart Hospital Community Garden...
My wife recently bought some pink Himalayan salt. Besides being pretty, it’s expensive and isn’t even iodized. Is it somehow healthier?
Different types of salt might provide distinct flavors. Some chefs and others with refined palates swear by one type or another. Others, though, really can’t tell a difference.
As far as nutrition goes, your instincts are correct. All salt contains sodium, which is the nutrient of concern when it comes to salt. Americans average about 3,400 milligrams of sodium a day, but the recommended level is 2,300 milligrams, or even less — 1,500 milligrams a day for people over 50, African Americans, or anyone with high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic kidney disease.
The body needs a modest amount of sodium, but 9 in 10...
I know it’s important to get enough fiber to help with constipation, but I’ve also read that it can help prevent disease. How does that work?
New research is coming out all the time about the health benefits of a high-fiber diet, and you’re right, they go way beyond helping to keep you “regular.”
Unfortunately, most Americans consume only about 10 to 15 grams of fiber a day. The recommendation for adults under 50 is 25 grams a day for women and 38 grams for men. Those over 50 should get 25 grams a day for women and 30 for men — still much higher than the average.
Studies have long associated high-fiber diets with a reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes, but two recent studies show even more benefits:
A Harvard University study...
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Children are especially susceptible to the dangers of ingesting lead from drinking water or any other source, says a registered dietitian nutritionist with Ohio State University Extension. But parents can help limit the health impact by making sure their children eat a well-balanced diet, especially that they get enough calcium, iron and vitamin C.
“The best defense against lead for anyone is a healthy lifestyle,” said Pat Bebo, leader of OSU Extension’s Community Nutrition Program and interim assistant director in charge of Extension’s Family and Consumer Sciences programs. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of The Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Bebo also holds an appointment with Ohio...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — If you’re concerned that your tap water might have elevated levels of lead in it, the first place to start is with your community’s water system, said a water quality specialist with The Ohio State University.
“Public water systems in the U.S. have to provide safe drinking water not just as it leaves the water treatment plant, but throughout the distribution system and a home’s plumbing,” said Karen Mancl, a professor in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering and specialist with Ohio State University Extension. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
Mancl has been following reports about the situation in Flint, Michigan, where lead...
Our oldest child started middle school last fall. She was struggling early in the year but didn’t want help, and we hoped she would get used to the new schedule and classes. She still seems unorganized and isn’t doing as well as she did in grade school. What can we do to help her over this bump?
As children grow, it can be difficult to gauge how to balance providing support while also fostering their independence. While it’s important to take cues from your daughter, it’s also important to remain involved in her life and help her out when you see the need.
It can be hard to figure out how best to do that during different stages of development. But one resource you may find helpful is the “Helping Your Child Series” on the U.S. Department of Education...
I have been doing more walking and other exercise since the first of the year, but I haven’t been losing much weight. Shouldn’t I see some results on the scale?
First, it’s excellent that you’re boosting your activity. It’s no surprise that most Americans need more exercise, but the U.S. Surgeon General reported recently on the extent of the issue: Less than half of U.S. adults get enough physical activity each day to reduce their risk of developing a chronic disease, including diabetes, cancer, or heart or lung disease. Even worse, only one-quarter of teens in high school get enough. So, no matter what the scale says, keep it up.
With weight loss, remember that exercise is only part of the equation, and many studies indicate that it’s a...
When the new Dietary Guidelines were announced a few weeks ago, I heard a lot about the recommendation to limit added sugars. But I’m sure that they’ve said that for years. Is there something new?
In previous editions of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans — which are revised and re-issued every five years — the recommendation was simply to limit added sugars. There were no specific targets. In the new guidelines, the experts went a step further and gave an actual limit, recommending that we consume no more than 10 percent of our daily calorie intake in added sugars.
That means if you’re consuming 1,800 calories a day — the estimated level needed for a moderately active woman over 50, for example, or a sedentary woman under 50 — you...
What are cruciferous vegetables, and what kind of health benefits do they provide?
More than two dozen types of vegetables are cruciferous, so named because most have flowers with four petals, resembling a cross. They are generally cool-weather vegetables, so you likely will see good prices on them in the produce section of the grocery store at this time of year.
Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, radishes, horseradish, wasabi, turnips, rutabaga, arugula, bok choi, collard greens, kale, kohlrabi and watercress.
Horticulturally, they belong to the same family (Cruciferae, or Brassicaceae), and all have sulfur-containing compounds called glucosinolates. Glucosinolates benefit the plants by naturally protecting them from some pests....
What are the risks and benefits of raw milk?
If you ask proponents of raw milk, the product offers a range of benefits. But if you ask scientists, public health authorities or food safety experts — or those who have suffered severe illnesses from consumption of raw milk and products made from it — the risks far outweigh any potential upside.
Raw milk was in the news recently when routine testing found Listeria bacteria in raw milk from a dairy in Pennsylvania, where sales of the product are legal. Fortunately, no illnesses were reported. In Ohio, raw milk cannot be sold for human consumption, but consumers can participate in “herd-share agreements” in which they own part of a herd and can collect raw milk from it.
Listeria are one of many organisms...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ever since the Food Safety Modernization Act was signed into law in January 2011 and the act’s Produce Safety Rule was proposed two years later, fruit and vegetable growers have waited for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to finalize the regulations they will be expected to follow on the farm.
Now that the FDA has done so — the final Produce Safety rule was printed in the Federal Register on Nov. 27, 2015 — growers and fresh produce handlers must learn what it means for their operations, said Peggy Hall, field specialist in agricultural and resource law for Ohio State University Extension.
OSU Extension is the outreach arm of The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
The rule is designed to...
I have been trying to avoid processed meat because I heard it is linked to cancer. But this year, my family is serving ham for Christmas dinner. Ham is processed, right? Should I ask my family to serve something else?
Yes, ham is a processed meat, and it’s great that you’re aware of the concerns raised about eating too much of it. But most health professionals would say you don’t have to worry about one dinner. It’s your overall pattern of eating that really matters.
Studies have linked processed meat with an increased risk of cancer for years. A report issued in October 2015 raised the issue’s profile significantly. That’s when the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer said there is “...
Growing from 18,000 to 171,000 young participants in 3 years, an OSU Extension Community Nutrition program has expanded to fill a critical need. But bigger issues remain elusive.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Three years ago, one of Ohio State University Extension’s community nutrition programs started making a special effort to expand its reach to children and teens.
By any measure, the effort has been a wild success.
Known as SNAP-Ed, it’s the nutrition education program for recipients of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, and for other low-income Ohioans.
Ohio SNAP-Ed has always had a youth component, but in 2012, before the expansion began, it reached just 18,443 children and teens, said Pat Bebo, director of Community...
We are hosting several parties over the holidays. Many of our friends are more health-conscious these days, and I would like to serve some healthy but festive beverages. Any ideas?
Clean, fresh water is among the healthiest beverages out there. It’s calorie- and sugar-free and, when you get it from the tap, it’s about as inexpensive as you can get. The Harvard School of Public Health has gone so far as to state outright that “water is the best choice” for quenching your thirst and rehydrating your body, which uses water in every one of its biochemical reactions as well as for metabolism, breathing, sweating and removal of waste.
Choosing water or other calorie-free or low-calorie beverages has benefits all year round. Replacing two 20-ounce sugary soft...
