News tips and events for the week of Sept. 30

Tip 1: CFAES helps veterans practice farming. Eighteen central Ohio veterans spent summer farming at the Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory in Columbus, part of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). As participants in a pilot project called the Veteran Farming Program—organized by the Central Ohio VA Healthcare System and CFAES’ Ohio State University Extension outreach arm—the veterans gained practice in farming and gardening while benefiting from the activities’ therapeutic aspects. “I used to farm when I was younger,” one of the participants, Vietnam veteran Bob Udeck, 74, said. “It feels really good to get your hands dirty again—planting something, nurturing it, and watching it produce.” Read more about the program at go.osu.edu/Bb7D

Tip 2: Ohio agency directors to discuss water quality. The directors of three Ohio agencies working to address nutrient runoff and water quality, including issues such as Lake Erie’s harmful algal blooms, will discuss their policies and programs on Oct. 8 at Ohio State. Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Dorothy Pelanda, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz, and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Director Laurie A. Stevenson will speak at the October breakfast program of CFAES’ Environmental Professionals Network. Cathann A. Kress, Ohio State vice president for agricultural administration and CFAES dean, will moderate the discussion. For more information, see the Oct. 8 listing below or go to go.osu.edu/BcAb

October 2019

2 New Pesticide Applicator Training, morning session starts at 9 a.m.; afternoon session starts at 1 p.m.; Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Bromfield Administration Building, 8995 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg, Ohio. To register or for more information, call the Ohio Department of Agriculture at 614-728-6987 or visit go.osu.edu/pestprep.

4 Members-only Autumn Discovery Day presale, 4–6 p.m., Secrest Arboretum Welcome and Education Center, Wooster Campus, 2122 Williams Road, Wooster, Ohio. Advance plant sale and 10% discount for members of the Friends of Secrest Arboretum. Details: 330-263-3761 or go.osu.edu/BcAZ

5 Autumn Discovery Day, 9 a.m. to noon, Secrest Arboretum Welcome and Education Center, CFAES Wooster Campus, 2122 Williams Road, Wooster, Ohio. Fall is a great time for planting trees and shrubs. Friends of Secrest Arboretum invite you to browse an expanded selection of new and unique plants for sale, talk to the experts, and explore the natural beauty of our grounds. All proceeds support arboretum research and education programs. The sale takes place rain or shine. Details: 330-263-3761 or go.osu.edu/BcAX

8 Environmental Professionals Network breakfast program, “Controlling Nutrient Runoff and Protecting Water Quality: Ohio’s Latest Programs and Policies,” 7:15–9:30 a.m., Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus, Ohio. Discussion by directors of Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency moderated by Cathann A. Kress, Ohio State vice president for agricultural administration and CFAES dean. Registration, which includes breakfast, is $10 and is free for Ohio State students. Details: go.osu.edu/BcAb

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

11 Fascinating Woodland Fungi, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Ovalwood Hall, Ohio State Mansfield Campus, 1760 University Drive, Mansfield, Ohio. Fungi of many types are often overlooked, ignored, and/or avoided by visitors to the woods because people don’t know what they are, or people have been misinformed as to the importance and dangers of the fungi. Learn fungi life histories, their ecological importance, and their diversity. Cost: $40; includes snacks, lunch, and class materials. For more information and to register, visit go.osu.edu/BYyx.  

12 Guided Bird Walk, 9–11 a.m., Seaman Orientation Plaza, Secrest Arboretum, Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Led by members of Greater Mohican Audubon Society. Open to birders of all skill levels. Free. Details: 330-263-2761 or go.osu.edu/BcAq

16 Guided Autumn/Pollinator Walk, 2–3 p.m., Seaman Orientation Plaza, Secrest Arboretum, Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. A look at fall colors, seasonal plant highlights, and resident pollinators led by CFAES experts. Free. Details: 330-263-3761 or go.osu.edu/BcAv

18–20 Buckeye Island Hop, annual volunteer work and social event at The Ohio State University Stone Laboratory at Put-in-Bay, Ohio. Registration is free but is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration deadline is 5 p.m. Oct. 11. Details: 419-285-1800 or go.osu.edu/BcA3

23 Wood-Destroying Insect Inspection Training, 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ohio Department of Agriculture, Bromfield Administration Building, 8995 East Main St., Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This course is required to receive state certification to conduct wood-destroying insect inspections for real estate transactions. Cost: $90 preregistration (lunch included); $100 on-site registration (lunch not included). For more information and to register, visit go.osu.edu/BYyz.

23 Hidden Gems of Secrest, 1–3 p.m., Secrest Arboretum Welcome and Education Center, Wooster Campus, 2122 Williams Road, Wooster, Ohio. Walking tour featuring the arboretum’s “far corners and hidden treasures”—plants and places that visitors often don’t see. Admission is free but registration is required. The registration deadline is Oct. 22. Details: 330-263-3761 or go.osu.edu/BcA5

25 School Garden Conference, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus, Ohio. Explore project-based learning related to the school garden at the sixth annual School Garden Conference, hosted by 4-H personnel from the Franklin County office of OSU Extension. Educators, after-school personnel, and others are invited to attend. Whether you are a new or an experienced educational gardener, don’t miss the 2019 School Garden Conference. The $50 registration fee includes lunch and all materials. Register at go.osu.edu/sgc2019. Cancellations made after Oct. 18 will not be eligible for a refund.

25 ArboBlitz Community Tree Planting, 1–4 p.m., south side of Ohio State’s Ohio Union, 1739 N. High St., Columbus, Ohio. Volunteer planting of native trees as part of Tree Campus USA certification effort. Free. Details: go.osu.edu/BcC3

30 One Day Insect University, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus, Ohio. A daylong exploration of the world of insects. Features pollinators, landscape and garden insects, the role of citizen and community science, a bug zoo, an optional tour of Ohio State’s Museum of Biological Diversity, and more. Registration is $35, which includes morning refreshments, lunch, all sessions, and the museum tour. The registration deadline is Oct. 22. Details: 330-263-3723, ellsworth.2@osu.edu, or go.osu.edu/BcC7.  

November 2019

13 Is Your Project Financially Sound? Financial Concepts for Natural Resource Professionals, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus, Ohio. Registration: $50 includes lunch and materials. Register and learn more information at go.osu.edu/BbWx.

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

19 Livestock Mortality Composting, noon to 2 p.m., Mahoning County office of OSU Extension, 490 S. Broad St., Canfield. Poultry, dairy, swine, beef cattle, and other livestock producers wanting to learn economically and environmentally beneficial ways to handle the death of their animals can earn livestock mortality composting certification through a course offered by CFAES experts. Registration is $25 and includes lunch, materials, and handouts. Register at go.osu.edu/livestockcomposting2.

21 Private Pesticide Applicator Testing, all day, testing begins at 10 a.m., Portage County office of OSU Extension, 705 Oakwood St., Room 101, Ravenna, Ohio. To register, call Ohio Department of Agriculture at 614-728-6987 or visit go.osu.edu/pesticide_exams.

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