News tips and events for the week of Sept. 9

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(Photo: Getty Images)

Tip 1: Solar farms spreading in Ohio: With large-scale solar energy development on the rise in Ohio, some of the state’s farmland owners are being sought out to lease their land for these projects. In the past two years, the Ohio Power Siting Board has approved six large-scale solar projects with generating capacities of 50 megawatts or more, and three more projects are pending approval. Typically, lease agreements between solar energy developers and landowners require a long-term legal commitment of 25 years or more. Leasing land for a solar energy development raises implications for the land, family, farm operation, and community. Legal and energy experts from the The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) have developed a free guidebook for farmland owners considering leasing to solar energy developers. Two of the authors of the guidebook, Peggy Hall, agricultural and resource law field specialist for CFAES, and Eric Romich, a field specialist in energy development for CFAES, are available to discuss with the media the issues that land owners should consider before leasing their land. Hall can be reached at hall.673@osu.edu or 937-645-3123; Romich can be reached at romich.2@osu.edu or 419-294-4931. For more information on the guidebook, visit go.osu.edu/solarleasing.

Tip 2: Update on algal blooms in Lake Erie: The fourth annual Understanding Algal Blooms: State of the Science conference will bring together scientific experts to share their latest findings on Lake Erie’s harmful algal blooms. Lake Erie’s summertime algal blooms have begun, including in waters off the shore of Toledo, and are expected this year to be significant. Besides being unsightly, deterring swimmers and boaters, the blooms can produce toxins, which pose a threat to drinking water and the health of people and pets. For more information about Lake Erie’s blooms, the media can contact Christopher Winslow, director of The Ohio State University’s Ohio Sea Grant program and Stone Laboratory. For more information on the conference, visit go.osu.edu/2019algalbloomconference.

September 2019

10 Advanced Biosystems Workshop, “Bioprocessing and Commercialization,” 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Shelby Oaks Golf Course, 9900 Sidney-Freyburg Road, Sidney, Ohio. Presentations by industry and university experts on turning farm crops and other biological materials into useful products. Also slated is a preworkshop networking event featuring a tour and barbecue at the Cargill Inc. biorefinery, 2400 Industrial Way in Sidney, from 2–8 p.m. Sept. 9. Early bird registration is $50 by Aug. 26. General registration is $60 after Aug. 26. College student registration is $25 by Aug. 26. All three registrations include continental breakfast, lunch, and the Sept. 9 networking event. Details: go.osu.edu/2019bioprocessingshah.971@osu.edu, 330-263-3858.

11 Urban Landscape Pest Management Workshop, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus, Ohio. Intended for those who hold a current commercial pesticide license. Cost: $100 by August 21, $120 after August 21. Lunch provided with registration. Details: go.osu.edu/C2w9.

11 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.

12 Understanding Algal Blooms: State of the Science conference,8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., Stranahan Theater Great Hall, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo, Ohio. Fourth annual conference highlighting current scientific knowledge about harmful algal blooms. Organized by Ohio State’s Ohio Sea Grant program. General registration: $40. Student registration: $10. The deadline to register is Sept. 4. Details: go.osu.edu/2019algalbloomconference or 614-247-6684.

13–14 Sestercentennial of Alexander von Humboldt, starting at 7 p.m. Sept. 13 and at 10 a.m. Sept. 14 at the Secrest Arboretum Welcome & Education Center, CFAES Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Activities for nature lovers, scientists, and others celebrating the 150th birthday of natural philosopher Alexander von Humboldt. Free admission. Details: go.osu.edu/secresthumboldt or 330-263-3831.

17–19 Farm Science Review, Molly Caren Agricultural Center, 135 State Route 38 NE, London, Ohio. Annual CFAES-sponsored trade show offering talks, displays, field demonstrations, and hundreds of commercial exhibitors. Expected total attendance is more than 100,000. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 17–18 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 19. Tickets are $7 online and at Ohio State University Extension county offices and participating agribusinesses, or $10 at the gate. Children ages 5 and under are free. OSU Extension is CFAES’ outreach arm. Details: fsr.osu.edu

19 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.

23 Foodpreneur School, 2–6:30 p.m., Keller Market House, 134 S. Columbus St., Lancaster, Ohio. A two-part workshop (Sept. 23 and 30) for food entrepreneurs who are poised to grow their businesses. Those interested must apply by 5 p.m. on Aug. 15. Food entrepreneurs will be notified of their selection and scholarship availability by Aug. 22. Cost: $125 per person due by Sept. 9; Ohio Farm Bureau Federation member price is $75. Limited number of scholarships available. Details: osucooperatives@osu.edu or 740-289-2071, ext. 111. To register: go.osu.edu/foodpreneur.

30 Animals in Our Lives Featuring Dr. Temple Grandin, 5–8 p.m., Dave Thomas Conference Center, 1 Dave Thomas Blvd., Dublin, Ohio. Hosted by CFAES’ Center for Human-Animal Interactions Research and Education (CHAIRE). Will include a short introduction to CHAIRE, a plated dinner, a silent auction, animals from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and a presentation by Temple Grandin. This is a fundraising event for CHAIRE and seats are limited. General admission: $100 per person; $750 for an eight-person table. VIP Admission: $150 per person; $1,100 for an eight-person table. Details: Brittany Fischer, 614-292-1073 or chaire@osu.edu. To register: go.osu.edu/Templegrandin.

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.

5 Autumn Discovery Day, 9 a.m. to noon, Secrest Arboretum Welcome Center, 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. 

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.  

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.

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.

Writer(s): 
CFAES News Team
614-292-2270