New ag banquet format succeeds

COLDWATER - The first all ag banquet on Tuesday at the Coldwater American Legion hall was deemed a success.

Mercer County OSU Extension, Soil and Water Conservation District, Farm Service Agency and Farm Bureau officials participated.

"There seemed to be great conversations happening all through dinner, and the crowd was engaged during all aspects of the evening," said Nikki Hawk, Mercer SWCD district administrator/education specialist. "I believe it was a success based on the higher turnout than any of the groups have had in recent years at annual meetings. Of course, the wet weather helped with attendance, but I hope that we can build on the excitement generated from our combined event as we move forward to plan for the future."

About 105 people attended the event compared with 75 people who attended last year's 73rd annual Mercer SWCD banquet/annual meeting.

Theresa Howick, Celina, was re-elected to the SWCD board of supervisors and Steve Heckler, Celina, was elected as a new board member, topping incumbent Robert Maurer, Mendon. Howick and Maurer are finishing their first terms on the board. Howick and Heckler will start their three-year terms in January.

Howick is the Mercer County Cattleman's Association treasurer and is active in the Mercer County Farm Bureau. She has her commercial drone license and has taught herself to operate the craft to conduct research on plants and soil health.

Heckler is serving his third term as a Hopewell Township trustee. He has worked at Mercer Landmark for about 20 years in agronomy sales and works with customers to develop manure-management plans.

The SWCD board handed out awards to two individuals who participated in the annual county soils judging contest on Sept. 21 at the Roger Albers farm on Depweg Road. Jared Anderson, a Parkway High School senior, received an award for being the individual winner of the agricultural portion of the contest. He is the son of Kelly and Brian Anderson. Faith Shellabarger, also a Parkway senior, received an award for scoring the highest on the urban portion of the contest. She is the daughter of Don and Lori Shellabarger.

Courtney Metzger, a Fort Recovery High School senior, received a $1,000 scholarship sponsored by the Mercer SWCD and Wayne Insurance Group. Metzger has been involved in FFA, having served as historian, vice president and in numerous community and judging events. She also is involved in CYO basketball, student council, art club, Spanish club and the National Honor Society. She plans to major in agriculture business at Wright State University-Lake Campus. She also works at Cooper Farms as a dispatch receptionist.

SWCD technician Matt Heckler gave an overview of an agricultural drainage tile replacement project the district completed this year. He showed aerial photography from 1949 to May and August of 2017 showing how failing tile caused flooding that had continued to worsen over the years. Just prior to the project's completion, about 20 acres of crop ground in the affected area produced nothing and another 20 acres produced damaged crops.

The most recent photo taken last week showed the same area after the tile project had been completed with no standing water after a heavy rain.

Tile main replacement projects typically cost $500 to $1,000 per acre and the Mercer SWCD completes two to three projects per year. The office usually has a five-year waiting list for the tile projects.

Jill Smith, director of the Auglaize, Logan, Mercer and Shelby County Farm Bureau, encouraged Farm Bureau members to vote on 2018-2019 proposed local, state and national policies in a packet handed out to banquet attendees. Members voted to add a state issue that calls for the adoption of a uniform soil-testing format, requested by board member Terry Mescher.

Smith highlighted several bureau activities during the past year, including supporting a growing Young Ag Professional group, which hosts meetings on local agriculture, emerging agriculture and carrying on farming legacy; distributing more than 600 ag information bags to second-graders; sponsoring a scavenger hunt at the fair, during which more than 500 participated; working with local businesses and agencies to develop more than 45 ag fact signs at the fair; partnering in the Our Land, Our Water Drive-It-Yourself tour; and assisting members with issues of neighbor relations, water quality and legal problems.

Denny Riethman, Mercer County OSU Extension educator, said the extension worked to provide education certification credits for 390 licensed pesticide applicators and 620 fertilizer applicators in the county. He reported a survey of 100 soybean fields conducted in early September showed that water hemp, mare's tail and giant ragweed are the most prevalent weeds in the county. The county extension office also is working to schedule a December workshop on transitioning farm ownership to the next generation.

Michelle Stahl, executive director of the Mercer County Farm Service Agency, reported,

• USDA on Friday announced people can re-enroll acres into the Lake Erie Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.

• Jan. 15 is the deadline to apply for the new Market Facilitation Program aimed at helping farmers hit by trade disputes with China and other countries and that silage is an eligible crop for the program.

• Friday is the deadline to apply for the Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage program and also the Margin Protection Program for dairy.

• Nov. 20 is the deadline to apply for the Non-insured Assistance Program for weather-related damage to hay, fruit trees, grapes, honey and maple sap.
  • No new farm bill has been passed.

After officials gave their presentations, attendees participated in ag trivia with winners receiving candy bars and gift certificates.