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  1. Healthy Snack

    Oct. 30, 2018

    Fall is in full swing and cooler temperatures are finally here.  As the holidays approach and the thermometer dips, we tend to hibernate and snack on all sorts of finger foods that surround us, making healthy snacking habits a challenge.  According to an article from Tufts University, the percentage of daily calories we consume from snacks has doubled since the 1970’s, totaling about 500 calories a day.  We are now snacking more than ever before, so what is a healthy snack, and how do we make the healthy choice the easy choice?

  2. Livestock Building Rental Considerations

    Oct. 30, 2018

    Recently I have received some questions about rental of livestock buildings, specifically dairy facilities.   Typically, callers want to know a charge per square foot or a rental rate based on a per head basis or, for a dairy facility, based on number of free stalls.  The reality is that there is no one right or correct answer.   There are some basic methods or approaches that generate a dollar figure.  However, view that number as a starting point in a rental negotiation.

  3. Forage Toxicities and Frost Events

    Oct. 24, 2018

    Livestock owners need to be aware that frost and freezing weather can result in some forage species becoming toxic with regard to livestock consumption.  The issue is that some forage species contain compounds called cyanogenic glucosides in their cell compartments.  Frost and freezing temperatures damage plant cell membranes, allowing those compounds to mix.  The result is production of hydrogen cyanide, more commonly known as prussic acid.  Grain and forage sorghum, sorghum-sudangrass hybrids and sudangrass are all warm season annuals that have this potential for prussic acid or cyanide...

  4. Delayed Wheat Planting

    Oct. 24, 2018

    Frequent rain events and wet fields have delayed corn and soybean harvest this year.  In the case of soybean harvest, winter wheat was the next scheduled crop in the rotation.  The issue is that from a yield potential perspective, the best time to plant winter wheat is the ten-day period starting after the fly-free-safe date, which in Wayne County is September 26.  Wheat planting that is delayed outside of that time frame has an increased risk of reduced fall growth, and reduced winter hardiness.  This adds up to a reduced yield potential.  Of course, our fall weather influences the...

  5. Choices to Create the Life We Love

    Oct. 24, 2018

    We all know that for every choice there is a consequence.  Whether we talk about spending our money or the food we eat, our actions cumulate to mold our destiny in life.  I’d love to have the mindset that before we make any decision, we pause and ask ourselves what will happen if I do this? Or if I don’t do this, what will the outcome be?  This would be a skill for life to refine our goals in life and one we could pass on to our children.

  6. Concerns About Soybean Seed Quality

    Oct. 16, 2018

    There are reports across the state of concerns about soybean seed quality, primarily discolored and moldy seeds, as harvest progresses.  Ann Dorrance, OSU Extension Soybean pathologist has been out on numerous fields investigating the issue and her lab has received many samples.  In the latest OSU Extension CORN newsletter, Anne has summarized some of the fungal organisms responsible for the seed damage, along with a description of the symptoms.  That entire article, with explanatory photos, is available on-line at...

  7. Beef Quality Assurance Training at Creston

    Oct. 16, 2018

    OSU Extension in cooperation with United Producers Livestock Auction in Creston is holding a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification training on Friday, October 19 from 11 am to 1:00 pm.  Please plan on arriving 15 to 20 minutes before the start of the training to allow time to fill out the registration form.  BQA certification is applicable to and recommended for, both beef and dairy producers.

  8. Horse Forage Management Series

    Oct. 16, 2018

    A horse forage management series focusing on the renovation and care of pastures and hayfields will be held at the Ohio State University ATI Equine Center located at 3339 Apple Creek Rd on the evenings of November 6, 7 and 8.  The program will run from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm each evening.  Instructors include Bob Hendershot, retired State Grasslands Specialist and Sara Mastellar, Ohio State University ATI Equine Faculty.  Topics that will be covered include Soil Fertility, Understanding Plant Growth, Forage Species Selection, Equine Nutrition, Pasture Management and Design, Poisonous Plants,...

  9. Building a Stronger Community

    Oct. 16, 2018

    As autumn settles upon us, I have to admit I really like the cooler mornings and the rustle of the leaves as we ride through the woods.  The colors have slowly intensified over the weekend and the smoke of the campfire is calming.  The last couple of weeks I’ve been on the road to professional conferences that have stimulated my thinking in many ways.  Everything from reminders that we learn what we want to learn, in the manner we want to learn them in, to a world view of agriculture by a photographer for National Geographic.  The stimulation has give me new energy, given me a new...

  10. Grain Bin Entry Safety

    Oct. 09, 2018

    Corn and soybean harvest season is upon us and fall weather can dictate some narrow windows of opportunity to get the grain off the field, hauled and stored in a bin.  Long hours and stressful conditions increase the risk of accident and/or injury.  Every harvest season we hear reports of farmers injured or killed in grain handling related accidents.  According to a South Dakota State University article entitled “Grain Storage: Do’s and Don’ts” in 2017 there were 54 reported cases of agricultural confined space-related accidents, with 31 fatalities.  Of those 54 cases, 23 involved grain...

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