The bird flu has hit Ohio hard, and state officials are meeting with media to talk about the issue.
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In an effort to lessen the burdens caused by these conditions, the Ohio Treasurer’s office will be offering an enhanced Ag-LINK application window for commercial poultry farmers in counties affected by the outbreak.
According to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, there have been over 6,000,000 chickens and turkeys affected in a total 22 farms in Mercer and Darke Counties.
April 3, 2024 Press Release from the Hardin County OSU Extension: Hardin County – It’s time once again to get your hands dirty and start growing! The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) and Ohio State University Extension offices are kicking off the fifth year of the Ohio Victory Gardens program. Due to high demand, the program has expanded to include 64 counties, up from 50 counties last year. Thousands of seed sample kits are available for free to the public to get people planting.
Specific days and times for each office are available on the Ohio Victory Gardens website, as well as planting resources and information. Hardin County OSU Extension will make available Ohio Victory Garden seed packets containing a combination of carrots, cucumber, lettuce, and sunflowers. Seeds are currently available at the Hardin County OSU Extension Office, 1021 W Lima Street in Kenton and will also be available at its annual Master Gardener Volunteers Plant Sale being held Saturday, May 18 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm in the Friendship Gardens of Hardin County located at 960 W Kohler Street in Kenton.
Victory Gardens originated during World War I, an answer to a severe food shortage at the time. People were encouraged to find any usable space, plop in some seeds, and contribute homegrown fruits, vegetables, and herbs to the effort. The idea was wildly successful, growing an army of amateur gardeners and serving to boost morale and patriotism.
While we’re not in wartime, we can all commiserate the past few months have been tough, mood-boosters are welcomed. So, the Ohio Department of Agriculture and Ohio State University are reviving the effort and once again inspiring people to get their hands dirty, realize the fruits of their labor and share with others if inspired. We believe a good day in the garden is good for the soul.
The Victory Gardens Program offers a full website with details on seed distribution, advice, and resources on every aspect of planting and harvesting produce at https://u.osu.edu/ohiovictorygardens/. All Victory Gardens participants will be eligible to win a free starter gardening toolkit by completing a short online survey to enter.
The LAEPP program allows landowners to voluntarily sell easements on their farms to the State of Ohio. The easement requires the farm to remain permanently in agricultural production. Selected farms must be more than 40 acres, actively engaged in farming, participate in the Current Agricultural Use Valuation program, enrolled in an Ag District, demonstrate good stewardship of the land, have support from local government and not be in close proximity to development. Landowners may use the proceeds of the easement in any way they wish, but most reinvest it in their farm operation.
Rides at the Ohio State Fair will now have to meet the safety check requirements that are set out by Tyler's Law. The law is named after Tyler Jarrell, who died on a ride at the Ohio State Fair when it broke apart back in 2017.
You may have seen social media posts about people receiving a package with seeds in the mail. There have been an increased number of people getting the seeds in Ohio, including here in West Central Ohio. The United States and Ohio Departments of Agriculture are asking people not to open the seed packets and don’t plant the seeds. Some are reporting that the seeds are coming from China. If you do get the seeds you are asked to drop the packet off at your county's OSU Extension Agent or mail it to the USDA address below.
The State of Ohio will be making funding available to farmers in our area through their H2Ohio program. As first proposed by governor Mike DeWine, H2Ohio is a plan put together to help improve water quality in the state while working with farmers to use new farming practices designed to reduce nutrient runoff from agriculture, like soil testing and conservation crop rotation.
Governor Mike DeWine signed a new law that will pave the way for Ohio farmers to grow hemp. The law decriminalizes hemp in the state and the Ohio Department of Agriculture will oversee a newly created hemp program. Hemp is closely related to marijuana but doesn't produce the intoxicating effects. Hemp has many industrial uses, like CBD oil and fiber for cloth and rope. The hemp program will license farmers to grow hemp and regulate the processing of hemp products.
Ohio’s director of agriculture hears what Allen County residents think about water quality and nutrient management issue. Ohio Department of Agriculture director Dorothy Pelanda has been traveling the state holding town halls with members soil and water districts and the agricultural community. Pelanda says that each community has its own unique water quality issues and Governor Mike DeWine has made that one of his top issues in his first year in office.