Tip 1: Important Farm Bill Changes. The new Farm Bill will provide dairy farmers with a stronger safety net against low milk prices and high feed costs. More federal dollars will also be spent to spur international trade of American agricultural products. Both changes could help farmers at a time when revenues from selling milk, corn and soybeans have dipped and markets have shrunk. Learn what agricultural economists in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) at The Ohio State University, think about these changes and more in the federal bill now awaiting the President’s signature. Contact either Carl Zulauf, professor emeritus, at carzul1980@gmail.com or 614-314-1439, or Ben Brown, manager of the CFAES farm management program, at brown.6888@osu.edu or 614-688-8686.
Tip 2: Which Birds in the Holiday Classic Song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” are Buckeyes? Find out what Ohio State experts on the subject have to say in our recent story. And if you’re still looking for the perfect gift for the birder in your life, The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in Ohio might be just the thing. Preparing the book involved about 1,000 birdwatching volunteers and a number of faculty, staff and students from CFAES’s School of Environment and Natural Resources, including four of the book’s five editors. For more information, visit go.osu.edu/BreedingBirdAtlas.
January 2019 events
8 OSU Extension New and Small Farm College, Montgomery County, 6-9 p.m., Miami Valley CTC, West Building, Room 179, 6800 Hoke Road, Englewood, Ohio. An eight-week program introducing new and seasoned farmers to a variety of topics. Learn how to get the most out of your acres and how to manage financial and farm records. $150 per person includes resources, meals, dessert and one soil sample evaluation. Enrollment deadline is Jan. 2. Details: go.osu.edu/CekQ.
9-10 Ohio Certified Crop Advisor Pre-Exam Training, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., both days. Ohio State University Extension, Shelby County office, 810 Fair Road, Sidney, Ohio. $250. Registration deadline: Dec. 28. Details: go.osu.edu/CCAprep. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of CFAES.
9-10 Ohio Hop Conference, “From Bines to Steins,” Hyatt Regency Columbus, 400 N. High St., Columbus, Ohio. Early bird full conference registration: $160 by Dec. 18. Full conference registration after Dec. 18: $185. Single day registration: $85. Details: bit.ly/OHGGRegister.
9 Precision University, “In-Season Decisions,” 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Beck’s Hybrids, 720 U.S. 40, London, Ohio. Registration: $50. Register by Jan. 2 at go.osu.edu/PrecisionU. Details: douridas.9@osu.edu, 937-484-1526.
9 Ohio Commercial Pesticide Recertification Conference, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dayton Convention Center, 22 East Fifth St., Dayton, Ohio. Preregistration, conference only, $89 per person; with lunch, $109 per person. On-site registration, $100 per person with no lunch available. Agricultural fertilizer recertification training $10. Preregistration closes at midnight Jan. 2. Details: go.osu.edu/pesticideconference.
14 Agricultural Outlook Meeting, 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Circleville Presbyterian Church, 13 E. Mound St., Circleville, Ohio. Discussion of issues and trends affecting Ohio agriculture. Speakers will be Ben Brown, Barry Ward, Ian Sheldon, Zoe Plakias and Aaron Wilson from OSU Extension and CFAES’s Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics. Registration: $10. Register by Jan. 4 by calling OSU Extension’s Pickaway County office, 740-474-7534. Details: pickaway.osu.edu.
15 Environmental Professionals Network, 7:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus. The breakfast program will address Climate Action: Our Local Response to a Global Challenge and will be facilitated by the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, a group of community leaders across public and private sectors who are making targeted efforts to mitigate and adapt to greenhouse gas-induced climate change. $10 for non-members, free for members and students. To register and for more details: go.osu.edu/ChPQ
15 Ohio Commercial Pesticide Recertification Conference, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., John S. Knight Center, 77 E. Mill St., Akron, Ohio. For individuals who hold a current commercial pesticide license. Co-sponsored by OSU Extension and the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Preregistration by Jan. 8: $89 for conference only; $109 for conference plus lunch. On-site registration: $100 with no lunch available. Registration includes morning and afternoon conference breaks and conference proceedings book. Details: go.osu.edu/Ce3x.
15 OSU Extension New and Small Farm College, Vinton County, 6-9 p.m., Community Building, 31935 State Route 93, McArthur, Ohio. An eight-week program introducing new and seasoned farmers to a variety of topics. Learn how to get the most out of your acres and how to manage financial and farm records. $150 per person includes resources, meals, dessert and one soil sample evaluation. Enrollment deadline is Jan. 8. Details: go.osu.edu/CekS.
16 OSU Extension New and Small Farm College, Adams County, 6-9 p.m., North Adams High School, 96 Green Devil Drive, Seaman, Ohio. An eight-week program introducing new and seasoned farmers to a variety of topics. Learn how to get the most out of your acres and how to manage financial and farm records. $150 per person includes resources, meals, dessert, and one soil sample evaluation. Enrollment deadline is Jan. 8. Details: go.osu.edu/CekZ.
17-18 Greenhouse Management Workshop, “Root Zone Optimization,” 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 17, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 18. Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1680 Madison Ave., CFAES Wooster campus. Speakers from CFAES, U.S. Department of Agriculture and industry on topics including biostimulants and container culture for ornamentals. Registration to attend in person is $150 by Jan. 4, $175 after Jan. 4, and includes all sessions, tours, breakfast and lunch. Registration to attend via webinar is $100 by Jan. 4, $125 after Jan. 4, and includes general sessions and one concurrent session. Details: go.osu.edu/greenhouse19 and go.osu.edu/Ce4D.
17 Agricultural Outlook Meeting, 8 a.m. to noon, Der Dutchman, 445 S. Jefferson Ave., Plain City, Ohio. Registration: $15. Discussion of issues and trends affecting Ohio agriculture. Speakers will be Barry Ward, Ben Brown, Ian Sheldon and Aaron Wilson from OSU Extension and CFAES’s Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics. Register by Jan. 10 by calling OSU Extension’s Union County office. 937-644-8117. Details: union.osu.edu.
18 2019 Corn and Soybean Day, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Founder’s Hall at Sauder Village, 22611 St. Rt. 2, Archbold, Ohio. Registration: $35 before Jan. 7, $50 after Jan. 7. OSU Extension educators to discuss On Field Ohio, cover crops, farm management decisions for sustainability, using eFields to drive nitrogen decisions, spring wheat management, soybean traits and pest concerns, and grain storage issues. Details: go.osu.edu/ChPS
21 Lake Erie Day at the Progressive Mid-America Boat Show, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., IX Center, 1 I-X Drive, Cleveland. $1 from the sale of each ticket will be donated to CFAES’s Stone Laboratory to support student scholarships. Tickets: Adults (over 12), $14; seniors (over 60), $12; children 12 and under free. The boat show overall runs from Jan. 17-21; hours vary by day. Experts from Ohio State’s Ohio Sea Grant program will be at the event Jan. 19-21 to share information and host children’s activities. Details: go.osu.edu/CeD5 and clevelandboatshow.com.
24 Agricultural Outlook Meeting, 9 a.m. to noon, St. Mary’s Hall, 46 E. Main St., Wakeman, Ohio. Discussion of issues and trends affecting Ohio agriculture. Speakers will be Barry Ward, Ben Brown and David Marrison from OSU Extension and CFAES’s Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics. Registration is free by Jan. 22; $20 after Jan. 22. Register by calling OSU Extension’s Huron County office, 419-668-8219. Details: huron.osu.edu.
28 Agricultural Outlook Meeting, 6-9 p.m., Jewell Community Center, 7900 Independence Road, Jewell, Ohio. Discussion of issues and trends affecting Ohio agriculture. Speakers will be Ian Sheldon, Ben Brown and Aaron Wilson from OSU Extension and CFAES’s Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics. Registration: $10 by Jan. 22; $20 after Jan. 22. Register by calling OSU Extension’s Defiance County office, 419-782-4771. Details: defiance.osu.edu.
29 Food Safety Document Development for Small Food Processors, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Cleveland Culinary Food Hub, 7501 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland. This workshop is intended for small (<$1 million in sales/year) producers of fermented, canned and other shelf-stable foods. The one-day course is an opportunity for processors to develop their food safety documentation in small groups with individual coaching from instructors. Registration: $25 by Jan. 24. Details: go.osu.edu/ChPZ
30 Master Gardener Volunteer Training, 9 a.m., OSU Extension Office, Portage County, 705 Oakwood St., Suite 103, Ravenna, Ohio. Course registration: $225 covers the cost of all materials. Details: go.osu.edu/Cekd. Application: go.osu.edu/Cekj.
30 Agricultural Outlook Meeting, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Fisher Auditorium, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Discussion of issues and trends affecting Ohio agriculture. Speakers will be Ian Sheldon, Ben Brown, Barry Ward, Dianne Shoemaker, David Marrison and Kenneth Burdine from OSU Extension and CFAES’s Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics. Registration: $15. Register by Jan. 24 by calling OSU Extension’s Wayne County office, 330-264-8722. Details: wayne.osu.edu.
February 2019 events
5 Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Training, 12:30-3:30 p.m., Mt. Hope Farmers Produce Auction, 8076 OH 241, Mt. Hope, Ohio. This course covers GAPs which help reduce the risk of on-farm produce contamination. This training is both for the Plain community and the English in Holmes County. Preregister by Jan. 30: $30. Can also register at the door. Details: go.osu.edu/ChQJ
7 Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Training, 6-9 p.m., Local Roots Market and Café, 140. S. Walnut St., Wooster, Ohio.. Registration: $30. Details: go.osu.edu/ChQS
13 Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Training, 9 a.m. to noon, Hardware Store North of County Line Auction, 10150 Spencer Road, Rt. 301, West Salem, Ohio. Registration by Feb. 6: $30. Details: go.osu.edu/ChQV
13 Agricultural Outlook Meeting, 5:30-9 p.m., Wayside Chapel, 2341 Kerstetter Road, Bucyrus, Ohio. Discussion of issues and trends affecting Ohio agriculture. Speakers will Barry Ward, Ben Brown and Ian Sheldon from OSU Extension and CFAES’s Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics. Registration: $15. Register by Feb. 5 by contacting OSU Extension’s Crawford County, 419-562-8731, hartschuh.11@osu.edu. Details: crawford.osu.edu.
20 Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Training, 12:30-3:30 p.m., Henry Hostetler Farm, 9876 Firestone Road, Homerville, Ohio. Preregister by Feb. 14: $30. Details: go.osu.edu/ChQb
26 Ohio Commercial Pesticide Applicator Recertification Conference, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Columbus Convention Center, 400 North High Street, Columbus,. Pre-register for conference only: $89 by Feb. 19, 2019. Pre-register for conference with lunch: $109 by Feb. 19, 2019. On-site registration for conference only: $100. No lunch available with on-site registration. Details: go.osu.edu/ChQg
March 2019 events
22 Agricultural Outlook Meeting, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Romer’s Catering, 118 E. Main St., Greenville, Ohio. Discussion of issues and trends affecting Ohio agriculture. Speakers will be Barry Ward, Ben Brown, David Marrison and Ian Sheldon from OSU Extension and CFAES’s Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics. Registration: $20. Register by March 16 by calling OSU Extension’s Darke County office, 937-548-5215. Details: go.osu.edu/2019darkeagoutlook and darke.osu.edu.
* Editors note: News Tips and Events is taking a two-week holiday hiatus. Look for fresh news tips and events in the New Year beginning Jan. 7, 2019.