HB7 SIGNED, CREATES IMPORTANT

By | TY HIGGINS

SeNIor DIrecTor of commuNIcaTIoNS aND meDIa relaTIoNS oHIo farm Bureau PoSTeD JaNuarY 8, 2021

DurING the first week of the new year, Gov. mike DeWine signed house Bill 7, creating the statewide Watershed Planning and management Program.

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“the creation of this program is another important step in the work being done to improve water quality in our state as it allows for the development of more localized watershed plans,” said adam sharp, executive vice president of ohio Farm Bureau, during the signing ceremony of the bill. “It’s important because it provides resources for local soil and Water Conservation Districts to help develop those plans in cooperation with area farmers and the various groups involved in water quality improvements.”

other aspects of house Bill 7 include the ohio Department of agriculture director categorizing watersheds and appointing at least one watershed planning and management coordinator in each region. those coordinators perform certain duties in the watershed, including assisting each soil and Water Conservation District to identify sources and areas of water quality impairment.

the bill also revises requirements for Cauv eligibility of land used for biofuel production and reduces from 50% to 20% of the amount of bio-digesters that must come from the farm.

“house Bill 7 creates yet another useful tool to assist the agriculture community in its continued commitment to making improvements in water quality,” sharp said. “that is a commitment the agriculture community looks forward to working on with the governor more in the future.”

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By | Jill Sell

free laNce WrITer KeNT-raVeNNa recorD courIer

It DoesN’t matter if you are a backyard gardener, a hobby farmer or a large commercial grower. attracting beneficial predatory insects to a property can significantly help improve the health and abundance of plants.

that’s the message ohio state university entomologist mary Gardiner wishes to convey. Dr. Gardiner is professor and graduate studies chair of the department of entomology and environmental studies Graduate Program. her Zoom webinar, Tips for Using and Attracting Beneficial Insects, will be held 11 a.m. to noon, march 3. insects and pests, however, so some farmers and growers consider their biological pest control attributes as more limited.

“We already have these insects in our area for natural pest control. spend money on habitats that attract them and keep them around rather than buying them. ladybugs aren’t going to stay in any place that isn’t ideal. they may stay in enclosed low tunnels that cover plants, but that’s the exception,” said Gardiner, who also strongly does not endorse the selling of lady beetles collected in the wild.

these “natural enemies” as Gardiner calls these “good” insects, devour the aphids, mealy bugs, scales and other unwanted visitors that lunch on flowers, veggies, fruits and landscape plants. Beneficial predator insects hunt prey; parasitoid predators lay eggs on a host, eventually killing it. among the most effective are lady beetles (family: Coccinellidae) and praying mantises (family: Mantodea). mantises will chow down on both good 14 | WINter 2021

Gardiner believes there are “a lot of unsung heroes” that work hard to rid our crop rows and flower beds of damaging pests. tiny wasps (including Pteromalidae, a metallic blue or green wasp, and the itty bitty Trichogrammatidae that is less than 2 mm) attack pest eggs, larvae or pupae. spiders, (in the order araneae, and not insects) also crawl into the underrated pest control category.

“It’s very unlikely that you will ever be bitten by a spider even if you touch it. I hope people will become less afraid of them,” said Gardiner.

the entomologist listed her top three most challenging pests to eradicate particularly in smaller growing environments that use natural pest control. they include: cucumber beetle (Chrysomelidae), squash bug (Anasa tristis) and the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys). the spined soldier bug (Podisus maculiventris), however, is a valuable predatory stink bug to have in residence. the pointy-shouldered insect will help rid gardens of hungry, hungry caterpillars.

to help discourage insects that feed on curcurbits (pumpkins, squash, zucchini), Gardiner suggests planting later in the season, in early June or even after. “Plant these later than your neighbor. once Cucurbitaceae bugs get settled, they don’t move,” said Gardiner, perhaps setting in motion some clandestine spying on neighbors’ garden patches.

there are many ways to attract beneficial insects, she believes. Forgoing the “neat and tidy” look, leaving some sticks and leaves, helps create welcoming habitats. those currently popular insect or bee homes that garden centers sell (which are also easily hand built) can attract “good” bugs. But unwanted tenants may also move in. these houses, often filled with straws, pine cones, twigs, etc.) must be cleaned every couple years with a 10 percent bleach solution, according to Gardiner. also, strategically located fruit feeders near plants may help attract “good” insects.

“spraying veggie plants very early in the season with a very weak sugar solution will also provide food for beneficial insects when there isn’t a lot of food for them,” added Gardiner.

the entomologist believes 2021 will be a productive year for home gardens because people are more interested in where and how their food is grown and they are also curious about natural pesticides. large commercial growers may not have the opportunity to completely switch crops if there are specific pest problems. But if someone is growing plants for fun or as a food source just for their family, and things aren’t going well, there are solutions, said Gardiner.

“If you are getting super frustrated giving up plants to insects every year, try something else. I gave up on cucumbers. But I planted sweet potatoes in containers and had no problems,” she said.

(For more information about the webinar, visit go.osu.edu/organic-series or contact Cassandra Brown at 330-262-3634 or brown.1844.osu.edu. There is no cost or registration for the webinar.)

By | Kelli milligan-Stammen

DIrecTor of PuBlIcaTIoNS, oHIo farm Bureau PoSTeD DecemBer 2, 2020

WO-1076 1260 the NatIoNal association of Conservation Districts and Pollinator Partnership presented Jim Croskey of Dalroy Farms in holmes County with the 2020 Farmer-rancher Pollinator Conservation award in october.

the award was presented to Croskey and his family during the 20th annual North american Pollinator Protection Campaign meeting.

“Jim Croskey and his family are a testament to holistic stewardship,” said NaCD Ceo Jeremy Peters. “they work hand-in-hand with the holmes soil and Water Conservation District to make knowledgeable decisions about their operation in order to improve their soil health and water quality, while providing much-needed habitat for our hardworking pollinators.”

Dalroy Farms is a multigenerational dairy farm that also maintains several hundred acres of hay and cropland.

In recent years, Croskey has identified sites on the operation to add honey bee hives, establishing more than 20 since spring 2018.

“Not only are pollinators a passion of Jim’s, but he’s also recruited his whole family, down to his 5-yearold grandson, to become engaged in caring for honey bees,” said Pollinator Partnership President and Ceo laurie Davies adams. “the family is committed to educating others on the many benefits of pollinators, actively advocating in their local communities for them to become pollinator advocates as well.”

Dalroy Farms has been no-till for decades and utilizes cover crops – largely clover stands – to improve their soil health, as chopped forage for their cows, and as fodder for the honey bees. through the use of these conservation practices, Croskey has been able to reduce pesticide usage, committing to timing his applications to minimize the effects on local pollinators.

the Croskeys are Farm Bureau members in holmes County.

Kelli milligan stammen is director of publications for the ohio Farm Bureau.

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