32nd Annual Guernsey SWCD Conservation Day Camp

July 27th and 28th marked the 32nd Annual Guernsey SWCD Conservation Camp. We logged 2 days of activities with children ages 8-11. On the first day, we were at Salt Fork State Park. The kid’s activities consisted of fishing, canoeing, archery, making candles out of bees wax, and learning about snakes. The second day was a tour of The Wilds. The kids got to see all kinds of animals from Giraffes, Zebras and Rhinoceros to Camels and Persian Onagers. They also learned about pollinators and plants while walking trails. We want to thank everyone who was involved in making our 32nd Annual Conservation Camp a success. Without the help of our volunteers, none of this would be possible. A special thanks to Dave Schott, Rusty Roberts Sidney Rhinehart, Jolie Black and John Hickenbottom for all their help.

Cover Crop Planning Starts Now

ST. L

Time to plan for cover crops

Make this a year to ‘Cover Some Ground,’ Soil Health Partnership says

OUIS — When it comes to growing cover crops, some common advice from the more than 100 farmers enrolled in the Soil Health Partnership is “start small.” The SHP is encouraging farmers new to cover crops to start small, but start now.

A cover crop is a crop planted primarily to reduce soil erosion, improve soil health, and protect water quality, among other benefits. Typical varieties in the Midwest include cereal rye, oats and tillage radish.

David Moose, an Auburn, Ill. farmer enrolled in the SHP program, has grown cover crops on his farm for several years. Kneeling in his black soil at a November field day, Moose pulls up a tiny green plant. The cereal rye’s thin roots extend deeper into the soil than looks possible.

“This root is already nearly 12 inches long,” Moose says. “It will grow to be another one or two feet down in the soil, providing a nice environment for worms, and creating channels for water to go down deep. I don’t have to rip up the soil for this to happen.”

Growing cover crops, usually in fall and winter, can provide striking benefits to soil health, including:

• Erosion Prevention. Reducing the soil’s exposure to wind and water can help keep precious topsoil in place.

• Restoring Organic Matter.  Some components of organic matter can help bind soil.....(To Read more, click the following link:

                                           https://www.morningagclips.com/time-to-plan-for-cover-crops/

Gray Hairstreak Caterpillar (Strymon melinus)

Picture taken by: Jason Tyrell 

Picture taken by: Jason Tyrell 

This little guy decided to drill a few holes in my green beans in my garden. This caterpillar will be found on flowers and fruits from a ton of different plants. However they are most commonly found on the pea and mallow family, including beans (as we can see from my picture), clovers, cotton and mallow. This caterpillar is capable of causing economic loss in bean and cotton crops.

After this caterpillar turns into a butterfly, this is what it will look like: 

© S. Bright 9/3/2007  Blount County

4-11-07. Falcon Heights, TX. ©Berry Nall or as stated

As an adult, the Gray Hairstreak Butterfly will rely on nectar from several flower species including: Milkweed, goldenrod, white sweet clover, dogbane, mint , winter cress, and trefoil.

You will find this butterfly in non-forested areas, mostly in disturbed weedy areas. 

2017 Conservation Camp

Guernsey Soil and Water Conservation District has been offering a day camp for area youth for 32 years!  This year at the Conservation Camp, our theme will be “Wake Up and Go Outside” with fun and educational activities.

The two day camp is scheduled for July 27 & 28 from 9:00am to 2:00pm, and is open to all Guernsey County youth, ages 8-11.  It will be held at Salt Fork State Park and the Wilds.  Camp fee is only $10.00 for both days.  For this fee, the camper will receive a lunch both days and their own camp T-shirt.  There will be 2 locations (one in Cambridge and one in Byesville) for bus pick-up and drop-off.

On the first day, we’ll take a bus to Salt Fork State Park, where the kids will spend the morning canoeing, fishing and learning archery.  After a picnic lunch, they will learn about the species found in the area and play a variety of fun, educational games.

On the second day, students will take a tour at the Wilds and learn about the multitude of species both managed and unmanaged that call the Wilds home.  They will have the opportunity to explore the Wilds’ pollinator habitat and learn about the restoration efforts throughout the property.  After the tour and lunch, we’ll make some great crafts to take home.

For a registration form or if you have questions, please call Guernsey SWCD at (740) 489-5276, Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:00am and 4:30pm or stop by our office on the Guernsey County Fairgrounds at 335C Old National Rd, Old Washington 43768. Registration deadline is July 20th.  Only the first 30 applications will be taken.

Cover Crop Kickoff

Cover Crops Kickoff Program is June 5th at 6PM. Event will be held at Moore Memorial Woods in Old Washington. Please RSVP for this FREE Event by calling Jason Tyrell at the GSWCD office at 740-489-5276. Contracts for the MWCD Cover Crop program will be available at this event.

Pest Issues with corn into cover crops ....Audio.

Check out this link:

http://ocj.com/2017/05/pest-pressures-seen-in-corn-planted-into-cover-crops/

Pasture Walk outcome

Over 20 people showed up for a Pasture Walk last night. We covered several topics including Grass ID, Solar Power Usage, Paddock Layout, Water Systems and handed out grazing sticks for people to use. The food was provided by McKenna's Market in Cambridge. The next pasture walk is scheduled for in September.

Pasture Walk on 5/23/17 at 6 PM

Contact Guernsey SWCD at 740-489-5276 to RSVP

Guernsey Muskingum Electric Meeting

Guernsey SWCD attended the Guernsey Muskingum Electric Annual Meeting on April 8th. There was a lot of great conversation about conservation, even if the snake guy in the room did steal the show!!

Brandt Soil Health Field Day

On April 5th, Guernsey SWCD attended Dave Brandt's Soil Health Field Day out in Carroll, OH. If you have never been to Dave Brandt's Farm before, put it on your bucket list. He is doing amazing things with cover crops, that are worth the drive to see.

Ohioans Invited to Enjoy a Weekend of Free Fishing

May 6-7 is Ohio's free fishing weekend COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio is known for its world-class fishing, and on May 6-7, state residents are invited to take part in the annual free fishing weekend, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Ohio’s Free Fishing Days are open to all Ohio residents and extend to all of Ohio’s public waters, including Lake Erie and the Ohio River. This is the only weekend all year that does not require anyone 16-years-old or older to obtain a fishing license. The ODNR Division of Wildlife’s six fish hatcheries stocked more than 54 million sport fish in public waters in 2016, including walleye, saugeye, steelhead, rainbow trout, brown trout, muskellunge, channel catfish, blue catfish and hybrid striped bass, which will provide opportunities for more than 1.3 million Ohio anglers. Ohio State Parks is also offering a camping discount during Ohio’s Free Fishing Days. Campers can receive a 20 percent off discount May 6-7 by using the promotion code 17ANGLER. The Free Fishing Days weekend offers Ohioans of all ages the chance to experience the fun of catching a fish. Here are some helpful tips for taking a youngster out fishing. Keep the trip simple by considering a child’s age and skill level. Choose a pond, lake or stream where children will be able to easily catch a few fish. A spin-cast reel is usually the easiest for kids to use. Bring a camera and snacks. Be patient – plan on spending time untangling lines, baiting hooks, landing fish and taking pictures. Most of all, keep the trip fun. Anglers 16 years and older are required to have a valid fishing license to take fish, frogs or turtles from Ohio waters when not fishing on Ohio’s free fishing weekend. An Ohio resident fishing license is only $19 a year for residents. Fishing licenses are available at participating agents andwildohio.gov. The sales of fishing licenses, along with the Sport Fish Restoration (SFR) program, continue to fund the ODNR Division of Wildlife’s fish management operations. No state tax dollars are used for these activities. These are user-pay, user-benefit programs. The SFR is a partnership between federal and state governments, industry and anglers/boaters. When anglers purchase rods, reels, fishing tackle, fish finder and motor boat fuel, they pay an excise tax. The federal government collects these taxes, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers and disburses these funds to state fish and wildlife agencies. These funds are used to acquire habitat, produce and stock fish; conduct research and surveys; provide aquatic education; and acquire and develop boat accesses. ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov. - 30 - For more information, contact: John Windau, ODNR Division of Wildlife 614-265-6325 Matt Eiselstein, ODNR Office of Communications 614-265-6860