December 12, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife: COLUMBUS, Ohio – Results from the annual Lake Erie fish surveys revealed that walleye hatches were below average and yellow perch hatches were above average in two of the three management zones, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Although the 2024 walleye hatch was below average, anglers will be able to enjoy many more years of remarkable fishing thanks to robust hatches from 2018 to 2023. Based on the 2024 survey results, anglers can expect good yellow perch fishing in the western half of Lake Erie. Data from annual trawl surveys conducted by the Division of Wildlife are combined with those collected by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources to indicate the success of spawning and early life survival of walleye and yellow perch in the western basin. In the central basin, Ohio’s trawls are utilized in conjunction with other agency surveys to gauge hatch success. Results allow biologists to predict how many young fish will enter the catchable population two or three years later. These indices are a key piece of information used by the inter-agency Lake Erie Committee of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to determine annual levels of safe harvest for walleye and yellow perch.

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 28, 2024, Press Release from the Hardin County OSU Extension: Hardin County – Inductees for the 2024 Hardin County Agriculture Hall of Fame have been selected by the Hall of Fame committee. The 2024 inductees will include Charles A. Dietz, Sr. (posthumously), Jack McBride, Ken (posthumously) and Betty McCullough and John “Joe” Saltzman (posthumously). The awards banquet will take place on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 6:30 PM at St. John’s Evangelical Church, 211 East Carrol Street, Kenton. The purpose of the county Agriculture Hall of Fame is to recognize outstanding agricultural contributions by Hardin County people and to honor those who have brought distinction to themselves and the agricultural industry. The public is invited to honor these inductees and their families, and to recognize their many accomplishments. Tickets for the Hardin County Agriculture Hall of Fame Banquet must be purchased in advance by November 15. Tickets are $15 and can be reserved by calling the Ohio State University Extension office in Hardin County at 419-674-2297 or can be purchased from the committee members: Kerry Oberlitner, Genny Haun, Bob Wood, Zach McCullough, Doug Griffith, Gary Harpster, John Knedler, Bob McBride or Nic Baumer.

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.

September 16, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources: COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife is stocking nearly 20,000 muskellunge, or muskies, in nine inland lakes across the state in 2024. Muskies can grow to more than 50 inches in length and are a popular sport fish for anglers. The Division of Wildlife raises muskellunge at the Kincaid and London state fish hatcheries. The hatcheries stock 10- to 12-inch muskies in nine lakes each fall. Muskies are a predatory sport fish that grow quickly and create trophy fishing opportunities in Alum Creek Lake, C. J. Brown Reservoir, Caesar Creek Lake, Clearfork Reservoir, Lake Milton, Leesville Lake, Piedmont Lake, Salt Fork Lake, and West Branch Reservoir. In addition to reservoirs where they are stocked, muskellunge are caught in many of Ohio’s river systems.

September 12, 2024, Press Release from the Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio: The Bluffton community’s 19th annual Fall Festival, with many family-oriented activities, takes place throughout the community on Saturday, Sept. 28th, with most activities occurring between 10 am and 3 pm. The locations of festivities include the Downtown Bluffton shops, Maple Crest Senior Living Village, the Schumacher Homestead (Swiss Community Historical Society), Bluffton Hospital, NWO Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, the Farmer’s Market next to Citizen’s National Bank, the Gazebo at Bluffton Presbyterian Church, Bluffton High School Gymnasium and Cars & Coffee at Masterpiece Signs. 

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.

If you have driven on Main Street in downtown Lima, you can't miss them. The large lamp planters that line Main Street are in full bloom. It's a beautification project through Downtown Lima, Inc. to bring living beauty into the heart of the city. The variety of pink petunias has turned into huge balls of blooms. The planters are maintained by Stratton Greenhouse and sponsored by Nutrien, Allen Economic Development Group, and other donors. Downtown Lima, Inc. is hoping to get more sponsors on board.