The case for more homegrown fuel
Even though fuel prices remain high, the increased use of corn ethanol is helping temper those price increases. And it’s also benefiting the farmers who grow the corn.
Read MoreWhen the snow starts to melt and the ground thaws, many are itching to get outdoors and start planting their garden for the summer season. But planting different seeds at the same time may not be the best option for a successful year in the garden.
REAP WHAT YOU SOW
Many of us start seeds indoors before the last frost in the spring, but it is important to research if those plants do well when being transplanted outdoors or if it is best to wait and plant the seeds straight into the ground. Once seeds are planted in the ground, it is best to keep an eye on the weather, particularly earlier in the planting season. If there is a chance of frost, cover the plants to prevent damage.
This chart shows when to plant seeds, how deep in the ground, days to maturity and the estimated amount of yield per 25 feet of row. This will help provide a garden that is plentiful this summer and fall.
One Gardener’s Perspective
Patricia Rawlinson of Gallia County has been gardening for four years. She researched when to plant different types of seeds and what conditions they need to thrive indoors before being transplanted outdoors. Rawlinson’s planting journey has involved a lot of experimenting and the attitude of “why not try this and see what happens.”
Growing her own food is important to Rawlinson because, she said: “I want to make sure we have a consistent food source. I don’t want to eat the same seven kinds of lettuce you find at the grocery store when there are many more available.”
Living on a little less than two acres on a rolling hillside, Rawlinson uses raised beds for her garden. She decided to border the beds with Vinca flowers. When purchasing the flowers, she quickly realized the price to buy plants was significantly more expensive than if she planted them as seeds herself. “I started thinking I could save money by starting the plants early indoors,” she said.
Rawlinson suggests gardeners think creatively. Before going on a month-long trip, she noticed her seedlings were getting too big for their containers. The solution was planting them in a dirt-filled wheelbarrow, moving them to a sunny spot and giving them a good drink of water. When she returned, the plants were ready to go in the ground.
Even though fuel prices remain high, the increased use of corn ethanol is helping temper those price increases. And it’s also benefiting the farmers who grow the corn.
Read MoreThe 2022 Water Quality Status Report highlights how signature water quality initiatives have had major roles improving and protecting clean water, one of the state’s most valuable resources.
Read MoreBWC’s free safety consulting services link Ohio’s agriculture employers with safety and health professionals who will work to help reduce the risk of workplace injuries and illnesses.
Read MoreOhio Farm Bureau submitted public comments in a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding a proposed rule that could severely impact family farms by requiring climate disclosures by public companies.
Read MoreStephan Shehy will represent the interests of Farm Bureau members with the Ohio General Assembly and throughout state government.
Read MoreKirsten Ameling will be engaging members at an individualized level by connecting the organization to the member based on their needs.
Read MoreOhio has seen a steady increase in the growth of beekeeping — particularly in backyard beekeeping.
Read MoreSo far, governors in eight Midwestern states have taken the action of notifying the EPA that they wish to switch to this fuel.
Read MoreA bill introduced by State Representatives Darrell Kick and Rodney Creech would create a more direct legal route for a landowner to receive compensation when property is taken by the government without compensation.
Read MoreSupport for a new state-of-the-art Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at the Ohio Department of Agriculture is part of this funding.
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