by CrownRandall | Jul 21, 2025 | Agriculture
COLUMBUS – On Monday, July 14th, members of the Versailles FFA Chapter had the opportunity to attend the Cultivate Conference hosted by AmericanHort in Columbus, Ohio. Attending members included Ruthie Smith, Greta Broering, Rhylan Broerman, Lucy Schmitmeyer, Alayna Dirksen, and Paige Gehret.
The Cultivate Conference offered valuable insight into the horticulture industry, featuring keynote presentations from Ken Fisher, Matt Mika, and Charlie Hall. These speakers shared their perspectives on the current state of the industry and their vision for its future.
In addition to the keynote sessions, Versailles FFA members connected with greenhouse professionals from across the country through a large trade show that featured over 500 exhibitors.
In the trade show, members had the chance to learn firsthand about the day-to-day operations, innovations, career opportunities, new plant genetics and strategies within the Horticulture/Greenhouse industry. The plant displays throughout the convention were amazing.
In addition, AmericanHort provided Versailles FFA members with a free visit to the Columbus Conservatory with an opportunity to learn more about plants and art.
A special thank you to AmericanHort for providing the chapter with free tickets to attend and to Jordan Holtkamp of EHR for the free plants that we got to take home.
by CrownRandall | Jul 21, 2025 | Agriculture
I hope this Newsletter finds you well. Darke County has mostly been dry, with some spotty rains throughout parts of the region, and hopefully more on the way (https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?OH). Corn is progressing, with the dry weather giving some of the later planted corn a chance to catch up to the earlier crop. Many soybean fields are in their reproductive stages as well. Field activities such as tiling and manure application are taking place in the recently harvested wheat fields. Many garden crops, such as green beans, zucchini, cucumber, tomato, and others, are being harvested as well. Common weeds include waterhemp, common and giant ragweed, and volunteer corn, with other weeds making appearances as well.
I’ll be at Worch Library on August 28th at 4:00 p.m. to discuss Blackberry Production. We’ll discuss management practices for producing a good blackberry crop, including water and nutrient management, pest control, pruning, harvest, and more. I hope to see you there!
Our next Darke County Garden Roundtable will be July 30th at 6:00 p.m. This session will be at the OSU Extension office, and the agenda is attached.
It’s not too late to sign up for the Tri-County Pond Clinic in Miami County if you are someone you know is interested. The clinic will be on July 28th at 6:30 p.m. There, we’ll discuss basic pond management, information for new pond owners, liability of pond ownership, and stocking ponds with fish. See the attached flyer for more details.
Summer is flying by, and Farm Science Review is just around the corner. FSR will be held September 16th-18th, and tickets are available through the Extension Office. Let me know if you have interest in purchasing tickets.
The next Darke County Ag Breakfast will be August 15th at 7:30 a.m. at Jack’s Cabin in Greenville.
This week’s Newsletter topics include:
Battle for the Belt
Corn Vomitoxin Management Considerations at Tassel
Evaluating Total Mixed Ration
How to Use the Crop Risk Tool
The Importance of Quality Forage
Stopping the Spread of Weed Seeds
I hope you enjoy this week’s Newsletter, and as always, never hesitate to reach out to me and let me know how I can best serve you and all of Darke County.
by Caden Buschur, Darke County Extension Educator
by CrownRandall | Jul 12, 2025 | Agriculture
I hope this Newsletter finds you well. There has been some variation in rainfall throughout Darke County; while certain areas of the county have had some excess rain at times, many areas throughout the county could benefit from some rain in the coming days (https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?fips_39037Corn is progressing nicely, with much of it starting to tassel, and many soybean fields have begun flowering. The second cutting of alfalfa and wheat harvest is largely complete. Many garden crops are ready to harvest as well. Common weeds include waterhemp, common and giant ragweed, and volunteer corn, with other weeds making appearances as well.
I’ll be at Worch Library on August 28th at 4:00 p.m. to discuss Blackberry Production. We’ll discuss management practices for producing a good blackberry crop, including water and nutrient management, pest control, pruning, harvest, and more. I hope to see you there!
Our next Darke County Garden Roundtables will be July 17th at 12:00 p.m. and July 30th at 6:00 p.m. These sessions will be at the OSU Extension office, and the agenda is attached.
If you have a pond or are planning on having a pond in the near future, the Tri-County Pond Clinic in Miami County will be a great event to attend. The clinic will be on July 28th at 6:30 p.m. There, we’ll discuss basic pond management, information for new pond owners, liability of pond ownership, and stocking ponds with fish. See the attached flyer for more details.
The next Darke County Ag Breakfast will be July 18th at 7:30 a.m. at Jack’s Cabin in Greenville.
This week’s Newsletter topics include:
Battle for the Belt
Bovine Emergency Response Training
Choosing a Soil Analytical Laboratory
Planting Warm-Season Annual Forage Grasses
Scouting for Soybean Diseases
Selling Home-Produced Foods that Use Fresh Fruit
I hope you enjoy this week’s Newsletter, and as always, never hesitate to reach out to me and let me know how I can best serve you and all of Darke County.
by Caden Buschur, Darke County Extension Educator
by CrownRandall | Jul 6, 2025 | Agriculture
Happy Independence Day! I hope this Newsletter finds you well. Darke County, and the rest of Ohio, remain out of the abnormally dry drought category (https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?fips_39037. However, there is variation in moisture level throughout the county, with some fields containing standing water, while others could benefit from some rain. Corn and soybean progress continues, while wheat harvest has begun and second cutting of alfalfa is underway. Many garden crops are ready to harvest as well.
I’ll be at Worch Library on July 10th at 4:00 p.m. to discuss Backyard Composting. If you would like to learn about turning waste into a valuable garden resource, you may be interested in attending. I hope to see you there!
Our next Darke County Garden Roundtables will be July 17th at 12:00 p.m. and July 30th at 6:00 p.m. This session will be at the OSU Extension office, and the agenda is attached.
If you have a pond or are planning on having a pond in the near future, the Tri-County Pond Clinic in Miami County will be a great event to attend. The clinic will be on July 28th at 6:30 p.m. There, we’ll discuss basic pond management, information for new pond owners, liability of pond ownership, and stocking ponds with fish. See the attached flyer for more details.
The next Darke County Ag Breakfast will be July 18th at 7:30 a.m. at Jack’s Cabin in Greenville.
This week’s Newsletter topics include:
Battle for the Belt
Considerations for Fungicide Application on Silage Corn
Maximizing Forage Quality in Wet Springs
Options to Add Forage Reserves
Preventing Hay Barn Fires
Soil Crusting and Herbicide Carryover
I hope you enjoy this week’s Newsletter, and as always, never hesitate to reach out to me and let me know how I can best serve you and all of Darke County.
by Caden Buschur, Darke County Extension Educator
by CrownRandall | Jun 28, 2025 | Agriculture
I hope this Newsletter finds you well. The major weather focus this week has been the high temperatures. Be careful in the heat, and take measures to keep you and your livestock healthy in these conditions. Much of Darke County has also experienced heavy rains (https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?fips_39037. There is a lot of variation in corn progress, while soybean progress appears more consistent overall. Wheat is turning the corner and harvest will begin before too long. Regarding forages, many alfalfa producers have been harvesting second cutting. Giant ragweed has been the most prominent weed I’ve been seeing in fields, with others such as common ragweed, poison hemlock, and waterhemp not far behind. Be safe in the heat and in the fields as the growing season continues.
I’ll be at Worch Library on July 10th at 4:00 p.m. to discuss Backyard Composting. We’ll discuss topics regarding what you can compost, how to manage the compost, and putting your new resource to use. I hope to see you there!
Our next Darke County Garden Roundtables will be July 17th at 12:00 p.m. and July 30th at 6:00 p.m. This session will be at the OSU Extension office, and the agenda is attached.
I’ll be joining some colleagues in Miami County for a Tri-County Pond Clinic on July 28th at 6:30 p.m. There, we’ll discuss basic pond management, information for new pond owners, liability of pond ownership, and stocking ponds with fish. See the attached flyer for more details.
The next Darke County Ag Breakfast will be July 18th at 7:30 a.m. at Jack’s Cabin in Greenville.
This week’s Newsletter topics include:
Avoiding Wheat Quality Losses
Beating the Heat on Farms
Dairy Economic Update
Double Crop Soybean Considerations
Potato Leafhopper in Alfalfa
Putting Poison Hemlock Into Perspective
I hope you enjoy this week’s Newsletter, and as always, never hesitate to reach out to me and let me know how I can best serve you and all of Darke County.
by Caden Buschur, Darke County Extension Educator
by CrownRandall | Jun 20, 2025 | Agriculture
I hope this Newsletter finds you well. Much of Darke County has experienced additional rains this past week, along with warmer temperatures which are expected to continue through the week. The entire state continues to stay out of the abnormally dry classification
(https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?fips_39037. Crops are progressing nicely, with a lot of variation in growth stage depending on when planting was done. Wheat has been turning and second cutting of alfalfa is beginning. Giant ragweed has been perhaps the most prominent weed I’ve seen, along with poison hemlock, wild carrot, common ragweed, and waterhemp.
I’ll be at Worch Library on July 10th at 4:00 p.m. to discuss Backyard Composting. We’ll discuss topics regarding what you can compost, how to manage the compost, and putting your new resource to use. I hope to see you there!
Our next Darke County Garden Roundtables will be June 25th at 12:00 p.m. and June 26th at 6:00 p.m. This session will be at the OSU Extension office, and the agenda is attached.
I’ll be joining some colleagues in Miami County for a Tri-County Pond Clinic on July 28th at 6:30 p.m. There, we’ll discuss basic pond management, information for new pond owners, liability of pond ownership, and stocking ponds with fish. See the attached flyer for more details.
The next Darke County Ag Breakfast will be July 18th at 7:30 a.m. at Jack’s Cabin in Greenville.
This week’s Newsletter topics include:
Battle for the Belt
Be Alert to Bagworms
Managing Chiggers
Ohio Fruit News
Sulfur Management for High-Quality Silage Corn
Summer Fly Control for Livestock
I hope you enjoy this week’s Newsletter, and as always, never hesitate to reach out to me and let me know how I can best serve you and all of Darke County.
by Caden Buschur, Darke County Extension Educator
