Many alfalfa and forage stands across the state took a beating this winter and the wet spring has added insult to injury. Forage stands were damaged this past winter, and the wet spring has further deteriorated stands that appeared they might recover. So what are the options to assuring a forage supply for the future?

COLUMBUS, Ohio —Excessive rainfall has not only hindered soybean and corn farmers’ attempts to plant, but has contributed to a near record-low level of hay to feed livestock in Ohio and across the Midwest. The hay inventory in Ohio has dipped to the fourth lowest level in the 70 years of reporting inventory, leaving farmers struggling to find ways to keep their animals well fed, said Stan Smith, a program assistant in agriculture and natural resources for Ohio State University Extension. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).

PAINTER CREEK Painter Creek Community Grange members held a supper prior to their meeting Thursday, June 20.

For their yearly officer retreat, the 2019 Kenton OHP FFA officer team spent three days of hard work together in Hocking Hills.

Consistent rains across Ohio and the Corn Belt continue to delay planting progress as the June 17 USDA Planting Progress report showed that 68% of intended corn acres and 46% of intended soybean acres have been planted in Ohio. Nationwide, roughly 27 million acres of corn and soybeans will either be planted or filed under prevented planting insurance.

KLOVER KIDS The Klover Kids Clover Bud 4-H program held its first meeting on June 10 at the Hardin County Fairgrounds.

POMONA The Hardin County Pomona Grange met on June 15 at Greenwood Grange with Jean Osborn presiding.

For the time period of May 1-May 31, 2019, Extension rainfall reporters recorded an average of 5.12 inches of rain in Hardin County. Last year, the average rainfall for the same time period was 3.40 inches. Rainfall for May was 0.89 inches more than the ten-year average rainfall for the month.

Participating in the 2019 U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Lake Erie Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) offers producers cash for conservation. Do you have a ditch or stream running through your farm that needs a filter strip? How about that one area that’s hard to farm because it’s always wet? The Hardin Soil and Water Conservation District is ready to help you evaluate how your bottom line and Lake Erie’s water quality can benefit by signing up for this program.

FOSTORIA — Three farmers have been elected to serve on the board of directors for one of northern Ohio's largest lenders to farmers, agribusinesses and rural home owners. Kevin Flanagan of Findlay, Dusty Sonnenberg of Hamler, and Deborah Johlin-Bach who resides near Elmore, have been elected to serve three-year terms on AgCredit’s board of directors.