I hope this Newsletter finds you well. Despite some rain throughout the county, plenty of field work has been getting done. Manure, fertilizer, and pesticide applications have been occurring, and several farmers have had the chance to start planting when the weather allows. Unsurprisingly, Darke County has had sufficient moisture thanks to the rains we’ve experienced
(https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?fips_39037. Be sure to cooperate with any farm equipment on the roads, and stay safe in the fields!
The nice weather also encourages gardeners to get some seeds planted. If you are looking for seeds to get your garden started or would like to add to the seeds you already have, you may be interested in the Darke County Garden Giveaway. The OSU Extension office will be offering free packets of seed, with each large packet containing smaller packets of spinach, cucumber, green bean, carrot, and lettuce seed. Planting information will be included in the seed packet. Let me know if you are interested in these seeds or if you have any questions.
The NRCS is offering the opportunity for poultry operations to increase biosecurity on their farm through free Biosecurity Assessments. These assessments will assist producers in increasing their farms’ biosecurity and provide cost-share opportunities. More details and contact information can be found in the attached flyer.
I’ll be at Worch Library on May 15th at 4:00 p.m. to conduct the program Spring Into Gardening. We’ll discuss the makings of a spring garden, what plants to grow, and how to help them be successful. I hope to see you there!
Our next Darke County Garden Roundtables will be May 14th at 12:00 p.m. and May 21st at 6:00 p.m. Both sessions will be at the OSU Extension office, and the agenda is attached.
The next Darke County Ag Breakfast will be May 16th at 7:30 a.m. at Jack’s Cabin in Greenville.
This week’s Newsletter topics include:
· Alfalfa Weevil Update
· Body Condition Scoring for Beef Cattle
· Drone Laws in Ohio
· Gifting to Manage Estate Taxes
· Spring Pasture Management
· What We Know About Biologicals
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