News tips and events for the week of June 24

Writer(s): 
Farmer on computer in dairy barn. Photo: Getty Images

Tip 1: The Dairy Margin Coverage Program is a hot topic this week. Experts at The Ohio State University are holding 13 informational meetings with dairy producers throughout the state to explain the intricacies of the new Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program and how to use a new decision tool. DMC is a voluntary federal program that will make payments to farmers when the national average income-over-feed-cost margin falls below a farmer-selected coverage level. Four meetings were held last week to educate dairy producers about enrolling in and choosing to lock in coverage levels in the new program, which was authorized under the 2018 Farm Bill. The last few years have been tough for dairy farmers due to rollercoaster milk margins and loss of some markets. Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) is providing educational opportunities about the new program. For more information, contact agricultural economist Ben Brown at brown.6888@osu.edu or 614-688-8686 or farm management specialist Diane Shoemaker at shoemaker.3@osu.edu or 330-533-5538.

Tip 2: Attend or view the July 11 Lake Erie harmful algal bloom forecast. Ohio State’s Stone Laboratory and Ohio Sea Grant will host the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) annual harmful algal bloom forecast for western Lake Erie on July 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. During the free webinar, participants will hear presentations by scientists from NOAA, Heidelberg University, and Stone Lab. The scientists will offer projections along with highlights of recent research efforts and successes. To receive webinar log-in details, register at go.osu.edu/Czdq If you are a member of the media and would like to attend the event at Stone Lab in Put-in-Bay’s harbor, please contact Jill Jentes Banicki at banicki.1@osu.edu or 614-292-8975.

June 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. Free and open to the public. 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.

27 Annual and Perennial Herbaceous Plant Workshop, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Secrest Arboretum Welcome and Education Center, 2122 Williams Road, OSU Wooster campus, Wooster, Ohio. Cost: $40. Registration required. Lunch and materials provided. Details: go.osu.edu/CzeB

July 2019

9 Environmental Professionals Network Field Trip, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Granville High School, 248 New Burg St., Granville, Ohio. “Environmental Careers, Curriculum, and Collaborations” will connect high school teachers with environmental professionals statewide. Tour sites will include Granville High School’s sustainable garden; Denison University’s solar array and pollinator site; and the Granville Land Lab, a collaborative outdoor educational facility. Preregistration: $20 (by July 7) includes breakfast, tour and lunch. Students are free. Details: go.osu.edu/Czd5

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. Free and open to the public. 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. Free and open to the public. 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. Free and open to the public. 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. Free and open to the public. Details: go.osu.edu/CyW7.

30 Dean’s Charity Steer Show, 2–4:30 p.m., Voinovich Livestock & Trade Center, Ohio Expo Center and State Fair, 717 E. 17th  Ave., Columbus, Ohio. This new event, hosted by Cathann A. Kress, vice president and dean of CFAES, will celebrate Ohio agriculture, Ohio communities, and Ohio children. All proceeds from the show will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio. Free and open to the public. Details: go.osu.edu/Czd7

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 Ohio State University 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 Manure Science Review, 9:20 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., 9877 Strasburg Bolivar Road NW, Strasburg, Ohio. Annual event featuring ways for farmers, compost operators, and others to get the most value from manure. Includes educational sessions, field demonstrations, and a tour of Bull Country Compost in nearby Dundee, Ohio. Registration is $25 by July 30; $30 after July 30; and includes lunch, doughnuts, coffee, and the tour. For details and a mailable registration form go to go.osu.edu/2019MSR. Online registration available through Aug. 1 at go.osu.edu/msr2019

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 proving techniques for helping groups work through the thinking and decision-making of important ideas and difficult conversations. Details: Call 614-292-3114 or e-mail Beth Flynn 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.

11 2019 Urban Landscape Pest Management Workshop, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Ohio State, Columbus, Ohio. For more information including cost and registration, contact the Pesticide Safety Education Program, 614-292-4070 or pested@osu.edu.

14 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.

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.

16-17 Germinate International Film Festival, Southern State Community College, 100 Hobart Drive, Hillsboro, Ohio. Organized by the Highland County office of OSU Extension, the inaugural festival will feature a diverse range of films highlighting agriculture and rural communities. Submissions accepted through June 30. Details: go.osu.edu/CzEg

Writer(s): 
Sherrie R. Whaley
614-292-2137