As a part of Hardin County for 70 years, Hardin SWCD wants to remind you that each of us has a connection to natural resources. The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) is celebrating the 64th year of Stewardship week April 28 – May 5. The 2019 Stewardship Week is themed, “Life in the Soil: Dig Deeper”.

COLUMBUS – Michael Bailey of Marysville has been named vice president, strategic partnerships for Ohio Farm Bureau. In this newly created position, he will develop and manage key relationships and partnerships within the farm and food sector and with businesses, educators, public officials and others.

Planting season is always crunch time for farmers. They know that research says that early planted corn and soybeans has the best chance for large yields. However, field conditions may only allow planting for a few days because of wet weather. As a result, farmers put in long hours to get the crop planted on these few days suitable for planting.

Between planting in the fall and Feekes 4 growth stage (beginning of erect growth) in the spring, winter wheat is vulnerable to environmental stress such as freezing temperatures with limited snow cover, saturated soils, and freeze-thaw cycles that cause soil heaving. All of which may lead to substantial stand reduction, and consequently, low grain yield.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Hardin Soil and Water Conservation District, is providing funding for new assistance programs for farmers to help protect water quality in the western basin of Lake Erie.

As Hardin County farmers get ready to plant this year’s corn and soybeans, crop yields from the 2018 growing season have been released from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service. Although these crop production numbers are based on estimates, they are used for crop insurance and government reporting purposes.

FOSTORIA — AgCredit – one of northern Ohio’s largest lenders for farmers, rural homeowners and agribusiness – recently declared a record patronage refund of $26.7 million to eligible customer owners. This patronage payment provides a refund of 30 cents for every dollar of interest accrued on eligible loans for the past year.

Larry Lokai of Urbana was honored at the Third Annual Hardin County Poultry Awards Banquet on March 16. Each year the county committee selects one honoree for service and dedication that helped the junior fair poultry exhibitors of Hardin County.

Students from the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) competed in undergraduate research forums at The Ohio State University. The University’s Richard J. and Martha D. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum on Feb. 20 and the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Undergraduate Research Forum on March 6.

COLUMBUS — Corn prices are on the rise, while soybean prices are projected to continue to dip this year before recovering a bit in 2020, according to government projections. And this year, national net farm income, which takes into account many commodities not grown in Ohio, is projected to increase 10 percent over last year’s total, forecasts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) show.