The Coshocton County Beacon February 26, 2020

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

The Coshocton County Beacon February 26, 2020 | Page 18