County Soils Contest Winners
Every year the Highland SWCD holds a soil judging competition for the county school FFA Chapters. The competition allows the students to evaluate soil pits to determine soil properties, limitations, recommended conservation practices, and appropriate land uses for either an urban or rural ag setting. Students also had to complete two written tests. One consisted of questions on the county soil survey and the other tests general knowledge of soils. In the rural ag soil judging contest, students evaluate the soil based on its suitability for agriculture, forestry, pasture and wildlife uses. In the urban soil judging contest, students determine the soil’s ability to be used for roads, lawns, gardens and landscaping, home building sites and septic systems. In 2019 Caleb Cook (Middle R) was the County Urban Winner from McClain FFA and Richie Lester (Alex Snyder- Middle L accepting award for Lester) was the Rural Ag Winner also from McClain FFA. Dan Chambers, Highland SWCD Board member (R) presented the awards of behalf of sponsor Farm Credit Mid-America and District Technician Chuck Williams (L) are shown with the contest winners.
Every year the Highland SWCD holds a soil judging competition for the county school FFA Chapters. The competition allows the students to evaluate soil pits to determine soil properties, limitations, recommended conservation practices, and appropriate land uses for either an urban or rural ag setting. Students also had to complete two written tests. One consisted of questions on the county soil survey and the other tests general knowledge of soils. In the rural ag soil judging contest, students evaluate the soil based on its suitability for agriculture, forestry, pasture and wildlife uses. In the urban soil judging contest, students determine the soil’s ability to be used for roads, lawns, gardens and landscaping, home building sites and septic systems. In 2019 Caleb Cook (Middle R) was the County Urban Winner from McClain FFA and Richie Lester (Alex Snyder- Middle L accepting award for Lester) was the Rural Ag Winner also from McClain FFA. Dan Chambers, Highland SWCD Board member (R) presented the awards of behalf of sponsor Farm Credit Mid-America and District Technician Chuck Williams (L) are shown with the contest winners.
6th Annual Highland County Farm Tour a Success
The 6th Annual Highland County Farm Tour took place on Sept. 14, 2019. The farm tour was a result of a collaborative effort between Highland County Farm Bureau and Highland Soil and Water Conservation District. Over 100 people attended the event in the Fairview area.
The tour featured beautiful, diverse farms and provided beneficial information on local sustainable agriculture. The tour consisted of stops at the following locations: Bonnie Burchwell Farm; featuring a presentation on pond management by Aquatic Biologist Anthony Bruno from Jones Fish, Stroud’s Apiary; where participants learned how to become a beekeeper, Higgins Steel Roofing; which offered a unique look behind the scenes of their performance panel operation, see first-hand how honey is processed and tour the extensive beekeeping products sold at Higgins. In addition to learning about these unique farms, participants also enjoyed a pollinator habitat presentation from Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist Barb Bauer after lunch on the importance of maintaining habitat to protect our pollinators.
The 6th Annual Highland County Farm Tour took place on Sept. 14, 2019. The farm tour was a result of a collaborative effort between Highland County Farm Bureau and Highland Soil and Water Conservation District. Over 100 people attended the event in the Fairview area.
The tour featured beautiful, diverse farms and provided beneficial information on local sustainable agriculture. The tour consisted of stops at the following locations: Bonnie Burchwell Farm; featuring a presentation on pond management by Aquatic Biologist Anthony Bruno from Jones Fish, Stroud’s Apiary; where participants learned how to become a beekeeper, Higgins Steel Roofing; which offered a unique look behind the scenes of their performance panel operation, see first-hand how honey is processed and tour the extensive beekeeping products sold at Higgins. In addition to learning about these unique farms, participants also enjoyed a pollinator habitat presentation from Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist Barb Bauer after lunch on the importance of maintaining habitat to protect our pollinators.
Cover Crop Field Day Held
The Highland SWCD and the Highland County Farm Bureau partnered together to host a field day to uncover the importance of planting cover crops. The event was held on August 21, 2019 at Brown Farms in Highland County. Information was provided on fertilizer recommendations, the importance of improving soil health and a tour of a cover crop plot was conducted. Various events was held throughout the day, such as in-field demonstrations and a rain simulator. This field day offered a unique on-site opportunity for landowners to carefully consider all cover crop options that can be implemented to advance their farming operation while capturing nutrients for a long-term investment.
The Highland SWCD and the Highland County Farm Bureau partnered together to host a field day to uncover the importance of planting cover crops. The event was held on August 21, 2019 at Brown Farms in Highland County. Information was provided on fertilizer recommendations, the importance of improving soil health and a tour of a cover crop plot was conducted. Various events was held throughout the day, such as in-field demonstrations and a rain simulator. This field day offered a unique on-site opportunity for landowners to carefully consider all cover crop options that can be implemented to advance their farming operation while capturing nutrients for a long-term investment.
WARM SEASON GRASS GRAZING WORKSHOP
An informational grazing workshop was held at the Millstone Creek Farm on July 16, 2019 located at 9061 Grabill Road in Hillsboro, OH. This was a collorabitive event hosted by the Highland Soil and Water Conservation District, the Ohio Department of Agriculture, USDA NRCS, the Ohio State University Extension and the ODNR, Division of Wildlife to provide opportunities for farmers to learn new advanced grazing techniques. Topics of discussion included; Pasture Management, Animal Performance and Economics, Warm Season Grass Pastures, Warm-Season Annuals and Cover Crop Options, and a pasture walk of the Millstone Creek Farm Operation. A delicious dinner was provided by the Highland County Cattlemen Association and Union Stockyards. The educational evening offered the opportunity to see first-hand how the farm converted fescue to perennial native grasses, to allow a unique grazing technique that will increase water quality, improve soil health, and provide wildlife habitat.
An informational grazing workshop was held at the Millstone Creek Farm on July 16, 2019 located at 9061 Grabill Road in Hillsboro, OH. This was a collorabitive event hosted by the Highland Soil and Water Conservation District, the Ohio Department of Agriculture, USDA NRCS, the Ohio State University Extension and the ODNR, Division of Wildlife to provide opportunities for farmers to learn new advanced grazing techniques. Topics of discussion included; Pasture Management, Animal Performance and Economics, Warm Season Grass Pastures, Warm-Season Annuals and Cover Crop Options, and a pasture walk of the Millstone Creek Farm Operation. A delicious dinner was provided by the Highland County Cattlemen Association and Union Stockyards. The educational evening offered the opportunity to see first-hand how the farm converted fescue to perennial native grasses, to allow a unique grazing technique that will increase water quality, improve soil health, and provide wildlife habitat.
State Technical Tour Held
The Highland Soil and Water Conservation District and the Natural Resource Conservation Service hosted a USDA State Technical Tour in early August that focused on practices in the Clear Creek Watershed area. The Tour was designed to provide representatives from State agencies an on-site learning experience on various conservation practices in the field. Since the District was the lead agency for the USDA Regional Conservation Partner Program, we were chosen to highlight projects within that project area. Some of the practices that were featured during the Tour included; cover crops, edge feathering, CRP conversion, an emergency watershed protection site on Evans Rd and a presentation on the Quail Focus Area during lunch. It was an honor to be chosen as the host to display the great conservation efforts that are being done in Highland County.
The Highland Soil and Water Conservation District and the Natural Resource Conservation Service hosted a USDA State Technical Tour in early August that focused on practices in the Clear Creek Watershed area. The Tour was designed to provide representatives from State agencies an on-site learning experience on various conservation practices in the field. Since the District was the lead agency for the USDA Regional Conservation Partner Program, we were chosen to highlight projects within that project area. Some of the practices that were featured during the Tour included; cover crops, edge feathering, CRP conversion, an emergency watershed protection site on Evans Rd and a presentation on the Quail Focus Area during lunch. It was an honor to be chosen as the host to display the great conservation efforts that are being done in Highland County.