November 9, 2016 - 12:55pm -- gelley.2@osu.edu

November News

By Christine Gelley- Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, OSU Extension Noble County

November is a month of transition in nature and in society. I look forward to some of those transitions and feel a little homesick when some of the others pass. I enjoy the changing landscapes of the fields and forests, the end of election season, the beginning of hunting season, the World Series, and fellowship with family and friends at Thanksgiving. On the other hand, cleaning debris from the garden makes me miss the summer’s bounty of fresh food and flowers, cleaning off frosty windows makes me long for a warm morning sun, and the shortening daylight hours draw me back inside earlier in the day, but push me out the door at the same time each morning. November is also a transition for the types of agriculture and natural resource programs that Extension provides to the community. Seminars and webinars replace field days and certification training classes replace farm and garden tours. Here is what you can expect to see offered in the upcoming weeks:

Workshops:

Venison: From Field to Table is a free workshop program for hunters of all ages that will be held on Wednesday, November 16 from 6-9 p.m. at the Noble County Multi-Agency Building. This program will feature presentations on Field Dressing & Cutting Your Deer Carcass (live demo, proper & efficient techniques, skinning & quartering), Venison Preservation by Canning or Freezing & Food Safety (venison sampling, ways to preserve venison, and venison recipes), and Food Plots (knowing what to plant, being cost efficient, and planning ahead). Please call the Extension Office to register by November 9.

A Holiday Wreath Workshop will be offered on Wednesday, November 30 and Thursday, December 1 at the Ball-Caldwell House. Spaces are filling up fast! The December 1 session is completely booked, but some spaces are still available for November 30 from 10 a.m.-Noon. The cost of the workshop is $20 and includes hands-on instruction, all materials to create a fresh, evergreen, holiday wreath, and light refreshments. Please call to register before November 23. Following the workshops, participants will have the opportunity to tour the Ball-Caldwell House in Christmas décor for a $5 contribution to the Noble County Historical Society.

Meetings & Socials:

Farm Talk Breakfast will be held on Wednesday, November 16 from 8:30-10 a.m. at Lori’s Family Restaurant. Ohio Wildlife Officer- Brad St. Clair will join us for a discussion on nuisance animal control over breakfast. Cost to attend will be according to menu pricing per individual. Another Farm Talk event will be announced for December.

A planning session for the 2017 Caldwell Farmer’s Market will take place at the Noble County Multi-Agency Building on November 30 at 6 p.m. Market vendors and customers are welcome to attend. Discussion will revolve around making positive changes for next year. Following discussion, those present will vote on constructive improvement plans for next year’s market.

Training and Certifications:

Pesticide Applicator Recertification Training (P.A.T.) will be held on January 26 from 6-9 p.m. at the Mid-East Vocational School in Buffalo. Those who need to complete this training will be notified by the ODA in the near future. Additional information will be available soon. Are you interested in getting a Pesticide Applicator License? We can find a training class for you. Commercial Pesticide Applicator Training is also available. More details about these trainings can be found online at pested.osu.edu.

Livestock Mortality Composting Training is scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, January 31. If you face disposal of perished livestock in your farm operation, this is an important training for you. Those who complete the course will receive a certificate of training, which is required for legal livestock composting in the State of Ohio.   

The 2017 Ohio Beef Cattle School will be broadcast through three webinars hosted at the OSU Southeast Region Extension Office on January 17, February 7, and February 28 at 7 p.m.

Fertilizer Applicator Certification Training (F.A.C.T) is scheduled for February 16 at the OSU Southeast Region Extension Office from 6-9 p.m. Details about this training are available at nutrienteducation.osu.edu.

Don’t forget to add these to your 2016-2017 calendar. For more information or to register, call Christine at 740-732-5681.