On May 24, the Ohio Woodland Stewards Program is holding a workshop on “What Can You Do with Your Woods?” The workshop is from 6 to 9 p.m. in southwest Ohio at OSU Extension, Butler County, 1802 Princeton Road, Hamilton. The event’s agenda will have two parts: “Where to Start: Woodland Management 101” and “Introduction to Wildlife Management.”
‘Woodland Management 101’ is really an introductory class for woodland owners. Topics will include setting management goals, what needs to be inventoried, and then how to match what you have with what you want to accomplish on the property. Management tools such as different cutting practices, invasive species control, and tree planting will also be covered.
‘Introduction to Wildlife Management’ will detail the kinds of wildlife a woodland can support (including birds, mammals, pollinators and amphibians), their habitat needs, and how to manage the land for them.
Registration for the workshop is $15; deadline is May 18. A registration form can be downloaded at go.osu.edu/May2016ButlerWoods. You can also register online at go.osu.edu/May2016ButlerWoodsReg. For more information, call 614-688-3421.
Although soybean crops are self-pollinating, some species of bee and fly pollinators can enhance soybean yields. The question is, “What Pollinator Insects are Active in Ohio Soybean Crops?”
Kelley Tilmon, our new Field Crop Entomologist is conducting a study on this issue and is seeking soybean growers willing to allow insect sampling equipment to be placed in their fields. The study needs fields that have not been planted with an insecticidal seed treatment, a minimum size of 500 by 500 meters (about 62 acres).
The project involves placing a small sampling device consisting of a metal stake mounted with a “bee bowl” posted at multiple locations up to 250 meters into the field, at varying locations from the edge of the field. The sampling equipment can be removed when farm equipment needs to go through the field.
This is part of a multi-state project funded by the North Central Soybean Research Program, a Soybean Checkoff organization. The pollinator objective is in its first phase, which is to identify what pollinators are in soybean fields in the region. Future work will assess the pollinators’ impact on yields. If you are interested in participating in this project, you can contact me or Kelley Tilmon at 330-202-3529 or [email protected].
OK, it’s time for my annual (and usually multiple-per-year!) plug for Highway Safety with Farm Equipment! Yep, it’s been another “interesting” spring/planting season! Whenever we get (back) in the fields, we need “all-hands-on-deck” and don’t have time to deal with roadway accidents!
Be sure you have proper signage and lighting on your farm equipment. Take a look at those SMV emblems: Are they “working” properly, or are they faded? Remember: Ya gotta be seen!
Here are a few other reminders: Use hand signals, electronic signals, or both to indicate intentions to turn; avoid wide turns whenever possible; if possible, avoid the roads during rush hour, in bad weather, and at night; take extra precautions when driving in the early morning or early evening hours when visibility is often impaired by sun. I (and others) experienced this very kind gesture on the way up state Route 29 one evening last week: “If traffic lines up behind you, pull off to let traffic pass when it is safe to do so.” Thank You!!
I got the “Fuzzy Babies” out into the “regular” pasture last weekend. They’re chowin’ down and are doing well! Now, we need to spray that cover-crop area where they had been so it’s ready to plant beans. But, corn comes first! Maybe this week?
