|
Welcome to the Muskingum County
Agriculture
& Natural Resources Program
  
Mark Mechling
Extension Educator,
Agriculture &
Natural Resources
All About Agriculture in Muskingum County
Muskingum County
is located in the rolling hills of east-central Ohio. Livestock represents much of
the county's agricultural base. The three primary agricultural
commodities in Muskingum county are dairy, beef cattle and hogs.
Other important commodities include horticultural crops, fruits and
vegetables, hay, pasture, corn, soybeans and sheep. Muskingum county
leads the state in the number of beef cows and is ranked near the top in
sheep, hay and pasture.
Back to the
top
Calendar of Activities
August 2-13: Ohio State
Fair
August 10: Pre-Fair
Lamb Carcass Evaluation Activity, 6:00 p.m. at Olde Village
Meats, Frazeysburg
August 13-19: Muskingum
County Fair
August 23: Farm
Service Agency and Farm Management Update, 1:00—2:30 p.m. and
repeated at 7:00—8:30 p.m., Rural Services
Building.
August 24: Forage
Field Day, 2:00—7:30 p.m. at Ed Hill Family Farm, 1715 Wesley Chapel Road.
Flier
enclosed.
August 28: Pasture
Walk, 7:00 p.m. at 4781 Tool
Gate Road, Somerset. Call Perry County Extension
at (740) 743-1602
Sept. 5: Ag
Breakfast, 8:00 a.m. at Friendly Hills Grange Camp. Speaker-Carol Humphrey, Muskingum County Business Incubator
Sept. 9: Farm City Day, Fairgrounds. This year’s theme is
“Fruit”
Sept. 19-21: Farm
Science Review
October 7: Scrap Tire Collection Day, 8:00
a.m.—1:00 p.m., Muskingum
County
Recycling Facility
August 13-19: Muskingum
County Fair
Sept. 9: Farm City
Day, Fairgrounds. This year’s
theme is “Fruit”
Sept. 19-21: Farm
Science Review
October 7: Scrap
Tire Collection Day, 8:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m., Muskingum County
Recycling Facility
*Call the Extension Office (454-0144)
for more information on any of the above events!
Back
to the top
Current News
Control
of Japanese Beetle Adults and Grubs in Home Lawns Fact Sheet
Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle Fact Sheet
HOW TO SAMPLE
SOIL FOR TESTING.pdf
Grazing Distribution
Tips
(Source - Noble County Extension Newsletter)
A challenge for some grazers is to
manage livestock to graze evenly over an entire pasture field. What
options does a manager have to help with this grazing distribution problem?
Additional fencing to divide pastures
into small units is likely the most effective. However, this option
comes with a need for additional watering sites on most pasture
systems. So what other options exist?
First, consider why are livestock
grazing some areas more than others? Some reasons found are:
1. The watering source
2. More productive or palatable
forage
3. Terrain limitations
4. Mineral feeding sites
5. Stream crossing area
Let's consider these options and how
they fit into a grazing management plan.
Fencing
By incorporating inexpensive cross-fencing,
a manager can "force" livestock to graze in a pattern the manager
desires. The fencing design must consider normal livestock movement
patterns major changes in soil types and slopes, water availability,
livestock flow to handling facilities, land slope aspect (facing
directions), etc.
Water Source
On many farms, the water distribution
system can become the major factor in determining fence amount and
location. Often water availability may need to be the first limiting
factor which is considered. Simple to elaborate water distribution
plans are being utilized. Most producers who have developed a plan
are quick to voice praise for its help in distributing forage
utilization. Pay back of expense is often seen in 2 - 5 years.
Many water distribution options exist and a call or stop at the local Soil
& Water Conservation District office can get a manager started.
As plans and options developed, cost share through EQUIP may be
available.
Forage Production
Forage production will likely be best near
the location where livestock "camp." Livestock manure and
urine will "recycle" 80-90% of nutrients contained within the
forage they consume. So much recycling is occurring on
pastures. However, a major "problem" begins because the
recycled deposits are often near water and/or shade sources.
Therefore, forage the longest distance from these areas becomes
"poorer" as nutrients are moved to "ramping
areas." The greatest management tool available to minimize the
redistribution is fencing which "confines" ramping to the areas
near where the forage was harvested.
Terrace Limitations
Livestock tend to move on the contour of
steep terrain. So some forage may be under-utilized because of its growing
location. The normal movement patterns should be considered when
building fences. So most fencing will include a component built on
the contour. Limit the amount of movement up and down a steep slope
to get to water. Paths will develop, erosion follows and a manager
will lose the environmentally friendly advantage of grazing.
Mineral Feeding Sites
Salt and mineral feeding should be
separated from watering in order to help distribute forage grazing and
manure deposition.
Stream Cross Areas
Livestock seem to develop preferred stream
crossing sites. These crossing areas seem to include a stable creek
bottom, a "low" bank, little stream bank brush, etc. These
natural crossing sites may be the best choices. Occasionally, a
manager may need to create an alternate site, but should include the
features of a natural site for the new site to be useful.
Although each of these areas could be a topic to be discussed further, this
overview can give forage/livestock manager areas to include in his grazing
plan. Water distribution systems and internal fencing remain the
major factors which determine the distribution of grazing on most land.
Back to
the top
Connections to Web Sites
The Ohio State
University Related
Links:
Back to the top
|
