News tips and events for the week of June 10

Reducing fertilizer runoff into waterways across the United States: A new report details laws across the United States intended to decrease the amount of key nutrients in fertilizer from entering streams, lakes, and rivers. The report was written by Peggy Hall, agricultural and resource law field specialist for The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environment Sciences (CFAES), and Ellen Essman, a CFAES research associate. In addition to examining laws, the report also describes measures that various states have taken to encourage farmers to voluntarily participate in practices that reduce the amount of nitrogen or phosphorus, both critical ingredients in fertilizer, from leaving the farm fields on which they were applied. Excessive nitrogen and phosphorus in water can encourage the growth of harmful algal blooms that can contaminate surface and drinking water supplies. For more information about the report, contact Hall at hall.673@osu.edu or 937-645-3123. The report can be found at go.osu.edu/nutrientlaws.

Tricking mosquitoes to stop them from biting us: Far from just a summer annoyance, some mosquitoes have spread West Nile virus in Ohio, which is why CFAES entomologist Megan Meuti is trying to stop them. Meuti is tinkering with the circadian rhythms of one type of mosquito to trick the pest into thinking it’s winter and time to hibernate rather than summer and time to reproduce. Meuti is working with the northern house mosquito, which is closely associated with West Nile virus in Ohio. These mosquitoes can bite birds infected by the virus and then spread it when the mosquitoes bite humans afterward. The aim of Meuti’s research is to control mosquito populations in the future to reduce the chances that people and animals will get bitten. An article about Meuti’s research, which is available for republication, can be found here: go.osu.edu/trickingmosquitoes. The media can contact Meuti at meuti.1@osu.edu or 614-688-2829.

June 2019

12 Tree Walk, 1–2 p.m., Seaman Orientation Plaza, Secrest Arboretum, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Features a range of tree-related topics including selection, planting, pests, and diseases. Free, no reservations required. Details: go.osu.edu/CyW9.

13 Ohio Lawn Care Association Northeast Seminar, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Arden Shisler Conference Center, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Professional development program for lawn care professionals. Registration fees vary. Details and link to register: go.osu.edu/Cw7N.

13 Whiz Bang Science Show, 7–8 p.m., John Streeter Garden Amphitheater, Secrest Arboretum, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Free and open to the public. The show will be canceled in the event of severe weather. Contact: Gwen Zimmerly, 330-263-3761, zimmerly.30@osu.edu.

14 A Day in the Woods: Woodland Critters, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Vinton Furnace State Forest near McArthur, Ohio. Learn about the life histories and habitat requirements of nongame forest wildlife such as gray treefrogs and flying squirrels. Registration: $12; lunch and handouts provided. Details: go.osu.edu/CyWg or apsley.1@osu.edu.   

15 In the Garden Seminar, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Bravo Room, Hobart Arena, 255 Adams St., Troy, Ohio. Topics will include diversifying your landscape, new conifers, encouraging communities to support pollinators, and others. Cost: $40; $32 for Master Gardener volunteers. Contact: Amanda Bennett, 937-440-3945, bennett.709@osu.edu. 

18 Lake Erie Science at Lakeside Chautauqua: Talking Trash in Lake Erie, 2–3 p.m., Pavilion West Deck, 236 Walnut Ave., Lakeside, Ohio. Ohio Sea Grant presentation on plastics and other types of marine debris, their effects on Lake Erie, and what can be done to prevent such pollution. Details: go.osu.edu/CyWJ.

19 Guided Summer Walk, 2–3 p.m., Seaman Orientation Plaza, Secrest Arboretum, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Guided walk featuring seasonal highlights and best practices for the landscape. Free admission. Details: go.osu.edu/CyWN.

20 Field Crops Field Day, 9–11:30 a.m., Northwest Agricultural Research Station, 4240 Range Line Road, Custar, Ohio. Free and open to the public. Contact Matt Davis, 419-257-2060, davis.1095@osu.edu. 

21 Dairy Margin Coverage Program: What’s New? 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Mahoning County office of OSU Extension, 490 S. Broad St., Canfield, Ohio. Learn about new features of the program, which was reconfigured in the 2018 Farm Bill. Will include a demonstration of various decision-making tools. Presented by Diane Shoemaker, OSU Extension, and Jill Ritchie, Farm Service Agency. Cost: $10 per person. Registration includes program and handouts. Details: go.osu.edu/Cxps. 

22 Large Acreage Conservation Demonstration and Education Site Tour, 10 a.m. to noon, Gwynne Conservation Area, Molly Caren Agricultural Center, 135 State Route 38 NE, London, Ohio. Tour featuring land management practices that promote soil, water, woodland, and wildlife conservation. Demonstration area includes pollinator plots, cover crop plots, and streambank restoration area. Presented by Ohio State’s Sustainable Agriculture Team. Free admission. Part of the 2019 Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series. Details: oeffa.org/news/farm-tours-2019.

25 The Wondrous World of Lichens, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Jack and Deb Miller Pavilion, Secrest Arboretum, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Cost: $40, $45 for nonmembers. Contact: Paul Snyder, 330-263-3761, snyder.1062@osu.edu.

25 Lake Erie Science at Lakeside Chautauqua: Mayfly Madness, 2–3 p.m., Pavilion West Deck, 236 Walnut Ave., Lakeside, Ohio. Ohio Sea Grant presentation on Lake Erie mayflies and their importance as water quality indicators. Details: go.osu.edu/CyWS. 

26 Diversified Crop and Production Field Day, 2 p.m., Ohio State University South Centers, 1864 Shyville Road, Piketon, Ohio. Tour featuring aquaponics, climate-smart agriculture, long-term tillage and cover crops, berries, pumpkins, paw paw trees, organic farming, and more. Presented by Ohio State’s Sustainable Agriculture Team. Free admission. Part of the 2019 Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series. Details: oeffa.org/news/farm-tours-2019.

July 2019

9 Wood Destroying Insect Inspection Training, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ohio Department of Agriculture, 8995 East Main Street, Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Preregistration: $90 (lunch included), on-site registration $100 (lunch not included). Details: go.osu.edu/Cv5D. 

9 Lake Erie Science at Lakeside Chautauqua: Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! 2–3 p.m., Pavilion West Deck, 236 Walnut Ave., Lakeside, Ohio. Ohio Sea Grant presentation on aquatic invasive species and how to prevent their introduction and spread. Details: go.osu.edu/CyWb. 

10 Tree Walk, 1–2 p.m., Seaman Orientation Plaza, Secrest Arboretum, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Features a range of tree-related topics including selection, planting, pests, and diseases. Free, no reservations required. Details: 330-263-3761.

11 Lake Erie Harmful Algal Bloom Forecast, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ohio State University Stone Laboratory, Put-in-Bay, Ohio. Annual harmful algal bloom forecast for western Lake Erie by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Features presentations by scientists from NOAA, Heidelberg University, and Stone Lab. Free. Details: go.osu.edu/CyWd. 

11 Whiz Bang Science Show, 7–8 p.m., John Streeter Garden Amphitheater, Secrest Arboretum, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Free and open to the public. The show will be canceled in the event of severe weather. Contact: Gwen Zimmerly, 330-263-3761, zimmerly.30@osu.edu.

12 A Day in the Woods: Woodland Stewardship Opportunities, 2–3 p.m., Vinton Furnace State Forest near McArthur, Ohio. Details on techniques, resources, and assistance available to landowners for improving their woods. Registration: $12; lunch and handouts provided. Details: go.osu.edu/CyWg or apsley.1@osu.edu.   

13 Ohio Sheep and Hay Day, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Jackson Agricultural Research Station, 019 Standpipe Road, Jackson, Ohio. Cost: $15 for Ohio Sheep Improvement Association members, $25 for non-OSIA members. Contact Brady Campbell, 740-434-3252, campbell.1279@osu.edu.

13 Pioneering Urban Farm Tour, 10–11:30 a.m., Four Seasons City Farm, 931 E. Mound St., Columbus, Ohio. Tour featuring plantings and programs at the oldest operating urban farm in Columbus. Presented by Ohio State’s Sustainable Agriculture Team. Free admission. Part of the 2019 Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series. Details: oeffa.org/news/farm-tours-2019.

13 Insect Night, 8–10:30 p.m., Secrest Arboretum, OARDC, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. For children of all ages and their families. Free. Bring a flashlight, good walking shoes, and a clear jar to collect insects. Details: go.osu.edu/Cv5G. 

16 Lake Erie Science at Lakeside Chautauqua: Walleye, Perch, Bass, Oh My! 2–3 p.m., Pavilion West Deck, 236 Walnut Ave., Lakeside, Ohio. Ohio Sea Grant presentation on Lake Erie’s unique fish species, including game fish and species threatened by changing ecological conditions. Details: go.osu.edu/CyWs.

17 Western Agronomy Field Day, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Western Agricultural Research Station, 7721 South Charleston Pike, South Charleston, Ohio. Free and open to the public. Contact: Joe Davlin, 937-462-8016, davlin.1@osu.edu.

18 Climate Smart: Farming with Weather Extremes, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Der Dutchman,  445 S. Jefferson Ave, Plain City, Ohio. Free and open to the public, including a free lunch to those who RSVP in advance. Contact Aaron Wilson, 614-292-7930, wilson.1010@osu.edu. Key topics include water management, crop insurance, risk management, conservation, and technology. Keynote speaker will be Tyler Williams, a cropping systems extension educator with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Tyler will discuss lessons from the spring 2019 Nebraska flood event. RSVP required by July 11 to receive lunch. To RSVP, visit: https://go.osu.edu/ClimateSmart

18 Summer Grafting Workshop, 8 a.m. to noon, Jack and Deb Miller Pavilion, Secrest Arboretum, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Registration: $35 for Secrest members, $45 for nonmembers. Preregistration is required. The hands-on workshop will focus on summer grafting of tree species. Rootstocks and scions will be provided. Details: go.osu.edu/Cv5J. 

19 Sharpening Your Scouting Skills for Invasive Species, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Ovalwood Hall, 1760 University Drive, Ohio State Mansfield campus, Mansfield, Ohio. Registration: $40; includes lunch and materials. Details: go.osu.edu/invasivescouting. 

21 Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens Open House Celebration, 1–4 p.m., Chadwick Arboretum North Site, northwest of the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Ohio State, Columbus. Includes tours of research lake, energy-efficient enCORE solar house, pollinator garden, monarch butterfly planting, and native Ohio trees. Free admission. Details: go.osu.edu/CyWv. 

23 Lake Erie Science at Lakeside Chautauqua: Aquatic Bugs Don't Bug Me! 2–3 p.m., Pavilion West Deck, 236 Walnut Ave., Lakeside, Ohio. Ohio Sea Grant presentation on aquatic insects, from tiny macroinvertebrates to colorful dragonflies. Details: go.osu.edu/CyWz.

25 Muck Crops Field Day, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Muck Crops Agricultural Research Station, 4875 State Route 103 South, Willard, Ohio. Free and open to the public. Contact: Bob Filbrun, 419-709-7485, filbrun.12@osu.edu.

30 Lake Erie Science at Lakeside Chautauqua: Snakes at the Lake! 2–3 p.m., Pavilion West Deck, 236 Walnut Ave., Lakeside, Ohio. Ohio Sea Grant presentation on the snakes of the Lake Erie region and the good they do for ecosystems, and also featuring live specimens. Details: go.osu.edu/CyW7.

31 Name That Tree, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Ovalwood Hall, 1760 University Drive, Ohio State Mansfield campus, Mansfield, Ohio. Cost: $40; includes lunch and class materials. Spend the day getting familiar with tree identification terminology, walk through a dichotomous key, and finish the day with hands-on practice in the field. Join CFAES’ Jim Chatfield and Kathy Smith for a day of tree-focused information: go.osu.edu/Cxp7.

August 2019

1 Managing Multiple Generations, 9–11 a.m., online. The workshop will identify four generations of people in today’s workforce, consider the workplace environment that each generation prefers, compare the communication styles of each generation, and identify strategies for effective communication in the workplace. Cost: $95 ($75 for Ohio State employees). For more information, contact the OSU Leadership Center at 614-292-3114 or e-mail Beth Flynn at flynn.61@osu.edu. Register: go.osu.edu/generation.

2 Tree Diagnostics, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Ohio State Mansfield campus, 1760 University Drive, Eisenhower Memorial Center, Mansfield, Ohio. Cost: $40; includes lunch and materials for the day. This workshop aims to improve skills when it comes to diagnosing what is happening with a sick-looking tree. Details: go.osu.edu/treediagnosis.

7 Effective Meeting Facilitation: Getting the Most Out of Your Group, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Ohio State, Columbus, Ohio. Cost: $210 ($190 for Ohio State employees). The training is aimed at offering techniques for helping groups work through the thinking and decision-making of important ideas and difficult conversations. Contact: Beth Flynn, 292-3114 or flynn.61@osu.edu. Register: go.osu.edu/smartmeetings.

8 Whiz Bang Science Show, 7–8:30 p.m., John Streeter Garden Amphitheater, Secrest Arboretum, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Free and open to the public. The show will be canceled in the event of severe weather. Contact: Gwen Zimmerly, 330-263-3761, zimmerly.30@osu.edu.

14 StrengthsFinder, 9 a.m. to noon, Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Ohio State, Columbus, Ohio. Every leader possesses his or her own unique set of talents. Participants in this workshop will take the Clifton StrengthsFinder inventory to learn their five strongest talents and will learn how to best use them to increase their effectiveness as leaders. Register: go.osu.edu/strengthfinder.