We are holding a Master Gardener training program for those interested in becoming Master Gardeners. This program will be held on Thursdays, Feb. 28, through May 2, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Sidney, with lunch on your own. Some of the topics we’ll cover include soils and fertility, invasive species, botany and plant propagation, insects and diseases, raising vegetables and fruit, container gardening, herbs, raising houseplants, therapeutic horticulture, and a lot more!!
The cost for this training, which includes all the speakers and the large information manual is $150. But – hold on! We are offering a discount for those who register before Dec. 28! We’re only charging $110 for those “early-birds”! So, if you’re interested, send me an email at [email protected] to get a packet of information and the application. And, yes, I’ve said it before; I’ll say it again: “Might make a nice Christmas Present for someone …”
Jeff Stachler has a couple of programs coming up in Auglaize County: If you or someone else on your farming operation needs a Pesticide Applicator’s License, he is offering a class to prepare you to take the exam in the areas of CORE and Category 1. This Test Preparation Class will be held on Monday, Dec. 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This class will be held in the downstairs meeting room of the Auglaize County Administration Building on Blackhoof St. in Wapak. Jeff and Denny Riethman from Mercer County will be conducting the training. There is no cost, but he’d like to know if you plan to attend by Dec. 5.
Jeff is also holding a couple Beef Quality Assurance Trainings on Monday, Dec. 10: one at 6 p.m. and another at 8 p.m. These also will be held at the Auglaize County Administration Building on Blackhoof Street in Wapak. Dr. Steve Boyles from OSU Animal Science will be the instructor. This is a certification that producers will need before Jan. 1, 2019, if selling beef, including dairy beef, to a packer or buyer. There is no cost for this program, but Jeff wants to know which session you’re planning to attend by Dec. 5.
To register for either the Test Preparation class or the BQA class, you can call or email Jeff at 419-739-6580 or [email protected].
The 2018 Buckeye Shepherd’s Symposium will be Nov. 30 through Dec. 1 at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster. This year’s program topics include improving profitability through grazing and forage production principles, sheep nutrition including topics on vitamins and minerals, artificial rearing of lambs, early weaning and technology tips, nutrient and manure management, and wool marketing. The Friday program “Shepherd’s College” will concentrate on several facets of production to help sheep farmers improve their profitability, including Management Intensive Grazing 101, using graziers tools, and producer study groups.
This year’s featured speaker is Woody Lane, a nationally-known livestock nutritionist from Roseburg, Oregon. Lane is an expert on nutrition, sheep production, pasture management, and grazing techniques. Other speakers include various OSU/OARDC sheep researchers from OSU Animal Sciences, a report from Rebecca Miller on her trip to attend the LAMB-Ex program in Australia, and Dr. Mark Lyons, from USDA Veterinary Services providing a USDA Scrapie Program Update. There will also be a Young Shepherd’s Assembly on Friday, as well as a youth program on Saturday.
Buckeye Shepherd’s Symposium registration forms and more information about this event are available at www.ohiosheep.org, clicking on the “OSIA” button. You can also contact Roger High at 614-246-8299. Register by Nov. 16 for discounted registration fees.
If you can’t make this symposium, but want to know a bit more about sheep, there are some newly developed Sheep Care Videos at https://ohio4h.org/sheepcare. These videos feature some of the key components of owning and managing sheep including topics on selection, nutrition, management practices, handling, showing, and fitting. They were produced by Ohio 4-H Youth development in collaboration with the Ohio Sheep and Wool Program and the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association.
