Soybean grower program April 2

By David Dugan
Extension Educator,
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Ohio Valley Extension Education Research Area
Adams/Brown/Highland counties

With the near six inches of snow that fell where I live on Sunday, I figured the winter meeting season must not be over yet.

There will be a soybean grower program offered on April 2 in Hillsboro at the Ponderosa Steakhouse. This program will begin at 10 a.m. in the restaurant, not the banquet center.

There is no charge for the program, but lunch will be on your own. Please call one of the three OSU Extension Offices to RSVP so we can plan for seating and handouts. New OSU Extension Specialist Laura Lindsey will be part of the program.

This program will be the beginning of a summer-long program that will include some on farm soybean research and a possible twilight farm tour.

Water Quality and Management Program a success

We had a very successful Water Quality Program on Monday. The program that ended up being a joint effort between Soil and Water, Farm Bureau and OSU Extension in Adams, Brown, Clermont and Highland counties was well attended.

The information included the application of manure as a nutrient to the soil. Discussion included applying the manure on frozen ground which needs some understanding. Applying to frozen ground prior to a major rain is not advised, however applying on frozen ground on cold mornings that will warm up and thaw during the day is not a terrible thing. With this the nutrients can be taken into the soil when the warm up begins.

Part of the message was concerning applying nutrients, regardless if manure or commercial fertilizer, in a responsible way. You may have heard of this, the 4R Nutrient Stewardship: Right Place, Right Time, Right Rate, and Right Source.

Beekeeping Program March 27

Next week, OSU Extension will offer a program designed for those interested in beekeeping.

This is a topic of growing interest in all three counties, with groups that meet on a regular basis. The program will be held on March 27 starting at 6 p.m. at the Appalachian Gateway Center on the South Campus of Southern State Community College in Fincastle.

There is no charge for attending the program, however, in order to be best prepared with the proper number of handouts we need to know how many plan to attend.

If you plan to attend please call one of the three county offices and register. You can call the Extension Office in Adams County at 544-2339; Brown County at 378-6716 and Highland County at 393-1918. You can also send me an e-mail at dugan.46@osu.edu

To be more specific, the topics will include: What a bee wants – pollen, nectar and the plants that provide.

Bees depend on plants for energy-rich nectar and high-protein pollen. This session will focus on the rewards plants offer to pollinators and the biology behind them, as well as key plant sources of this essential food. Resources will be shared to help locate and select bee plants, including web sites, phone Apps and PDF documents.

Phenology for Beekeepers

Phenology is the study of recurring biological phenomena and their relationship to weather and climate. Bird migration, hunting and gathering seasons, blooming of wildflowers and trees, and the seasonal appearance of insects are examples of phenological events that have been recorded for centuries. Participants will learn how to track bloom time of local plants using a web-based biological calendar, and how to customize this calendar for bee-specific plants.

Denise Ellsworth, Program Director, Honey Bee and Native Pollinator Education for OSU Extension will be presenting the program. Plan to attend.

Dates to Remember

• Pesticide License Testing – Private and commercial testing for applicator license will be offered on April 8 and May 13 at the Old Y Restaurant. You are required to pre-register by calling the Ohio Department of Agriculture at 800-282-1955 or online at http://pested.osu.edu. Space is limited so register soon. Study materials are also available at the same address or phone number.

• Beekeeping Workshop – The program will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27. The program is free, simply call the Adams, Brown or Highland Co. Extension Office to register.

• Pesticide Re-certification – Pre-registration is required. Call Cindy at 378-6716 for the start time and to register for the March 29 program at Southern State Community College in Fincastle.

• Soybean Education Program – April 2 at the Ponderosa in Hillsboro, 10 a.m.

• Highland County Cattlemen – The annual banquet will be April 3.