Tip 1: Americans Projected to Eat More Protein this Year. A Boost for Livestock Producers? The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that consumers will eat 222.2 pounds of red meat and poultry in 2018, more than ever before. The closest consumers came to consuming this amount was back in 2004, the government agency said. Thanks in part to more Americans choosing to reduce the amount of carbohydrates from their eating habits in favor of plans such as the Keto Diet or the Atkins Diet, the demand for protein is higher than ever, according to USDA’s January 2018 Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook. Domestic beef and poultry production is also forecast to surpass 100 billion pounds this year, USDA says. John Grimes, beef coordinator for Ohio State University Extension and a member of the OSU Extension Beef Team, can provide insight on what this could mean for Ohio livestock producers. Grimes writes for the Ohio Beef Cattle Newsletter, a publication of the Beef Team. He can be reached at grimes.1@osu.edu or 740-289-2071, ext. 242.
Tip 2: Biobased Materials Being Used More and More in Commercialized Industries. Several Ohio State researchers and industry leaders will be sharing their ideas and experiences in the commercialization process for biobased fuels and products during a daylong event April 13. The Advanced Biobased Systems Workshop: Pipeline to Commercialization is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wexner Center on The Ohio State University’s Columbus campus. The workshop is an opportunity to gain understanding from the big-picture perspective as well as case studies that illustrate the commercialization process, including challenges and overcoming them, according to Ajay Shah, an assistant professor in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering (FABE), who is helping to organize the event. Shah is also the head of the Biobased Systems Analysis Lab. Industry leaders such as Mike Feazel, co-founder and CEO of Roof Max Technologies, LLC, will be sharing examples of the impact biobased products have had in their areas. Registration for the workshop is open and costs $60 through April 4 and $75 after that. It includes continental breakfast, lunch and access to a networking event following the workshop. For more information, contact Shah at shah.971@osu.edu or 330-263-3858.
April 2018 events
6 East Ohio Women in Agriculture Conference, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., R.G. Drage Career Technical Center, 2800 Richville Drive SW, Massillon. Registration: $55, or $30 for students. Combined discount registration available for those attending the April 7 Small Farm Conference in the same location. Register by March 23. More information: go.osu.edu/eowia2018, 330-674-3015.
7 Living the Small Farm Dream: Northeast Ohio Small Farm Conference and Trade Show, 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., R.G. Drage Career Technical Center, 2800 Richville Drive SW, Massillon. Registration: $60, or $30 for students. Combined discount registration available for those attending the April 6 East Ohio Women in Agriculture Conference in the same location. Register by March 23. More information: Rory Lewandowski, 330-264-8722, lewandowski.11@osu.edu, or go.osu.edu/CJDV.
16 Environmental Professionals Network Signature Event, “Sustainability Through Reinvention,” 7-8:45 p.m., Archie M. Griffin Grand Ballroom, Ohio Union, 1739 N. Union St., The Ohio State University, Columbus. Registration required. More information and link to register: go.osu.edu/CKNQ.
25-27 National Farm to Cafeteria, Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Cincinnati, 5:30-7 p.m. on April 25, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 26, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 27. Registration: $250 by March 9; $300 after March 9; additional costs for field trips and short courses. More information:go.osu.edu/farm2school-conference.
26 Renewable Energy Workshop, 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Fisher Auditorium, Room 111, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster. Free. Held in conjunction with Wooster Campus Scarlet, Gray and Green Fair. More information: Mary Wicks, wicks.14@osu.edu, 330-202-3533.
26 Wooster Campus Scarlet, Gray and Green Fair, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., in and around Fisher Auditorium, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster. Free. Renewable Energy Workshop takes place as part of the event. More information: Gwen Zimmerly, zimmerly.30@osu.edu, 330-263-3761, or u.osu.edu/sggf.
27-28 Ohio 4-H LGBTQ+ Summit, Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, The Ohio State University, Columbus. Professional Development Day, April 27, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., for 4-H-affiliated adults including post-high school participants, 4-H professionals, parents and volunteers. April 27 registration: $50 for adults, $10 for currently enrolled college students. Youth Summit, April 28, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., for youth only (and designated 4-H professionals), including middle school and high school students and youth not enrolled in 4-H. April 28 registration: $10. More information: Kayla Oberstadt, 614-292-3758, or go.osu.edu/CJDv.
May 2018 events
7-8 National Conference on Diversity, Race and Learning, Hale Hall, The Ohio State University, 154 West 12th Ave., Columbus. Pre-conference Diversity Training with Eddie Moore Jr. on May 7. 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 8 session at The Fawcett Conference Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration for the pre-conference workshop is $100 before April 2. Registration for the conference is $160 before April 2. To register: odi.osu.edu/about/conferences/national-conference-on-diversity-race-and-learning/.
11-12 Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens Spring Plant Sale and Auction, northwest corner of Lane Avenue and Fred Taylor Drive, just east of State Route 315 on Ohio State’s Columbus campus. May 11, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; May 12, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. More information: cfaes.osu.edu/news/events/spring-plant-sale.