The Shelby County Fair starts in a week: Sunday, July 26, through Saturday, Aug. 1. Don’t you love the fair?! All the animals; the displays of crops, vegetables, and flowers; the 4-H booths and all the different projects!! Of course, there’s also that “fair food” and lots of people to meet and visit with! That’s what fair’s about: Walkin’, Talkin’, and Learnin’!

On Thursday, July 30, we will be hosting our Family Farm Safety Day: “Play it Safe …” There will be various locations on the fairgrounds with posters and information on “Playing it Safe” with different types of livestock, around farm equipment, with pesticides, around Slow Moving Vehicles, etc. We’ll also have a “grain-engulfment” demonstration in the EMA building along with a timer to see just how fast you can react!

Of course, there are still Field Days and meetings to help you find out more information on topics of interest:

The Northwest Agricultural Research Station on Range Line Road in Custar (Wood County) will hold its annual Field Crops Day on Thursday, July 30, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The program will include presentations and discussions on Management of Soil Borne Diseases in Ohio, Results of a Nine Year P and K Fertilization Study, Drought Tolerant Corn Hybrids and the Fit for Northwest Ohio, and Improving Soil Quality. For more information, you can contact farm manager Matt Davis at 419-257-2060 or [email protected].

On Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. is the Northwest Ohio Precision Ag Technology Day at the Fulton Co Fairgrounds in Wauseon. This year’s topic is Precision Nutrient Management. In the morning, there will be sessions on phosphorus management, nitrogen timing and placement strategies, and a session on nitrogen rate and source considerations. In the afternoon, there will be live nutrient management demonstrations focusing exclusively on nutrient placement and timing. Registration is $25 prior to July 31 or on site for $40. For a complete agenda and registration form, visit www.fulton.osu.edu.

On Friday, Aug. 7, there is a program on “Managing Wildlife Conflict in the Landscape” being held at the Wood County Parks in Perrysburg (Toledo area). Sponsored by OSU WoodlandStewards, this day-long class will teach strategies for preventing and managing conflict with deer, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, groundhogs, raccoons, skunks, bats, Canada geese, moles, voles, and coyotes. Lunch is provided as well as a folder full of additional information. The cost is $35 per person with registration required by July 31st. Visit www.woodlandstewards.osu.edu to learn more about the class and to register.

On Monday, Aug. 10, there will be a morning program at St. Henry High School for Dairy Farmers in the area. Topics include Milk Quality, Margin Protection Program Update, and a re-visiting of the Margin Protection Program Decision Tool.

The Manure Science Review will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 12, this year at the Mississinawa Valley High School in Darke County. There will be presentations in the morning with Field Demonstrations in the afternoon.

On Monday evening, Aug. 17, we are holding a 3-hour Fertilizer Applicator Certification Training at the Botkins High School. This program is for those who apply commercial fertilizer to 50 acres or more of cropland per year and who do *not* presently hold a Pesticide Applicator’s License.

There is a Beef and Forage Field Night on Thursday, Aug. 27 at the Jackson Ag Research Station, southeast Ohio. Topics include preconditioning calves, water management and resource development, and grazing annual forages.

Yep, it’s busy! And, it seems like every day I get information about another field day/activity! Of course, we can’t forget about the Farm Science Review: Sept. 22, 23 and 24!