WOOSTER, Ohio -- Ohio State University’s 2013 Manure Science Review, an educational program for farmers, livestock managers, certified crop advisers, professional engineers and others, is Aug. 6 in north-central Ohio.

The program features talks and field demonstrations on applying and managing manure, improving soil and crop yields, and protecting water quality.

Ohio State’s Mary Wicks, who is helping organize the event, said the highlights will include the first ever demonstration in Ohio of the new “Subsurfer” applicator, which injects poultry litter and other solid manures into the soil without disturbing ground cover.

The program also features details on the new Nitrogen Potential Assessment Test for corn, which enables more accurate nutrient application while being unaffected by soil temperature and moisture.

The speakers will be from industry, livestock groups, conservation agencies, and Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, including Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, which are the college’s outreach and research arms, respectively.

The event takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hord Livestock farm south of Bucyrus. The nearest street address is 1961 State Route 294, Marion. The site is about a quarter mile west of the street address on the north side of the road and will be marked with signs.

Registration, which includes a continental breakfast and lunch, is $30 per person by July 29 and $35 per person after July 29.

To register, participants should send their name, affiliation, address, e-mail address, telephone number and payment (with checks made payable to OARDC/OSU) to Mary Wicks, OARDC/OSU, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691.

For more information, contact Wicks at 330-202-3533 or wicks.14@osu.edu.

An agenda and registration form may be downloaded at http://go.osu.edu/MSR2013 (pdf).

Participants will be eligible for the following credits: 5.0 Ohio Department of Agriculture Certified Livestock Manager continuing education hours, 3.0 Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) Nutrient Management continuing education units, 2.5 CCA Soil and Water Management continuing education units and 2.0 Professional Engineer continuing professional development hours.

The program will have the following sessions and speakers from 8:50 a.m. to noon:

• “Nutrient Management: Hord Livestock Overview,” which includes information on managing odors and nutrients and brokering liquid manure, by Pat Hord and David Neef of the host farm.
• “Benefits of the Four Rs” -- the right nutrient at the right rate, time and place by Steve Prochaska of OSU Extension.
• “Nutrient Variations in Stored Manure” and how to compensate for differences in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium by Kendall Stucky of the Crawford, Seneca, Sandusky and Wyandot soil and water conservation districts.
• “Growing the Application Window,” featuring research on using manure to side-dress corn and increase yields and manure storage capacity, by OSU Extension’s Glen Arnold.
• The “Nitrogen Potential Assessment Test,” which determines residual nitrogen available to corn during the growing season, by Tom Menke of Menke Consulting.
• “Livestock Stewardship: Telling Our Stories,” a look at ways to build public trust on nutrient management and water quality issues, by David White of the Ohio Livestock Coalition.

The field demonstrations, which are from 1-3 p.m., will feature mortality composting, edge-of-field bioreactors, cover crops for Ohio’s soils, optical nitrogen detection, solid manure spreader calibration, the new Subsurfer applicator, and applicators for liquid manure injection, rapid transfer of liquid manure and side-dressing with liquid manure.

The event is sponsored by Ohio State, the Ohio Livestock Coalition, Ag Credit, and the Ohio Soybean Council. Collaborators include Hord Livestock, the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Soil and Water Resources, Ohio’s soil and water conservation districts, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.

- 30 -

Writers

Kurt Knebusch
knebusch.1@osu.edu
330-263-3776

Sources

Mary Wicks
wicks.14@osu.edu
330-202-3533

BAINBRIDGE, Ohio -- Ohio State University’s Fruit and Vegetable Safety Team will hold a Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Education Program for farmers and gardeners on June 20 in southwest Ohio. The training will cover ways to reduce the risk of food-borne illness from fresh produce.

The team is part of Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

Lindsey Hoover, the team’s coordinator, said the program’s target audience is fruit and vegetable growers who plan to sell their produce directly or indirectly to consumers.

“Food safety is a growing concern,” she said. “By taking a GAPs class, you’re proving to your customers that you’re taking steps to understand and improve produce safety on your farm.”

The event takes place from 1-4 p.m. at 4053 State Route 41 South in Bainbridge in Ross County. Registration costs $10 per person in advance or at the door.

Participants can register in advance by sending $10, with checks made payable to Ohio State University, to OSU South Centers, 1864 Shyville Road, Piketon, OH 45661.

For more information, call Charissa McGlothin, 740-289-2071, ext. 132.

Among the program’s topics will be food-borne illness, contamination, water safety, soil safety, good handling practices, worker training, restrooms and breaks, and hands and hygiene.

“We’ve noticed an increasing trend in farmers markets requiring their vendors to attend a GAPs education class before they can sell at the market,” Hoover said.

But backyard gardeners can benefit from the knowledge, too, she said.

The topics in the program are tied to elements of the Food and Drug Administration’s proposed rule for produce safety in the Food Safety Modernization Act.

“While very small growers are currently exempt from the rule, being prepared for future changes in legislation will keep everyone in the produce-growing industry proactive,” Hoover said.

“Good Agricultural Practices and food safety are not going away anytime soon.”

Participants will receive a workbook that incorporates all the topics covered in the training, fact sheets on FDA’s proposed new rule and other informational materials.

The instructors will be experts from Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, which are the college’s outreach and research arms, respectively.

Financial support for the training is provided in part by a grant from the Ohio Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Program, which has helped reduce the registration cost.

- 30 -

Sources

Lindsey Hoover
hoover.482@osu.edu
330-202-3555, ext. 2918

CALDWELL, Ohio – A workshop to teach sheep and goat farmers how to quickly and easily identify which animals to treat for a damaging internal parasite will be offered June 28 by livestock experts with Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. 

The course will focus on how to use the FAMACHA diagnostic system to identify sheep and goats infected with the Haemonchus contortus parasite, also called the barber’s pole worm, said Clif Little, an Ohio State University Extension educator. 

Using a FAMACHA score card, producers can determine which sheep and goats infected with barber’s pole worm need to be dewormed, which not only saves producers time and money but also can protect livestock from this devastating parasite that can cause the animal’s death, Little said. 

“It’s a valuable tool because this parasite is the most damaging internal parasite for sheep and goats and needs to be effectively and efficiently controlled,” he said. “I think more producers should be using it because it’s a great technique and just makes perfect sense for both small and larger operations.” 

The workshop is from 6-9 p.m. at the Eastern Agricultural Research Station at 16870 Bond Ridge Road in Caldwell. The station is part of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC). 

OSU Extension and OARDC are the outreach and research arms, respectively, of the college. 

Developed in South Africa, the FAMACHA system uses a chart to match the animal’s eyelid color to anemia levels, which is an indication of parasitic infection, Little said. 

The barber’s pole worm is a blood-sucking parasite that causes anemia in animals with heavy infestations. The symptoms of anemia show up in the color of the membrane of the animals’ eyes. The FAMACHA score card is used to rank the eyelid color on a scale of 1 to 5, with animals scored at 3, 4 or 5 typically needing to be treated with a chemical dewormer, he said. 

Selective deworming is important to minimize parasite resistance to chemical dewormers, Little said. 

Participants will receive information on how to use the FAMACHA tool, a FAMACHA score card and a certificate of completion at the end of the course. 

Registration is $20 per person or farm and is limited to the first 20 participants or farms. For more information, contact Little at 740-732-5681 or little.16@osu.edu. A registration form can be found at http://go.osu.edu/famacha.

Writers

Tracy Turner
614-688-1067
turner.490@osu.edu

Sources

Clif Little

740-489-5300

little.16@osu.edu

CALDWELL, Ohio – While producers may find it challenging to get hay dry in early June due to changing weather conditions, there are steps producers can take to get hay up quickly and reduce the potential for rain damage, said a forage  expert with Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. 

“Proper tedding, raking, and equipment care are just some of the steps producers can take to reduce drying time and produce high-quality hay, said Clif Little, an educator with the college’s outreach arm, Ohio State University Extension. 

Although drying time for hay is impacted by forage species, environmental conditions, cut height, conditions and swath width, a good management plan can make a big difference in hay quality, he said. 

“Cutting and drying hay quickly is always important, especially with everything being a little behind this year because of the planting season,” Little said. “Feed prices are high, so anything producers can do to produce quality hay is a benefit. 

“We’re fighting rain as well as other work we’ve got to do around the farm. But we still have to get hay up quickly because when we get rain on our forage it can be devastated or ruined. So using these steps may allow producers to get it up a day or two earlier.” 

The tips include: 

• Make sure hay mowing equipment rollers are adjusted properly. 
• Cutting hay in the morning after the dew is off can help speed drying time and reduce the loss of carbohydrates due to respiration. Respiration is a natural process and continues until the plant dries to a moisture content of approximately 40 percent. 
• The swath width can influence hay drying time as well. High-yielding forages should be laid in a wide swath, which will give better access to sun and wind. 
• Tedding is often utilized to reduce drying time by spreading the hay. While tedding increases costs in terms of time and fuel, this increase is offset by a reduction in drying time. 
• Tedding hay shortly after cutting and when it contains no less than 50 percent moisture will reduce leaf shatter and forage loss. 
• Raking hay at the improper moisture content may contribute to loss of plant leaf material. The best moisture content for raking is 30-40 percent. Raking when the hay is ready to bale (very dry) can cause major leaf shatter and reduce the overall nutrient content of the forage. 
• Bailing at the proper moisture content based on the size and shape of bales can also reduce harvest and storage loss. For most small rectangular and large round bales, the recommended bailing moisture content is 18 percent. For high-density large rectangular bales, the range can be 12-14 percent moisture for proper storage. 
• If storing hay outside, make sure you choose a location that is dry, preferably on a solid surface like rock, and make sure the location is high and open to wind.

Writers

Tracy Turner
614-688-1067
turner.490@osu.edu

Sources

Clif Little

740-489-5300

little.16@osu.edu

WOOSTER, Ohio – Now’s the time to be on the lookout for the potato leafhopper, a pest that can cause a significant economic impact to alfalfa growers by reducing yields and quality, said an entomologist with Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. 

The bright-green, wedge-shaped insects can cause hopper burn on leaves, which can result in stunted alfalfa plants, said Ron Hammond, an Ohio State University Extension entomologist. 

That can result in yellowing of alfalfa leaves and could cause significant yield loss and impact the plants’ nutritional value, said Hammond, who also has an appointment with the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. 

OSU Extension and OARDC are the college's statewide outreach and research arms, respectively. 

Potato leafhoppers are an annual pest problem in Ohio in the spring as the pest migrates north from Gulf Coast states, carried on winds in storm systems, Hammond said. 

“In alfalfa, potato leafhopper is definitely our No. 1 pest,” he said. “It’s an insect that, if allowed to go past threshold and develop young population, can lead to damage such as stunting. 

“Most growers have already had their first cutting, so now is the time for scouting for this pest because we know it has arrived in Ohio. Growers can begin scouting for the leafhopper once alfalfa regrowth reaches sufficient height for sweep-net sampling.” 

In glandular-haired, leafhopper-resistant alfalfa, the economic threshold is three times the normal threshold, or three leafhoppers per inch of growth. In that case, the threshold would be 18 leafhoppers for 6-inch tall alfalfa, Hammond said. 

“However, if the resistant alfalfa is a new planting this spring, growers might want to use thresholds meant for regular alfalfa during the very first growth from seeding,” he said. “After the first cutting, growers can then use three times the normal level threshold. 

“Growers who take the time to sample and spray are better able to control the pests, while those growers who don’t tend to get hit by them.” 

More information on potato leafhopper, including how alfalfa growing conditions might affect the threshold, can be downloaded at http://ohioline.osu.edu/ent-fact/pdf/0033.pdf .

Writers

Tracy Turner
614-688-1067
turner.490@osu.edu

Sources

Ron Hammond
330-263-3727

hammond.5@osu.edu

My mother-in-law gave me her pressure canner, and I’m hoping to do some canning for the first time this year. How should I prepare?

One of the best resources for beginner and experienced canners alike is the National Center for Home Food Preservation, hosted by the University of Georgia, http://nchfp.uga.edu.

The site offers free access to many reliable sources of canning information, including the ability to download the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Complete Guide to Home Canning. (Note: You can also purchase a spiral-bound printed version of the USDA guide for $18 from the Education Store of Purdue Extension, https://mdc.itap.purdue.edu/.)

Ohio State University Extension also offers food preservation information: go to http://ohioline.osu.edu, click on “Food,” and click on “Food Preservation” for a series of fact sheets. You’ll probably want to start with the four-page Canning Basics, which includes other recommended books for canning. Classes are also available; check out one near you: http://go.osu.edu/fdpreserv.

As you gather materials and start doing some homework, there are a few other things you can do to make sure you’re all set when your garden bounty is ready for preserving:

• Get the dial gauge on the pressure canner tested to make sure it’s giving an accurate reading. Check with your local Extension office for information about this service. If the gauge reads high or low by more than 2 pounds at 5, 10 or 15 pounds per square inch (psi), you’ll need to have it replaced.
• It would be helpful to read the manual that came with the canner. If you don’t have it, you might be able to find it online, or you can try to contact the manufacturer for a copy.
• Make sure you have all the equipment you’ll need for canning. You didn’t mention if you also received the accessories you may need, such as a jar lifter, a bubble freer or a funnel with an extra-wide mouth. You might also want to stock up now on jars and lids.
• Find out what your altitude is. At more than 1,000 feet above sea level, water boils at a lower temperature, which means your canning process may not kill all bacteria if you don’t follow instructions for high-altitude canning. Some people are surprised that even Midwest states like Ohio have areas above 1,000 feet. There are plenty of smartphone apps that can tell you the altitude at your location, or you can inquire at your local Extension office or Soil Conservation Service. Or, go to the U.S. Geological Survey’s website at http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic and click the menus for your state and county for a list of elevations at various locations in your area.

Chow Line is a service of Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and its outreach and research arms, Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. Send questions to Chow Line, c/o Martha Filipic, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH, 43210-1044, or filipic.3@osu.edu.

Editor: This column was reviewed by Linnette Goard, field specialist in Food Safety, Selection and Management, for Ohio State University Extension, the outreach arm of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

For a PDF of this column, please click here.

Writers

Martha Filipic
614-292-9833
filipic.3@osu.edu

Sources

Linnette Goard
OSU Extension, Food Safety, Selection and Management

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Department of Agriculture last week announced more detections of the walnut twig beetle in Butler County in southwest Ohio. The insect carries a fungus that causes deadly, incurable thousand cankers disease (TCD) in walnut trees, although at this point the disease itself hasn’t been found in the county.

The following experts in Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences are available to talk to reporters about the beetle, the disease and the potential effects in Ohio:

• Nancy Taylor is program director of the C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic. She is involved with testing suspect walnut samples for TCD. Columbus, 614-292-5006,taylor.8@osu.edu.

• Dan Herms is a professor in the Department of Entomology. He processed the samples that first revealed the insect’s presence in Butler County. He conducts research and outreach programs on invasive tree pests, including, recently, the emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetle. Wooster, 330-202-3506, herms.2@osu.edu.

• Cindy Meyer is an agriculture and natural resources educator in Ohio State University Extension’s Butler County office. She works with woodland owners and sawmill operators, among others, in the affected area. 513-887-3722, meyer.842@osu.edu.

• Amy Stone is an urban and consumer horticulture educator in OSU Extension’s Lucas County office. She conducts outreach and engagement programs on invasive species around Ohio, in part as coordinator of Ohio State’s Emerald Ash Borer Outreach Team. Toledo, 419-213-4254, stone.91@osu.edu.

• Kathy Smith is OSU Extension’s forestry program director. She leads Extension’s Ohio Woodland Stewards Program, conducts outreach and engagement programs on invasive species throughout Ohio, and can talk about TCD’s potential impact on Ohio’s forests. Columbus, 614-688-3136, smith.81@osu.edu.

• Eric McConnell is an assistant professor and OSU Extension specialist in Ohio State’s School of Environment and Natural Resources. He has done research estimating the economic impact of TCD and other invasive species in Ohio and can talk about TCD’s potential economic impact on Ohio’s forest industry. Columbus, 614-292-9838, mcconnell.213@osu.edu.

The walnut twig beetle, which is currently in 12 other states, was first found in Ohio at a single location in Butler County in late 2012. It so far hasn’t been detected in any other county in the state. ODA has now added Butler County to a list of national TCD quarantine areas.

OSU Extension offers a free fact sheet on thousand cankers disease at http://go.osu.edu/VDX.

Stone, Smith and colleagues last year helped produce a free wallet-size TCD identification card. Details on how to get it are at http://go.osu.edu/Qrg.

The team also recently released a free smartphone app that allows users to report the walnut twig beetle and other invasive species to researchers. Details, including download instructions, are at http://go.osu.edu/GLEDN, http://go.osu.edu/Qrj and http://go.osu.edu/VCn.

OSU Extension is the college’s statewide outreach arm. Many of the experts in the college also hold appointments with CFAES’s research arm, the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.

- 30 -

Writers

Kurt Knebusch
knebusch.1@osu.edu
330-263-3776

Sources

Kathy Smith
smith.81@osu.edu
614-688-3136

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Cool, wet, muddy conditions in May slowed planting and crop growth for soybeans in much of Ohio, while hot, dry soil conditions this month have contributed to uneven soybean emergence, said a field crops expert with Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. 

But, unless growers with uneven soybean emergence are able to determine that their seedlings are dead, they may want to hold off on replanting decisions as forecasted weekend rainfall could help more soybeans begin to break through, said Laura Lindsey, a soybean and small grains specialist with the college’s outreach arm, Ohio State University Extension. 

“When considering replanting soybeans, make sure to take into account the existing stand, yield loss due to late planting, and the cost of additional seed,” Lindsey said. “Soybean yield is decreased by approximately half a bushel per acre every day when planting later than mid-May.” 

Statewide, soybeans are 89 percent planted and 58 percent emerged, according to the June 3 U.S. Department of Agriculture crop progress report. That compares to soybeans at 98 percent planted at the same time last year, with 78 percent emerged during that same period, the USDA said. 

Topsoil moisture is 78 percent adequate to surplus in Ohio, with subsoil moisture at 89 percent adequate to surplus statewide, USDA said. 

“While soil moisture remains in good condition, there were reports that crops still need more rainfall,” the report said. “There were also several reports of a frost in eastern parts of the state that damaged corn, soybeans and vegetables. 

“Some corn and soybeans may need to be replanted.” 

However, Lindsey said, before growers consider replanting due to uneven stand, they should dig around in areas of their fields where there are no plants. Growers who find healthy, germinated seeds that simply haven’t broken through the soil yet can wait because the plants could still pop up, she said. 

“The soil temperatures have finally reached optimum germination conditions. With a little bit of moisture they will continue to emerge,” Lindsey said. “We saw this last year, when soybeans sat in the ground for a full six weeks before they received enough moisture to germinate.” 

But growers who find dead seedlings, or no seeds or seedlings, should take a stand count to see how many plants are remaining, she said. 

One way to estimate stand is to count the number of plants in 35 foot of row for 15-inch row spacing. This represents one-thousandth of an acre, so 120 plants in 35 foot of row grown at 15-inch row spacing represents a stand of 120,000 plants per acre. 

“Soybean populations of 50,000 plants per acre yield approximately 15 percent lower than soybean populations of 175,000 plants per acre, according to research by the Ohio State’s Agronomics Team,” she said. “But they still yield.” 

Estimates can also be used with 70 foot of row for 7.5-inch row spacing, or 17.5 foot of row for 30-inch row spacing, she said.

Writers

Tracy Turner

614-688-1067

turner.490@osu.edu

Sources

Laura Lindsey

614-292-9080

lindsey.233@osu.edu

CUSTAR, Ohio – Variety development, fungicide and insects will be among the topics discussed by experts from Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences during Wheat Field Day June 20. 

The event is from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Northwest Agricultural Research Station of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), 4240 Range Line Road, in Custar. The event is free and open to the public. 

The program will include demonstrations on wide-row wheat management practices, said Laura Lindsey, an Ohio State University Extension soybean and small grain specialist. 

OSU Extension and OARDC are the outreach and research arms, respectively, of the college. 

Lindsey’s research on wide-row wheat planting looks at the impact of planting in 15-inch row spacing as compared to the traditional 7.5-inch spacing, she said. 

“Interest is growing among farmers in wide-row planting because it allows farmers to use a planter instead of a drill and also allows them to intercrop soybeans,” she said. “Growers will be able to walk through our plot trials to see the method up-close.”  

Other topics to be addressed during the field day include: 

• Rain, Fungicide, Scab and Vomitoxin.
• Variety Development in the Age of Genomics.
• The Good and the Bad Insects in Wheat.
• Update from the Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association. 

Matt Davis, who manages the Northwest Agricultural Research Station, said organizers expect there to be good interest from wheat growers this year as wheat acres in parts of Ohio are slightly up this year. 

“Our goal is to try to address management issues on topics that hopefully help the farmers better manage their wheat crops,” he said. 

Pesticide re-certification and certified crop adviser education credits are available for the workshop. More information can be found at http://oardc.osu.edu/branches/branchinfo.asp?id=3. 

For more information on the field day, contact Davis at 419-257-2060 or davis.1095@osu.edu.

Writers

Tracy Turner
614-688-1067
turner.490@osu.edu

Sources

Laura Lindsey
614-292-9080

lindsey.233@osu.edu

Matt Davis

419-257-2060

davis.1095@osu.edu

I’m interested in eating more healthfully and hopefully losing a few pounds, but I don’t want to track everything I eat or count calories. Do you have any general tips that could help?

Many people do find that keeping a food log helps them lose weight, but if you’re not interested in doing that right now, yes, of course you can take other steps. Here are some tips:

• The Harvard Medical School suggests cutting back on carbohydrates, particularly from sugar-sweetened beverages such as soft drinks, sports drinks and energy drinks and from refined-carbohydrate foods, including many types of bread, cereal, pasta, snack foods, and French fries and other types of fried potatoes. Instead, choose water or unsweetened beverages, and whole-grain foods that offer fiber and other nutrients. Look for at least 2 grams of fiber per serving.
  
• Pay special attention to portion sizes, even if you’re eating something you consider to be good for you. A study recently published in the International Journal of Obesity showed that people tend to eat more of a food if it’s labeled as “healthy,” even if it has the same number of calories as similar options.
• Similarly, don’t assume cutting fat is always healthier. Some low- or no-fat food products replace the fat with added refined-carbohydrate ingredients — not necessarily a benefit. And, research has shown a little fat, such as that in dressings or avocados, helps the body absorb nutrients in leafy greens. Instead, focus on limiting saturated fat and eliminating trans fat, opting instead for unsaturated fats.
• Eat a wide variety of produce, whole grains, and beans and other legumes to get a broad range of nutrients. In particular, choose fruits and vegetables of many colors, especially green, red, yellow, orange and dark purple. The pigments in colorful produce contain vitamins and phytochemicals that are linked with a lower risk of certain cancers and heart disease.  
• Incorporate more fish and small amounts of nuts into your diet. They are good sources of protein and healthy fats, and Americans tend to not get enough of them.
• Never shop for groceries on an empty stomach. A study recently published in JAMA Internal Medicine, a journal of the American Medical Association, provided compelling evidence supporting what you probably already know: People tend to choose more high-calorie foods if they shop when they’re hungry. Eat first and you’ll be healthier for it.

Chow Line is a service of Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and its outreach and research arms, Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. Send questions to Chow Line, c/o Martha Filipic, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH, 43210-1044, or filipic.3@osu.edu.

Editor: This column was reviewed by Dan Remley, field specialist in Food, Nutrition and Wellness for Ohio State University Extension, the outreach arm of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

For a PDF file of this column, click here.

Writers

Martha Filipic
614-292-9833
filipic.3@osu.edu

Sources

Dan Remley
OSU Extension, Food, Nutrition and Wellness

WOOSTER, Ohio – Experienced sheep producers or anyone interested in starting up a sheep farm can tour a series of successful Amish farms July 12 led in part by a group of livestock and forage experts from Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. 

The tour will offer both beginning and experienced farmers tips on everything from sheep grazing management to sheep marketing, said Rory Lewandowski, an agriculture and natural resources educator for Ohio State University Extension. 

OSU Extension is the outreach arm of the college. 

The tour is designed to provide participants a “unique opportunity to spend time on four Amish farms to get a first-hand look at their operations,” said Lewandowski, who is also helping organize the tour. 

“Our goal is to give sheep livestock owners an opportunity to see other sheep grazing farms with the idea they may be able to pick up tips they can apply to their own grazing operations,” he said. “At this point, the season is off to a good start, pastures are growing well, and first cut hay production looks good. 

“Most farmers are pretty encouraged at this point.” 

The tour will focus on four Amish sheep grazing farms in Holmes County, Lewandowski said. 

Topics to be discussed include: 

• Beginning sheep farmer using low cost start-up investment
• Sheep production
• Cool season pasture species
• Warm season annuals
• Use of minerals
• Fencing and rotation management
• Breeding management
• Sheep and farm marketing 

Check-in for the tour begins at 8 a.m. in the parking lot of Keim Lumber, 4465 S.R. 557, in Charm, Ohio. The tour bus will leave the parking lot at 9 a.m., returning by 4 p.m. Registration is $35 per person and includes lunch. The deadline to register is July 1 and is limited to the first 100 participants. 

A registration form can be found at http://sheep.osu.edu. Payments made out to OHSIA (Ohio Heartland Sheep Improvement Association) should be sent to Velda Limbach, 14950 Stanwood Street, S.W., Dalton, Ohio 44618. 

The tour is sponsored by the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association, OSU Extension, the OHSIA and the Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council.

Writers

Tracy Turner
614-688-1067
turner.490@osu.edu

Sources

Rory Lewandowski
330-264-8722
lewandowski.11@osu.edu

Viable examples include sorghum, sudangrass, sorghum-sudangrass hybrids, millet, teff grass and corn, said Rory Lewandowski, an agriculture and natural resources educator for Ohio State University Extension. 

OSU Extension is the outreach arm of the college.  

These plants have the capacity to produce up to five tons of dry matter over summer months, and a majority of them can be grazed or cut two or three times starting as soon as 30 to 45 days after planting, he said, which makes them a good option for producers seeking other options amidst reports of declining hay supplies. 

Hay stored on U.S. farms as of May 1 totaled 14.2 million tons, which is a 34-percent decline compared to the same time last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s May 10 crop production report. Ohio’s hay stocks on May 1 were 140,000 tons compared to 308,000 tons at the same time last year, the report said. 

“While most producers are optimistic about the growing season, with the first hay crops looking good at this point, I want to alert producers that there are other opportunities out there,” Lewandowski said. “This way producers are aware of what their options are and have time to do some planning and planting now so they won’t be in a position over the summer wishing they’d known about these options sooner.” 

An advantage of summer annuals is that they can be used as a double crop when a previous crop is harvested by the end of June, he said. For example, producers can plant a summer annual after the first or second cutting of alfalfa or after the harvest of barley. 

Other advantages: summer annuals grow fast, mature quickly and can be harvested for stored feed, Lewandowski said. 

But, he cautions, forage quality for summer annuals is good at the vegetative growth stage but declines quickly once the plant reaches its reproductive stage. Extreme dry conditions or drought can also be a concern, Lewandowski said. 

“Summer annuals can accumulate nitrates in the lower portions of the stems under drought conditions,” he said. “To reduce the risk of nitrate toxicity in livestock, producers should reduce nitrogen fertilization and make sure livestock don’t graze lower than 8 inches.

“Producers also need to be aware that sorghum, sorghum-sudangrass hybrids and sudangrass all have varying levels of potential for prussic acid poisoning if plants are consumed when they are under stress conditions." 

Tips for planting summer annuals include: 

• Plant summer annuals when the soil temperature is 60 to 65 degrees.
• Plant forage sorghum at 12 to 15 pounds per acre.
• Plant millet, sudangrass and sorghum-sudangrass hybrids at 25 to 35 pounds per acre.
• Plant teff grass at 4 to 5 pounds per acre.
• Plant corn used as forage at about 80,000 kernels per acre and seeded with a grain drill.  
• Soil pH should be 6.0 to 6.5, soil phosphorus should be at least 15 parts per million and soil potassium should be 100 to 125 parts per million.
• All summer annuals respond to nitrogen, and best yields will be obtained when 50 pounds of nitrogen per acre is applied before or at planting and then again following each cutting or grazing pass. 

Writers

Tracy Turner
614-688-1067
turner.490@osu.edu

Sources

Rory Lewandowski
330-264-8722
lewandowski.11@osu.edu

I’m a new mom, and I always thought I would enjoy reading to my baby from day one. But I find I feel silly reading to him (he’s now 6 weeks old), because it’s obvious he doesn’t yet understand the story. Should I keep at it, or wait until he’s older?

Early childhood experts say it’s never too early to begin reading to your infant.

Especially at this early stage, you don’t need to worry about reading for long periods of time — even a few minutes is OK.

The important thing is to find different ways to stimulate your son’s understanding of language. Talking, singing and reading aloud, as well as using other sounds, facial expressions and gestures, will help provide a solid foundation for communication and literacy.

Many experts recommend using a wide vocabulary when talking with your infant. Sure, he may not be able to comprehend what you’re saying, but the idea is to expose young children to new words at an early age, when the brain is developing at a rapid pace.

Using different voices for different characters — whether you’re reading a fairy tale or an item in the newspaper — can help keep the child’s interest even if for just a short time.

Take the time to point out pictures in the book and explain what they depict. Even very young babies enjoy that kind of interaction.

The benefits of reading to infants are multiple. According to the nonprofit Zero to Three National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families (http://www.zerotothree.org), reading to infants helps provide a foundation for many areas of development, including:

• Narrative understanding, or stringing together meaningful ideas as a story. Such an understanding provides a sound basis for helping children learn to read and communicate.
• Social-emotional development. Reading to your infant provides a way to develop a strong, warm relationship between you and your child.
• Appreciation for reading. When a loving adult reads to an infant, the experience provides an early association between reading and pleasure.

For infants and young toddlers, Zero to Three recommends books with simple, large pictures or designs with bright colors. Use books published for young children — stiff cardboard or fold-out books that can be propped up in a crib, or cloth or soft vinyl books that can go into the bath (and get washed). Your baby will probably want to chew on the books a lot once he reaches that stage of development. Don’t worry — that’s perfectly normal. And, of course, it’s one reason why baby books are so sturdy.

Family Fundamentals is a monthly column on family issues. It is a service of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and its outreach and research arms, Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. Send questions to Family Fundamentals, c/o Martha Filipic, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210-1044, or filipic.3@osu.edu.

Dear Subscriber: This column was reviewed by Kristen Corry, family and consumer sciences educator with Ohio State University Extension, the outreach arm of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

For a PDF of this column, please click here.

Writers

Martha Filipic
614-292-9833
filipic.3@osu.edu

Sources

Kristen Corry
OSU Extension, Family and Consumer Sciences

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Millions of American children will soon be going to summer camp. But before committing their children's time and their own pocketbook to the experience, parents should ask a few questions to help make sure their kids will be happy campers.

Joshua Kirby, Ohio State University Extension specialist in 4-H older youth and camping, said parents should consider a number of things when deciding whether this year will be the one to send junior to camp for the first time. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

"If a parent has concerns that their child isn't ready to be with other camp members, that gut feeling is the best evaluation that could be had," Kirby said. "The choice needs to be made whether the child is adequately mature and prepared to be somewhat independent and able to be away from parents."

At the same time, parents should be reassured that most camps are prepared to deal with the first-time camper, he said.

"Most camps have trained staff to work with homesick campers," Kirby said. "There are many times when children arrive at camp and think they are homesick, but through well-researched camp activities, their attention is redirected and they're fine for the rest of camp."

Parents should do some homework to find a camp that will be a good match for their child, whether it's a day camp or a residential (overnight) camp, he said.

"First, get word-of-mouth recommendations," Kirby said. "Talk with families with similar-age children who have appreciated the camp in the past. Asking a camp for references from families who are repeat customers is common in the camp industry, and that should help make decisions easier.

Parents can also search online for summer camp programs that are within their area, he said. They can also go directly to the American Camp Association's website (http://www.acacamps.org/), which lists accredited camps by state and geographic area.

"Through their accreditation, those camps should be able to offer a program you'd be happy with, but you should definitely do some homework first," Kirby said.

Parents should also look at the type of programming offered by the camp.

"Nowadays, there really is a camp for all types of youth," Kirby said. "Of course, you have to look at the location and the cost the family is willing to pay.

"But there are camps for young people who are very active in the outdoors, for those who are sports-oriented, for those who are more studious and book-oriented, and even camps focusing on science and other specific interests."

Ohio 4-H offers camps in areas throughout Ohio, with about 12,000 kids participating in residential camps and 3,300 in day camp programs in 2012, Kirby said. If parents are interested in learning specifically about 4-H camp opportunities, they should contact their local office of OSU Extension and ask for the 4-H professional serving their county. County offices are listed at http://extension.osu.edu/locate-an-office.

"Camp can be a transformative experience, particularly residential camps," Kirby said. "We often get parents who say they notice that their child has noticeably matured over the course of the camp. Often that happens in the unplanned time -- the downtime with other campers, the time after lunch, the time when they find a friend or a new hobby.

"We truly try to make our camps rich experiences so campers can leave knowing they did something unique and interesting. But there's a magic X-factor in terms of a child's growth and development that comes from things we can't plan for, and we're happy to have that happen as well."

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Writers

Martha Filipic
614-292-9833
filipic.3@osu.edu

Sources

Joshua Kirby
614-247-8144
kirby.159@osu.edu

I recently noticed that my favorite fast-food restaurant lists the calories of what I’m eating on the wrapper. I was shocked at how high the calories were. Is it just me, or are most people unaware of how many calories are in fast food?

It’s not just you. Many people are blissfully unaware of how many calories they consume, particularly when they eat out.

And that can be a large portion of the diet, considering that about half of Americans’ food dollars are spent on meals prepared outside the home.

Some restaurants already include calorie counts on their menus, which could help people like you who want to make better choices. Unfortunately, though, the implementation of a 2010 federal law requiring any restaurant or other food-service operation that has 20 or more locations to list calories at the point of purchase has stalled as the Food and Drug Administration tries to iron out the details.

But in many cases you can find such information relatively easily. Just go to a restaurant’s website and see if it has nutrition information listed for its menu items. If not, do a Web search — several diet and fitness websites offer such information, gathered from the restaurants or from members of the sites.

Just guessing about calorie counts isn’t a good strategy. In fact, a study recently published in the journal of the British Medical Association showed that Americans tend to underestimate calories, at least in fast-food meals.

The researchers asked more than 3,300 adults, adolescents and school-age children visiting McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, KFC, Dunkin’ Donuts and Wendy’s in four cities in New England to estimate the calories in meals they had just purchased. Then, using the customer’s receipt and the restaurants’ nutrition information, they calculated the actual calories in the meals.

More than two-thirds of the participants underestimated the calories in their meals, with about one-quarter underestimating by 500 calories or more.

Keep in mind that knowing how many calories you’re consuming is just the first step. You also need to know how many calories you should be consuming. For that information, which is based in part on age, gender and daily physical activity, see the chart from the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans at http://bit.ly/calneeds. That way you can judge whether your favorite fast-food meal is within the range of your calorie needs.

Chow Line is a service of Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and its outreach and research arms, Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. Send questions to Chow Line, c/o Martha Filipic, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH, 43210-1044, or filipic.3@osu.edu.

Editor: This column was reviewed by Carolyn Gunther, community nutrition education specialist for Ohio State University Extension, the outreach arm of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

For a PDF of this column, click here.

Writers

Martha Filipic
614-292-9833
filipic.3@osu.edu

Sources

Carolyn Gunther
OSU Extension, Community Nutrition Education