The Coshocton County Beacon February 26, 2020 | Page 18
18 • The Beacon
February 26, 2020
CONSERVATION HIGH
Soil Health Meeting
The Coshocton SWCD hosted a Soil Health meeting at the M Event Center in February of 2019
with 71 landowners attending. District Technicians Ryan Medley and Zach Wallace facilitated the
meeting featuring Joe and Mike Beam from Greene County highlighting their 30 years of no-till,
cover crops, and planter mounted cover crop roller. A roundtable of local farmers from Ashland,
Coshocton, Holmes, Tuscarawas, and Wayne counties shared valuable information about their use
of cover crops in their rotations.
Cover Crops
Producers from several surrounding counties attend the
Soil Health meeting in February featuring a farmer’s
panel discussing cover crop management.
Coshocton County producers signed up for over 5,833 acres of cover crops through the Cover
Crop program in 2019. The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District once again offered cost
share for part of these acres. The SWCD worked with ODA DIvision of Soil and Water Resources
to rank applications, map fields, coordinate the purchase of seed, and get the seed on the ground.
Cost share funds approved fields amounted to over $62,683 for Coshocton County landowners.
About 42% of the acres were flown by Fishers Ag Service in early September into standing
soybeans and corn; 30% was broadcast and 28% was drilled after harvest was completed. These
cover crops provide erosion protection and improve soil health for the producers’ fields. Thanks
to the producers that participated, the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, Fisher Ag
Service, Ezra Helmick, TMK Bakersville, Richard Downing Airport, and ODA Division of Soil & Water
Resources for making the program a success.
Annual Meeting
The Coshocton SWCD 77th Annual Meeting and Banquet was held at the Lake Park Pavilion with
188 residents and guests in attendance. Donovan Rice was the evening’s featured entertainment
2019 Conservation Accomplishments
Small grains were seeded as a cover crop in the fall by aerial
application (shown), broadcasting, and drilling. Cover crops help
prevent soil erosion along with many other benefits.
Shown is a 12 ft. stone Access Road for
equipment and animal pasture access.
BF-00473579
Adult Education .................................................................................2 programs/102 attendees
AEP Earth Day-Watershed Sandbox Model ............................... 12 presentations/565 students
Ag Awareness Day - All Coshocton 4th graders ........................ 13 presentations/340 students
Ag Day Celebration ................................................................................................ 93 attendees
Brush Management .................................................................................................. 249.3 acres
Classroom Presentations ...............................................................................70/2,695 students
Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan ..................................................................... 5 total
Conservation Calendars for Teachers ..................................................12 schools/500 teachers
Cover Crops Applied ........................................................................34 landowners/5,077 acres
Fall Foliage & Farm Tour .................................................................................... 1,800 attendees
Farmers Breakfasts ...................................................................................5 total/135 attendees
First Farm Friday .................................................................................................. 600 attendees
Forest Stand Improvement ............................................................................................ 35 acres
Grassed Waterway ............................................................................................................350 ft.
Inventory and Evaluation (Technical Assistance) .............................................................38 sites
Pasture Walk/Workshop ..............................................................................2 total/40 attendees
Pipeline ...........................................................................................................................4,340 ft.
Plat Books ....................................................................................................................... 46 sold
Quarterly newsletter to district cooperators ......................................................... 2,025 average
Review lot splits for Regional Planning ....................................................................168 reviews
Spring Development .................................................................................................................. 3
Tree Sale Program ...............................................................88 customers/4,592 seedlings sold
Watering Facilities ..................................................................................................................... 6
Water Quality Monitoring ........................................................................8 months, 280 samples