KNOX COUNTY AGRICULTURAL NEWS “USDA Farm Service Agency , Natural Resources Conservation Service , Knox SWCD and OSU Extension, Knox County are an Equal Opportunity Provider, Employer and Lender ” January / February 2020 2019 Outstanding Cooperator Award Remember to Schedule No-Till Drills for Spring Planting This year The Knox SWCD Board would like to recognize Producers interested in renting the Knox SWCD’s no-till drills to establish Sam Fawcett as our Outstanding Cooperator. The Knox Soil and pasture/hay or plant soybeans this spring should contact the SWCD office Water Conservation District and Farm Credit Services of Mid America as soon as possible to get on the renters list. Early sign-up for the are proud to partner in a program that has recognized the outstanding SWCD’s no-till drill rental program allows our staff to plan ahead in the conservation efforts of private landowners for over 60 years. scheduling and maintenance of the equipment and helps insure (weather permitting) that you will have the equipment when it is needed. This years’ outstanding cooperator has captured our attention for some of the conservation efforts that they have undertaken, especially over As usual the SWCD will have available one 10’ Truax no-till drill suitable the last 4-year period working with the NRCS and SWCD offices. for warm season grass establishment, and 2 10’ John Deere 1590 drills This years’ recipient has recently installed 5 grassed waterways, and with grass-seed attachments. The John Deere no-till drills may be used for has participated in the SWCD Cover Crop program each of the last 3 hay, small grain and soybean plantings. A rental agreement must be years. He has worked with the Natural Resource Conservation Service signed before the drills can be used. For your convenience we can to develop nutrient management and conservation plans on his operat- mail these out to you in advance or printed from our website, ing acres. Other resource management practices integrated into the www.knoxswcd.org. Please contact the office for a copy if you think farming operation include: Controlled Traffic, Sub-surface Drainage, you will be utilizing the equipment. All drills rent for $10.00 an acre; Integrated Pest Management, No-Till, Conservation Crop Rotation, and the renter is responsible for reporting equipment acres. For more details Wildlife Habitat Management. on rental, tractor requirements, or operation of the drills you may contact the SWCD office at 393-6724. In addition, this years’ recipient serves the interests of Knox County Agriculture by serving as a member on the Knox County Farm Bureau Board. Farmer Breakfast Knox SWCD Board Officer Results February 18 – Weather Forcasting & Trends March 17 – Farm Safety (811 Calling Before You Dig) Your 2020 Board Officers are: *Monthly meetings will be held on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 8 a.m. Chairman—Terry Randall Location: Brandon Baptist Church (13513 Sycamore Road, Mount Vernon) Vice-Chairman—Jerry Mickley *Please join us to discuss farm topics, Q & A, and general discussion. Treasurer—Jeff Levering Bring your questions and a friend! Secretary—Bull Buskirk Breakfast will be at your expense *Topics subject to change Fiscal Agent—Rendell Shira Menu will rotate monthly Knox Soil & Water Conservation District ONMRK Can I Spread Manure in the Winter? Farmers Can Use A Locally Developed “App” to We get this question a lot this time of year in the SWCD office, mostly because of the press that sur- Track Fertilizer Applications rounds some of the new water quality initiatives in Local farmers can use a mobile device application developed by the Knox Ohio. So… can you? The answer, at least for now SWCD and Knox County Farm Bureau to help track their fertilizer and in Knox County, is “YES”… but there are certain- manure applications to ensure compliance with regulatory record keeping ly greater risks involved. requirements for fertilizer applications. It should be no surprise that manure spread on frozen or snow covered The ONMRK app features drop-down menus that make it quick and easy ground is at greater risk of runoff to local rivers, lakes and streams. Frozen for farmers to record their fertilizer or manure application as well as ground generally reduces the potential for manure to infiltrate the topsoil, record the current weather conditions and forecast for the next 24 hours. and manure applications over snow are subject to runoff whenever snow- Those records can then be printed through an internet portal. melt occurs. Rainfall on frozen or snow covered ground moves applied After setting up the ONMRK app on their mobile device, farmers can manure to streams and other bodies of water as if it were running across a easily record what nutrients they apply on their farms and fields. It uses parking lot. the device GPS system to pinpoint exactly where farmers are on their If you must make winter manure applications follow the accepted best acreage and gives an accurate report instantly. management practices for the situation. In Ohio, those accepted best man- The app will also warn you if weather condi- agement practices can be found in the USDA-NRCS Nutrient Management tions aren’t favorable to apply fertilizer or Standard. They are: (in part) manure nutrients. 200-foot setback from waterways and streams (300 from developed The web account which instantly links farm- springs) ers’ data and updates records whether they are recorded through a mobile device or from a At least 90 percent surface residue cover computer can be set up at www.onmrk.com. Limit application rates – The mobile device app can be downloaded to your Android or Apple mobile device from Solid Manure; 10 wet tons if less than 50% solids, 5 wet tons if great- both Google Play and the App Store. You er than 50%, must set up your web account before you can utilize the mobile device application. Liquid Manure 5,000 gallons or, next crop need/removal for P2O5. For questions on the record keeping require- Do not apply on more than 20 contiguous acres. ments or the ONMRK app you can call the There are additional criteria that apply for fields with slopes greater SWCD office at 740-393-6724. than six percent. Contact the SWCD office for specific field by field recommendations. Mr. Tax Hey Service for Farm & Business You… Tax Needs Advertise Bill Short Here!!! 740-397-8331 (Mt. Vernon) Contact KnoxSWCD to advertise in 419-253-2767 (Marengo) the Ag News at 740-393-6724 B & B FARM Tim Geiger Agency, Inc. SERVICE, INC. Co. Rd. 11 740-397-9300 Fredericktown, OH 43019 SPECIALIZING IN FARM INSURANCE 740-694-3901 Specializing in Farm Ameri- can Family Mutual Insurance since 1939 Insur- ance Compa- ny and Liquid and Dry Fertilizer its Subsidi- aries Anhydrous Ammonia Home Office – Madison, WI 53783 Lime Spreading www.amfam.com Ohio State University Extension Track 4: Livestock 1. 9:15 a.m. Basic of Forage and Pasture Management Rory Lewandowski ► OSU Extension 2. 10:45 a.m. Water and Fencing for Livestock Ted Wiseman & Chris Penrose ► OSU Extension 3. 1:15 p.m. Converting Agronomic Crop Land into Pasture or Hay Ground; Ted Wiseman & Chris Penrose ► OSU Extension For further information on registration, sessions, and more go to go.osu.edu/osufarmconference2020 4. 2:30 p.m. Farm Animal 101- Basic Animal Husbandry Tim Barnes ► OSU Extension Conference Schedule Track 5: Specialty Crops Saturday, March 14th 1. 9:15 a.m. Getting Started in Hemp Production 8:00 a.m.— 8:30 a.m. Check- in/Registration Lee Beers ► OSU Extension 8:30 a.m.— 9:00 a.m. Opening Comments 9:15 a.m.—10:30 a.m. Multiple Sessions 2. 10:45 a.m. Mushroom Production Jeff Wilkinson ► Local Producer 10:45 a.m.— 11:45 a.m. Multiple Sessions 12 noon LUNCH 3. 1:15 p.m. Growing Hops 1:15 p.m.— 2:15 p.m. Multiple Sessions Nick Zachrich, Manager ► Farm Science Review 2:30 p.m.—3:30 p.m. Multiple Sessions 4. 2:30 p.m. Malting Barley 3:30 p.m. Evaluations and Close of the Day Dr. Laura Lindsey ► OSU Extension Track 6: Farm Management Track 1: Horticulture 1. 9:15 a.m. Purchasing a Used Tractor 1. 9:15 a.m. Micro. Farm at OSU Mansfield Jason Hartschuh ► OSU Extension Kip Curtis ► OSU Mansfield 2. 10:45 a.m. Controlled Environment Agriculture/ Hydroponics 2. 10:45 a.m. How Does the Farm Bill Work for a Small Producer Tim McDermott ► OSU Extension Jason Ruhl, NRCS, Kurt Leber, FSA, Dan Blay, FSA ► Richland County 3. 1:15 p.m. Introduction to Christmas Tree Farming Part 1 Bill Cackler ► Cackler Family Farms 3. 1:15 p.m. Is Farming for You? Introduction to Farm Business 4. 2:30 p.m. Introduction to Christmas Tree Farming Part 2 Management; Mike Hogan ► OSU Extension Bill Cackler Cackler Family Farms ► 4. 2:30 p.m. Choosing an Enterprise Track 2: Produce Production Mike Hogan ►OSU Extension 1. 9:15 a.m. Starting and Managing an Orchard Track 7: Marketing Russell Joudrey, Owner ► Apple Hill Orchard 1. 9:15 a.m. Creative Marketing 2. 10:45 a.m. “Super Berry” Production and Marketing Diane Reihm ► Reihm Produce Farm Gary Gao ► OSU South Centers 2. 10:45 a.m. Choosing the Best Market Channel for Your Farm 3. 1:15 p.m. Invasive Pests in Fruit Production Success Celeste Welty & Jim Jasinski ► OSU Extension Christie Welch ► OSU South Centers 4. 2:30 p.m. Growing in High Tunnels 3. 1:15 p.m. Marketing Your Produce to Wholesale Buyers Bruce & Joyce Clinger, Producers ► Benji Balmer ► Yellowbird Food Shed The Edible Landscapes 4.