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 18, 2024, Press Release from the Allen Soil and water Conservation District: The cooler weather has arrived and many homeowners around the county are raking up leaves, cutting back perennials, and just generally prepping yards, and gardens for the long winter ahead. But what few people realize is that caring for the soil should be a part of the autumn yard routine. Soil testing is especially essential if fertilizer is used. Over-fertilizing is so easy to do that many don’t give it much thought when applying it. Excess fertilizer is washed into our rivers and streams every time it rains. From there it causes algae problems, robs oxygen from the water, and is a leading contributor of poor water quality.

LIMA, OH (WLIO) - Some Lima City School students got their hands a little dirty on Friday, all for the love of science.

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.

It was a Tuesday evening filled with food, fun, laughs, and even snakes inside the OSU Lima Visitor Center! The Tri-Moraine Audubon Society hosted their Family Fun Night Tuesday evening with an emphasis on environmental themed activities.

Lightning Safety Awareness Week started in 2001 in order to address that lightning is an underrated killer. Since that time, fatalities have dropped due to increased awareness. Numbers around 55 per year in 2001 are now less than 30.