COLUMBUS – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced Friday, Nov. 17 as the deadline to submit applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) in Ohio.

REYNOLDSBURG – The next round of funding is now available through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), as part of a five-year, $17.5 million program funded by USDA’s Natural Resources Conser-vation Service (NRCS).

Kathy Barrett (right) is presented a certificate from Mimi Garringer from the United States Department of Agriculture Ohio State Office in recognition of Barrett’s 30 years of dedicated service to the agency.

During the month of September, Extension volunteer rainfall reporters received an average of 1.77 inches of rain. The most rain for this month, 2.92 inches, fell in Goshen Township, as measured by Brien Brothers Farm.

Members of the Benjamin Logan FFA Officer Team joined more than 100 FFA members from six counties to participate in the Fall District Officer Training at Greenon High School on Oct. 3. The students went through a series of sessions emphasizing leadership, the focus of FFA, and how the FFA has changed and progressed through the years.

During the past week soybean harvest has kicked into high gear. The extended dry period has allowed farmers an uncommon opportunity to harvest non-stop. In some fields they are having trouble staying ahead of the drying beans – grain moisture dropping as low as 10 percent, increasing the chance of shattering before harvest.

Chad Ritchie unloads a gravity wagon of soybeans at Heritage Cooperative in Kenton Tuesday morning.

Each year before soybean harvest, county Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educators conduct a county weed survey. The purpose of this survey is to determine the type and amount of weeds that are infesting farm fields.

During the month of August, Extension volunteer rainfall reporters received an average of 1.39 inches of rain. The most rain for this month, 3.40 inches, fell in Jackson Township as measured by Rick Weber.

Applications are being accepted for the 2017 Hardin County Agriculture Hall of Fame through the end of business on Oct. 16. Nominees must have made their major contribution to agriculture primarily as a result of being born, growing up, living in, or working in Hardin County, Ohio.