by CrownRandall | Nov 16, 2024 | Agriculture
The impact of ruminant grazing on ecosystems is complex and fascinating. When managed properly, grazing can promote plant growth, enhance soil health, and contribute to increased carbon sequestration. Practices like rotational grazing help to maintain vegetation and soil quality, but improper management can lead to overgrazing, resulting in soil degradation, loss of vegetation, and reduced carbon storage.
In this article, Retired NRCS Agronomist and Grazing Specialist Victor Shelton discusses the connection between weather, forages, and carbon sequestration. Specific topics include normal weather compared to average weather, the health of the soil, and how different grazing practices can impact the amount of carbon sequestered. https://u.osu.edu/beef/2024/11/06/normal-vs-average-weather-and-the-impact-on-forages/
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by CrownRandall | Nov 16, 2024 | Agriculture
Is anyone keeping heifers? It’s a question I’ve been asked at every Cattlemen’s meeting I’ve been to this fall—and one I’ve been asking myself. The answer appears to be a definitive no from all the information I’ve gathered.
In this article, James Mitchell of the University of Arkansas discusses the current heifer market, and more specifically, whether most beef producers are keeping heifers at the moment. Mitchell shares several details and charts in this article to help explain the current market. https://u.osu.edu/beef/2024/11/13/is-anyone-keeping-heifers/
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by CrownRandall | Nov 16, 2024 | Agriculture
The most prevalent types of pasture plants that we use in Ohio are cool-season forages. It is normal for these cool-season forages to enter a dormancy period to survive through the warmest and driest part of summer to come out productive in the fall.
When the drought was at its worst, we could clearly see the negative impact it was having on grasses, weather in our lawns or our forage crops. As OSU Extension Educator Cristine Gelley discusses in this article, the commonly planted grasses in Ohio often go dormant during warm and dry times, but then are able to bounce back when moisture arrives. In this case, however, there is a higher likelihood that some of that grass has died completely due to the severity of the drought.
Read through this article to learn more about the reasons for grass death, and to help you make decisions on how to repair your forages. https://u.osu.edu/beef/2024/11/13/is-the-grass-dead-or-dormant/
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by CrownRandall | Nov 14, 2024 | Agriculture
ARCANUM – On November 12, 2024 the Joyful Jets 4-H Club met at Trinity Methodist Church in Arcanum for a regularly scheduled 4-H meeting. Vice President, Brooklyn Miller, called the meeting to order and led the pledges and motto. Secretary, Cheyenne Swisher, did roll call and read minutes from the previous meeting. Recreations Leader, Hudson Wehrley led the club in a game. The Treasurers Report was given by Isaac Wiant and Garett Miller gave a Safety Report.
In Old Business, please write thank you notes for any trophies won at the fair.
In New Business, the election of the club’s 2025 officers and 2025 program committee sign-ups were postponed to the next meeting due to low member attendance. Project sign-up for the 2025 year is available now through April 1, 2025. Members, please let Susan know if you are interested in helping with any activities for the club Christmas party at the next meeting. Trash Bash forms for 2025 are now available online from the Darke County Solid Waste District. The amount paid has increased to $100 per section, participation forms are due March 7, 2025 and the Trash Bash t-shirt design contest entries are due January 31, 2025.
Lexi Myers did public speaking. November birthdays were recognized, James Enicks gave a devotion, and the meeting was adjourned. Members enjoyed refreshments provided by the Myers family. The next meeting will be December 10th at 6:00 pm at Trinity Methodist Church.
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by CrownRandall | Nov 11, 2024 | Agriculture
The Mississinawa Valley-MVCTC FFA chapter hosted Tractor Drive-In Day on September 13. The farm equipment was parked in The Nest parking lot on State Route 47 so everyone who drove by would see them. This reminds everyone that harvest season is starting and they need to slow down and share the roads with farm equipment.
The members who participated were Shane Germann, Ethan Loy, Gretchen Rodeheffer, Ethan Grow, Kyle Wehrkamp, Leland Kauffman, Tristan Muhlenkamp, Tenlee Woodbury, Quentin Hanes, Daniel Hartzell, Ty Houser, Hunter Cox, McKinley Stachler, Colten Hiestand, and Jaxin Beanblosson.
This was a great way to remind everyone to stay safe on the roads this harvest season.
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by CrownRandall | Nov 10, 2024 | Agriculture
Lincoln Winner is a senior at Versailles High School and participates in the Agriculture Education Capstone Program and has been selected as the Capstone Highlight Student of the Month.
The Versailles Agriculture Education Capstone Program is in its thirteen years of existence. Lincoln is the son of Brian and Lisa Winner of North Star, Ohio. Capstone is a program that gives Versailles High School Junior and Senior Students who are enrolled in agriculture education an opportunity to gain real-world employment experiences and opportunities while in high school.
Lincoln has worked over 9,000 hours at Brian Winner Farms LLC since his enrollment in agriculture education class. Lincoln’s primary roles at Brian Winner Farms LLC include: feeding, sorting, vaccinating, treating, tagging, loading, and castrating cattle. In addition, Lincoln plants and combines corn, drive the grain cart, hauls corn, rakes, cuts and bales hay. Lincoln performs service work on equipment and performs fall tillage work.
Brian and Lisa Winner of Brian Winner Farms LLC Farms, is quoted as saying, “Lincoln is an ambitious employee who looks forward to the challenges each day.”
He shows up in a timely manner ready to work, he sees things to do, he has initiative.” Lincoln plans to join the family farm after graduation.
Brian Winner Farms LLC is owned and operated by Brian and Lisa Winner and was started in 1999. Brian Winner Farms LLC is a diversified crop and livestock operation that raises corn, alfalfa and wheat and finishes out market beef steers and heifers cattle and has a herd of beef cows.
This year 53 students are enrolled in the Versailles Agriculture Education Capstone programs and are leaving school after their daily required courses are complete and working at area businesses. The goal of the spotlight is to highlight each month one of the students that participate in the capstone program and highlight the skills/knowledge they are gaining, and the roles/assets they are to their business. The students enrolled in capstone also use their employment as their Supervised Agricultural Experience Program. As part of their grade in capstone, students are required to keep detailed records of their hours worked, earnings and skills performed.
In addition to the record books, capstone students are being evaluated at the end of each nine weeks by an evaluation completed by their employer.
Congratulations to Lincoln and Thank you to Brian Winner Farms LLC for this opportunity.
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