Farm Facts for Fairfield County
Farm Facts for Fairfield County
for August 2, 2002 ; also seen on Fridays in the Lancaster Eagle Gazette
Environmental knowledge is critical to the success of today's livestock producers. The environmental sensitivity, knowledge and action of each producer will directly affect the long-term growth of livestock and poultry production in Ohio, and especially in rapidly urbanizing countries like Fairfield. By working together pro-actively and reflecting personal and industry-wide dedication to conserving natural resources and protecting the environment, livestock production will continue to flourish in Ohio.
To help Ohio's producers identify and address key management issues affecting environmental quality, the Ohio Livestock Coalition (OLC) developed the Livestock Environmental Assurance Program (LEAP), which provides livestock and poultry producers with the opportunity to take a proactive approach in blending sound production economics with concern about environmental quality.
LEAP is a voluntary and confidential environmental assurance program for all major livestock species in Ohio including sheep, beef and dairy cattle, swine and poultry. It will help livestock and poultry producers profitably manage environmental challenges that are critically important to the success of the business, and effectively assess how farmstead practices affect water quality and the overall environment. That kind of knowledge gives producers the power to operate and grow their livestock operation with environmental assurance, confidence and security. By increasing confidence, improving profits, reducing problems, enhancing relationships and enriching an image, LEAP will accomplish its primary objective - to promote sustainability by seeking profitable environmental solutions.
General concepts and LEAP curriculum focuses on an introduction to the environment, an on-farm inventory, key environmental management information, an environmental plan, siting, state and local regulations, and cost-share programs such as EQIP. More specifically, the LEAP program for cattlemen includes mortalities disposal, feedlot management, grazing management, and silage storage. General concepts provide a primer for environmental assurance fundamentals. Applications focus on specific topics for individual commodity producers. Implementation provides resources, contacts and references specific to Ohio that will assist you in applying the action plan you develop at the completion level.
LEAP training is a critical component of participation in the Five State Beef Initiative, and is required to be eligible as a recipient of Agricultural Pollution Abatement grants through local SWCD offices. Also, by participating in a LEAP training session, producers will earn points towards having a qualified application to receive EQIP funding.
Area livestock producers are invited to participate in a LEAP training session that will be held in the Fairfield County Ag Center on Tuesday morning, August 20. A complimnetary breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by the LEAP program beginning promptly at 8 a.m. Reservations may be made by contacting either of the program hosts - Fairfield SWCD and OSU Extension in Fairfield County. LEAP is coordinated and administered by the OLC in cooperation with the following program partners: USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation Districts, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio Department of Natural Resources/Division of Soil & Water Conservation, Five State Beef Initiative, and Ohio Department of Agriculture.
Visit Local Pork and Beef Producers at the Fair
As you know, the Ohio State Fair begins today, August 2. Once again, our local commodity groups will be represented in their respective commodity food stands during the 17 day run of the Fair.
On Saturday (the 3rd), plan to stop by the Ohio Pork Producers stand in the Food Pavilion or at the Pork Trailer near the tent of champions. Fairfield County pork producers will be working from 3:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. While visiting the Fair on Sunday, the 11th, you'll find Fairfield County's cattlemen in both the Food Pavilion and the Buckeye Steak Barn located near the Voinovich Livestock Building.
If you haven't visited your commodity group food stands at Ohio State Fair before, you're in for a treat. You'll find the best quality food on the grounds, at affordable prices, and served by the people that produced it in the Ohio Food Pavilion!
Crop, Forage, and Livestock Drought Information Available at OSU
Drought brings on a whole set of management decisions that farmers and Ag Industry face for their daily business decisions. While the Palmer Drought Index does not show Fairfield County to be officially in a drought, portions of the County are suffering losses due to the erratic rainfall that has been experienced over the past two months. As a result of dry weather concerns around Ohio, a drought resource web site has been created that may be useful to help with decisions about crops, forages, livestock and marketing at: http://corn.osu.edu/drought02
A electronic mailing list with connection to Extension professionals has also been created to help answer any questions related to drought at: (drought@ag.osu.edu).
Bean Leaf Beetle on Soybean
The first generation of bean leaf beetle is now active in Ohio soybean fields. Most fields probably do not have a large population, although some fields, especially if early planted, might be experiencing increasing numbers. Although defoliation from this beetle alone is usually not severe enough to warrant treatment, feeding from this and other defoliators such as Japanese beetle, grasshoppers, and green cloverworm can often reach levels requiring insecticide treatment. Fields should be scouted to ensure that such levels, usually set around 15% defoliation during bloom and pod set, are not being reached. If defoliation reaches this level, and insects are present and still actively feeding, treatment is probably warranted. Of special concern this year is that most soybeans are not that large, with smaller than normal canopies. Assuming the insects are feeding normally, the likelihood that economic levels of defoliation are reached sooner is greater.
Another reason to scout for the bean leaf beetle at this time concerns pod feeding by the second generation that occurs in mid-to-late August and September. That generation is the generation that can cause greater loss for growers because the insects feed directly on the pods and seeds. OSU research shows a good correlation between the first generation and the second generation that will be present later. Thus, large bean leaf beetle populations at this time suggest a greater likelihood for a large second generation, and thus, a greater potential for significant pod injury. Fields can be identified over the next few weeks that have a higher potential for pod injury. This will allow growers to better manage their time and fields later in August.
For a listing of upcoming programs, meetings and events, visit the AG CALENDAR
Farms Facts is a weekly newspaper column, written by the agriculture staff at the Ohio State University Extension office in Fairfield County.
All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith, Director, Ohio State University Extension.
TDD # 1 (800) 589-8292 (Ohio only) or (614) 292-1868