Agriculture

As I prepare this newspaper article for this week’s paper, one of the other things on my agenda for this week is to start working on the scheduling of the upcoming pesticide re-certifications for those who will need re-certified by March 31, 2016. This is a big year, as we…

Suddenly it became October and the weather changed drastically. One of my friends laughed and said, “We would love this weather if it was spring.” I have to admit I actually turned the furnace on for a day to take the chill off the house. It is time to load…

Can it really be the middle of September? The first day of fall is upon us and I always feel a little panicked as September comes to a close. My project “wish list” seemed to grow longer this summer. I had some fantastic surprises in the garden this year, but…

Much of the corn has dropped and most of the soybeans have turned. The dry month of September has made much of the crop dry down a little faster, so the big equipment will be on the roads for the next few weeks. This is just a reminder to all…

Now that cooler weather has arrived and gardening is more of a pleasure, it’s time to look at your landscape and make a few much-needed replacements. In early fall plants go “dormant”, meaning that they don’t need much food or water to survive. You might say that they’re going to…

Mark your calendar and plan to attend our first garden seminar being held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17 in the Community Room at the Mt. Orab campus of Southern State Community College. Gary Keuffer, OSUE Brown County Master Gardener and member of the Brown County Beekeepers Association,…

Rural and suburban landscapes attract deer because they offer a neat little “buffet” of food deer love to eat. Rather than forage over a wide area, deer can “one-stop-shop” for a delicious meal all in one location. Good landscape design and plant selection should include deer resistance along with other…

If you have ever thought you would like to become a Master Gardener Volunteer, the opportunity for training is upon you. The classes will be offered during the day from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays starting Oct. 7 and running through Nov. 19 (14 sessions offered, you…

The growing season of 2015 will be one that we talk about for some time to come. The good planting weather for most of the grain crops was followed by six or seven weeks of excessive rain that delayed hay harvest, some tobacco being set, and most of the wheat…

Perhaps you’ve noticed that, after an early summer break, moles are back with a vengeance. We’ve also noticed a record rabbit population this summer, along with the usual deer damage to certain plants. Left unchecked, all these critters can lay waste to your lawns and gardens. We’ve tried numerous ways…