The Nutrien warehouse project is making progress today. The Shawnee Township Board of Trustees held a special meeting of the board this morning to pass an enterprise zone agreement for Nutrien's proposed warehouse project. The facility will store parts and other materials that come in for maintenance work. These types of investments do a lot for Shawnee Township.

November 7, 2024, Press Release from the Allen Soil and Water Conservation District: Winter is right around the corner and many homeowners are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm temperatures to complete autumn yard maintenance before the ground freezes. This includes the last-minute application of fertilizer onto lawns.It’s important to remember that a lawn or garden that is fertilized should be tested every three years. For a little amount of time, postage, and a small processing fee, a lot of helpful information about one of the most significant assets on your property can be learned. Soil testing is essential because over-fertilizing is so easy to do since many don’t give it much thought when applying it. However, excess fertilizer is washed into our rivers and streams every time it rains. Once it gets to the river, it causes algae problems, robs oxygen from the water, and is a leading contributor of poor water quality. Statistics show that those who put fertilizer on their yards tend to do at eight times the amount farmers put on crop fields.

October 2, 2024, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine: (COLUMBUS, Ohio)— Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik today announced a state investment of $14 million to improve and expand meat harvesting and processing facilities across Ohio.   Through the fourth round of the Ohio Meat Processing Grant Program, 51 Ohio companies involved in the meat harvesting and processing industry across 33 counties will receive funding for the construction of new facilities or upgrades at existing facilities.  

It is not a shock that it has been very dry lately. According to the Drought Monitor issued on September 26th, all of west-central Ohio is in at least moderate drought with severe drought to the north and southeast of Lima. Extreme and exceptional drought has ravaged much of central and southeastern Ohio. On Friday, I traveled to the Auglaize County Ohio State University Extension Office in Wapakoneta where I was told that topsoil conditions are not great.

Each year, the Hardin County Agriculture Hall of Fame recognize outstanding individuals who have brought distinction to themselves through their work in agriculture.  Nomination forms are due at the Hardin Co. OSU Extension office by close of business October 4.

August 4, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio State Fair: COLUMBUS –Enthusiasm for Ohio youth and agriculture during the 2024 Ohio State Fair Sale of Champions livestock auction. Caps were met and exceeded at the Sale on Sunday in the WCOL Celeste Center, with a grand total in sales of $260,500. More than $134,000 will fund the Virgil L. Strickler Youth Reserve Program to continue supporting Ohio youth in agriculture and beyond.

June 17, 2024, Press Release from the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce Agri-Business Committee: Findlay, OH – The Hancock County Agriculture Hall of Fame is proud to announce the induction of four outstanding individuals at the annual Farmers Share Breakfast. This year, we honor Craig Holmes, John Deeds, Marvin Tuttle, and Tom Walter for their remarkable contributions to agriculture and the community.

May 31, 2024, Press Release from the Hardin County OSU Extension: Hardin County – The Hardin County OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers are hosting three summer garden programs at the Friendship Gardens of Hardin County located at 960 W. Kohler Street in Kenton. The programs will begin with an event on “Raised Bed Gardening” on June 18, “Growing with Intentions” on July 16, and another on “Flower Arrangements” on August 20. All programs will begin at 6:00 pm and end by 7:00 pm. “Raised Bed Gardening” will be the topic on June 18. Master Gardener Volunteer Stewart Coats will present how to construct a raised bed garden, bed depth based on plants to be planted, and where they should be located. Also, he will speak about what kind of soil, fertilizer, best plants to grow in raised beds, and how to water to be successful with this type of gardening.