Farmers connect over coffee and conservation

About four years ago, Holmes SWCD started a series of local meetings as a result of a farmer suggesting a neighborhood meeting to talk about water quality and soil conservation. It was a good idea because one of the goals of the Holmes Soil and Water Conservation District is to provide information and education about watersheds and water quality for the landowners and farmers in Holmes County.

I brought that idea back to the staff and board. It was decided to plan two meetings and call them Conservation and Coffee. The idea was to promote conversation at meetings in different neighborhoods and watersheds.

In February 2023 Conservation and Coffee meetings were held in the Mt. Hope area and at a farm in the Doughty Valley. The topics for discussion included soil test results, planning for cover crops and a farmer roundtable on management. It was decided to continue these meetings as an annual event.

In February 2024 the Holmes Soil and Water Conservation District partnered with three farmers to host three more meetings. That year the meetings were held at the Willis Miller farm near Mt. Hope, the Mose Mast farm near Farmerstown and at Valley Acres Farm in the Doughty Valley. The topics at these meetings focused on local watersheds, water quality and a discussion about the opportunities on the farm to improve the watershed you live in by implementing a conservation practice.

In February 2025 meetings were held at the Winesburg Fire Department, Farmerstown Produce Auction and at the Junior D. Miller farm in the Doughty Valley. Those meetings included presentations on improving soil health, balancing soil fertility, and managing wildlife areas and stream buffers.

This year we are planning three separate events at the locations and times listed below:

—Tuesday, Feb. 3 from 9-11 a.m. at the Winesburg Fire Station, 2089 Main St., Winesburg.

—Tuesday, Feb. 17 from 9-11 a.m. at the Junior D. Miller Farm, 5880 County Road 19, Millersburg.

—Wednesday, March 4 from 9-11 a.m. at the Farmerstown Auction, 2858 state Route 557, Baltic.

There will be free coffee and doughnuts.

The agenda for all three meetings will be similar. We will start with Holmes Soil and Water Conservation District staff talking about the new mobile fence kit for grazers, MWCD livestock exclusion fencing, pasture soil tests, the cover crop program, and other services and updates. Holmes County Extension agriculture educator Janessa Hill will provide information on OSU Extension programs and resources.

Let’s Talk Cover Crops will be presented by JDS Seeds. Jake Peer, state service forester, and Trevor Berger, Holmes SWCD program administrator, will lead a discussion on forestry and wildlife habitat management. Following their presentation, we will have a farmer roundtable discussion on topics such as farm enterprise transition, wildlife and prairie habitat, and the MWCD livestock exclusion fencing program.

Why not plan to attend one of these meetings and learn more about how cover crops can benefit your operation? You may get some ideas on improving wildlife habitat, field buffers or stream exclusion fence, resulting in improved water quality and habitat for birds and pollinators. There will be time to ask questions and discuss several topics during the farmer roundtable.

Other meetings being planned by OSU Extension and Holmes SWCD are the new OSU Fertilizer Applicator Certification Training course. The topics include requirements and regulations for fertilizer applicators, soil test reports, phosphorus and nitrogen recommendations to maximize economic returns, and water quality impacts of nitrogen and phosphorus. Learn more about soil testing and fertilizer recommendations and meet requirements for fertilizer applicator certification. Watch for locations and dates. Registration is required. Call Holmes County OSU Extension at 330-674-3015 for more information.

Pesticide and fertilizer recertification courses will be offered at two locations in Holmes County this year. On Jan. 22 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., it will be during Ag-Pro Expo at Harvest Ridge (Holmes County Fairgrounds). On Jan. 27 it will be at Mt. Hope Auction from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Call Holmes County OSU Extension for more information.

Holmes SWCD will be set up at the Ohio Grazing Conference in the Mt. Hope Event Center Thursday and Friday, Jan. 22-23. Stop by our table to get more information on our programs and services such as the new mobile fence kit, soil testing, field maps and technical assistance on grazing plans. Enter our drawing to win a Collect-N-Go soil bucket and up to 10 free soil tests. There will be a drawing on both days.

We also will be at the Ag-Pro Expo at Harvest Ridge Expo Center, 8808 state Route 39, Millersburg, Thursday, Jan. 22. Stop in for breakfast from 7:30-9 a.m. and a vendor show and presentations from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come by and see us.

If you have questions, do not hesitate to give us a call at 330-674-2811 ext. 3.

Joe Christner is a program assistant with Holmes Soil and Water Conservation District.