Ohioans are reminded that Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) typically affects some white-tailed deer in the late summer, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.  This is not unusual, as EHD is the most common ailment affecting deer in the eastern U.S and the disease occurs annually in the late summer and fall in deer herds across North America.  Ohio has documented some cases of EHD this summer, mostly in northwest Ohio.  The EHD virus is not infectious to people and is not spread from animal to animal.  It is transmitted by the bite of small insects called midges, so EHD-associated deaths in deer can occur until the first frost of the year causes a decline in midge activity.  Once infected, deer show symptoms within five to 10 days, and many deer die within 36 hours of the onset of symptoms.  There is little that can be done to protect deer from the virus.  Outbreaks of EHD can result in high deer mortality in some areas but populations typically increase within a few years.  

White-tailed deer, along with mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn antelope are susceptible to the disease.  Deer infected with the virus may show symptoms including lethargy, head hung down, loss of fear of humans, swelling of the tongue and head and neck, difficulty breathing, and excess salivation.  Affected deer are often found in or near bodies of water, likely because of fever and dehydration.  

People should always avoid touching or handling sick or dead wild animals. Sightings of sick or dead deer should be reported to your local Ohio wildlife officer, or wildlife district office.
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​The mission of the Division of Wildlife is to conserve and improve fish and wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainable use and appreciation by all.

Save our Soils - Did you know?
Soil erosion involves the breakdown, detachment, transport and redistribution of soil particles by forces of water, wind or gravity.  Good soil quality improves crop productivity, water quality, air quality and biological activity.  Good soil quality leads to a healthier and better looking garden.  

What can you do?  Till your ground as little as possible.  Keep living plants in your soil as long as possible.  Grow a variety of plant species in your field or garden.  Keep soil surface covered with residue.

Protect our Pollinators - Did you know?
Pollinators are insects and other animals that aid in the pollination of plants during their feeding process.  Monarch butterflies have seen a 90% population decline over the past two decades. Pollinators are essential for the health and success of flowers, fruits, vegetables and other agricultural crops. 

What can you do?  Provide food and habitat for your pollinators by planting wildflowers and other native species, such as milkweed.  Limit your pesticide use.  Provide clean water for your local pollinators.  Leave dead tree trunks in your landscape for wood-nesting pollinators.  

Watch our Waters - Did you know?
Improper use and storage of fertilizers, pesticides and animal manure can pollute our local streams, rivers and lakes. Increased nutrients in still water promotes algal growth.  Practicing good water quality habits can save you money and time. 
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What can you do?  Follow all regulations when storing, handling and using fertilizers and pesticides. Store any animal manure in a dry area.  Reduce soil erosion.  If you suspect poor water quality in your area, request water quality testing.  

Conservation Client Gateway is USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Services'  secure online web application that gives landowners and land managers, operating as individuals, the ability to:  

•  request technical assistance
•  apply for financial assistance through the Farm Bill's conservation programs
•  review, sign and submit conservation plans and other documents
•  document completed practices and request practice certification
•  request and track payments for completed contract items
•  store and retrieve conservation files, including documents and photographs

Conservation Client Gateway is available to agricultural producers.  In the future, it will be available to business entities and on mobile devices.  Using Conservation Client Gateway isn't required. You are free to continue working with NRCS as you always have.  Now, you simply have more options.  You can drive to or call the field office for assistance, or log onto the Conservation Client Gateway.  Choose what is most convenient for you.
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Conservation Client Gateway provides users the flexibility to determine when they want to engage with NRCS online and when they prefer in-person conservation planning assistance.  The website provides 4 videos of farmers who are now using Conservation Client Gateway.  Visit the following link to connect to Conservation Client Gateway.  Step by step instructions are available online.  If you need additional help, personal assistance is available at (970) 372-4200.

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/cgate/

Early spring is a great time to plant trees.  Frankly, when it comes to planting "bare root" tree seedlings, early spring is the only time.  But what can you do to increase the likelihood for your trees' survival going forward?

Site preparation is extremely important for young trees that will be experiencing "transplant shock". Loosen the soil to give roots a place to go, and get rid of immediate growing competition.  Often times we are introducing one or two year old seedlings into an environment that provides greater potential for herbaceous weeds and woody shrubs which are much more aggressive.  Growing space above and below ground level is at a premium, and almost all other plant types in our area resources more efficiently than tree seedlings.  Think of it like painting a wall.  The more prep you do, the happier you'll be with the result.

Ideally competing vegetation is controlled before, during and after planting.  Even the grass that grows around the base of your tree is stunting its growth.  Once the tree is established, periodically applying a 1% solution of glyphosate to surrounding vegetation is effective for tree support.

Deer, rabbits, mice, voles and others are often the difference between success and failure.   Seedlings from nurseries have nutrient-rich growth that is very desirable to a variety of herbivores.  Suitable plantation species are often preferred foods for wildlife, resulting in selective feeding on your young trees.  Deer will also do physical damage to seedlings through antler rubbing, resulting in dead or broken stems.  Shielding young trees with fence or a protective tree tube may be necessary for desired survival.  There are a variety of tree tubes on the market and one online search will tell you most of what you need to know.  Keep in mind, in order to stay above the deer browse line you'll need to purchase tubes that are at least five feet tall.

This article was provided by Steve McGinnis, Service Forester, Ohio Division of Forestry.

Logan Soil and Water Conservation District would like to remind livestock producers of the risk associated with winter application of manure.  Spreading manure in the winter is not prohibited in Logan County, it is recommended that the practice be avoided if at all possible.  If manure is applied and it enters the "waters of the state" via surface runoff/snow melt, it is considered a violation of the Ohio Pollution Abatement rules and could be subject to a fine from the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

According to the Ohio Revised Code 1501.30, "waters of the state" includes all streams, lakes, ponds, marshes, watercourses, waterways, wells, springs, irrigation systems and other bodies or accumulations of water, surface and underground, natural or artificial, regardless of the depth in which the underground water is located.

The risk of runoff to surface water increases when applying to frozen or snow-covered ground.  The greatest risk of nutrient runoff occurs within 72 hours of a rainfall or snowmelt.  Avoid spreading manure when there is a greater than 50% chance of l/2 inch of rain within 24 hours or if the ground is frozen and snow-covered.  The ground is considered frozen when the manure cannot be incorporated. 
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If manure must be applied in the winter, some best management practices should be taken into consideration when manure is applied.

• Select fields covered with a living crop (cover crop) or at least 90% crop residue.
• Select fields away from surface water or tile inlets.
• Do not apply to any land subject to flooding or where water collects.
• Sloped fields close to surface water or tile drains are not suitable.
• Avoid spreading manure on more than 20 contiguous acres.
• Do not apply more than 5000 gallons/acre of liquid manure or 10 wet tons/acre for solid manure that has greater than 50% moisture.

Follow winter application setback recommendations.

• 300 feet from wells.
• 200 feet from all grassed waterways, road ditches, surface drains, streams, and field surface furrows.
• 300 feet from neighboring residences.

Water quality issues  increasingly come under the scrutiny of the public eye.  Spreading dark manure on white snow may draw unwanted attention to your farm.  This may increase the number of complaints lodged against your operation and the industry as a whole.

Logan Soil and Water Conservation District is available to assist livestock producers with manure management concerns. You may contact the Soil and Water office at 937-404-3143.

Immediate Release Assistance Now Available to Restore and Protect Privately Owned Land Capable of Supporting Wetland Habitat Sign-up Deadline is March 12, 2021

COLUMBUS, OH, Feb. 10, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages people and groups wanting to restore and protect critical wetlands to consider enrolling their property into conservation easements. This year, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will invest in technical and financial assistance to help private landowners, tribes and other groups protect these valuable lands. The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, wetland reserve easement (ACEP-WRE) focuses on restoring previously drained agricultural lands and protecting the restored wetlands with easements. Landowners are compensated for enrolling their land in easements. “Protecting these lands preserves Ohio’s heritage, natural resources and open space,” said John Wilson, NRCS Acting State Conservationist in Ohio. “Easements are another option for people who want to take additional steps to preserve some of our state’s most precious resources.” Applications for ACEP-WRE are taken on a continuous basis. The deadline to receive fiscal year 2021 funding is March 12, 2021.

Wetland Reserve Easements

Through ACEP-WRE, NRCS helps landowners restore and protect wetland ecosystems. Wetlands are one of nature’s most productive ecosystems providing many ecological, societal, and economic benefits. -more- In the 1700s, wetlands covered 5 million acres of Ohio, primarily in the northwestern part of the state, referred to as the “Great Black Swamp.” Competing land uses resulted in a 90% loss of wetlands by the late 1900s. Since 2005, NRCS has assisted landowners in restoring more than 25,000 acres of wetlands in Ohio. “Wetlands provide many benefits, including critical habitat for a wide array of wildlife species,” added Wilson. “They also store floodwaters, clean and recharge groundwater, sequester carbon, trap sediment, and filter pollutants for clean water.” Last year, Ohio landowners restored 480 acres of wetlands through ACEP. Landowners can choose either a permanent or 30-year wetland conservation easement. Eligible lands include farmed or converted wetlands that can successfully be restored, croplands or grasslands subject to flooding, previously restored wetlands and riparian areas that link protected wetland areas. As part of the easement, NRCS and the landowner work together to develop a plan for the restoration and maintenance of the wetland.

More Information
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Ohio landowners interested in wetland reserve easements and partners interested in agricultural easements should contact Michael Hasty, Ohio ACEP-WRE easement coordinator at 614-255-2442 or via e-mail to [email protected] .

A Look Back at Logan SWCD/Logan Co Farm Bureau's September 30, 2020 Customer Appreciation Day

Thank you to all those hearty souls who weathered the cool, damp, windy day to participate in Logan SWCD and Logan County Farm Bureau's Customer Appreciation Day on September 30, 2020.  We were so pleased for those who joined us for a cookout lunch, fellowship, the business of conducting our annual election and other business matters.  We altered our plans this year in response to the Board's concern for the health and welfare of our participants in regard to Covid-19.  

Frank Phelps and Joe Ramsey were re-elected to Logan Soil and Water Conservation District's Board of Supervisors.  Special thanks to Jamie Rice for participating in the election process.  4S Farms was recognized as the Conservation Farm Family of the Year.  Steve Schlumbohm, Micah Schlumbohm, Chris Schlumbohm and Dave Strayer are the owners/operators of 4S Farms. They farm approximately 2700 acres, 70% of which is planted to cover crops.   Cover crops are instrumental in promoting soil health and fertility, reducing weed pressure and decreased chemical costs.  Additional benefits of cover crops include reduced field runoff and improved water quality.  4S Farms takes the "long view" on farming - preserving and improving cropland productivity and profitability.  Being good stewards, embracing new ideas and technology and applying best management practices is the backbone of their farm plan. They plan to leave a successful farming legacy to their next generation of family farmers.   Congratulates to 4S Farms on the Conservation Farm Family of the Year award.  Logan SWCD Board of Supervisors also recognized Steve Searson, District Administrator/Technician for his 30 years of service to the District.  Steve is vital to the District in the performance of his duties including engineering design and implementation, pollution abatement investigations, plat reviews, pond site soils suitability assessments, best management practice recommendations, and countless hours of field work overseeing "conservation on the land." His education, experience, commitment and farm boy common sense serve the District well.  Logan County has benefitted from his service.  We are proud and grateful to Steve.
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The District Board of Supervisors and staff wish good health, success and happiness to Logan County's residents, property owners, visitors and all others.  We are honored to serve Logan County and remain hopeful that together we can address life's challenges.

Pollinator Plug Order Form for 2020.  32 plugs per flat, price dependent on number of flats/order.

Pollinator Plot Order Form for 2020

​Did you Know?...

• Butterflies, moths, bees and wasps and more visit milkweed for pollen and/or nectar.
• Milkweed would have to be ingested in large amounts before being dangerous to livestock and human, besides the fact that it has a nasty taste.  If sufficient forage is available, livestock won't touch it.
• Milkweed is a native plant in Ohio.
• Monarch Butterflies are nearly endangered.

​Things You Should Know About Pollinators

• A pollinator unknowingly can deposit pollen from a different flower.  The plant then uses the pollen to produce a fruit or seed.
• Three-fourths of the world's flowering plants depend on pollinators to reproduce.
• The most common avian pollinator is the hummingbird but there are two species of bat that are major pollinators in the Southwest.
• The U.S. is home to 4,000 species of native bees.
• Pollinators' ecological service is valued at $200 billion each year in the U.S.
• NRCS offers more that 3 dozen conservation activities that can lead to benefits for pollinators.
• 90% of your vitamin C comes from insect-pollinated plants.
• Some flowers hold static charges until visited.  Bumblebees, sensing static electricity, know which flowers to visit.
• Pollinators are facing challenges such as habitat loss, disease, parasites and environmental contaminants.  
• you can help!  Provide food and habitat for pollinators to help them thrive.  you can do this in a backyard, crop field or even volunteer with a conservation organization.

Types of Pollinators

• Bees are the main pollinators for fruits and vegetables.  
• Nectar seeking butterflies are daytime visitors and moths are their nocturnal counterpart.
• Birds, Bats and Hummingbirds are the most common avian pollinator in the continental U.S  Two species of bats are major pollinators in the Southwest.
• Beetles, flies and other insects are common flower visitors and pollinators.