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Dear Noble ANR Newsletter Subscribers, 

May is here and thank goodness for that. Just seeing lush green leaves on the ground and the trees refreshes my spirit, even more so when we are outside among them. Allergy suffers may have a different opinion on that point. Many plants are in full bloom right now.

May 16-23, 2020 was National Invasive Species Awareness Week and in honor of that, lets talk a bit about autumn olive, which is pictured in the newsletter banner photo.

Now is NOT a good time to TREAT autumn olive, but it is a great time to IDENTIFY it. When you are out and about on your property, scout for these plants and mark them with paint or ties to come back and treat later. Autumn olive has glossy green and dimpled topsides on the leaves and a silvery underside with cream colored flowers. Later in the season it will have bright red berries with silvery dimples, which are often consumed by birds which aids in the spread of this invasive weed.

Pollinators are currently foraging on autumn olive, so remember the general rule: Do not spray plants with pesticides while they are in flower.

There are two reasons:

1. Pollinators may be foraging.

2. Herbicide kill rates are poor during flowering. This is due to the allocation of energy resources throughout the plant. When they are flowering, energy is sent to the flowers. Before flowering, energy is sent to the leaves. After flowering, energy is sent to the leaves and roots. This is why late summer is often more effective for foliar herbicide treatments and late fall is more effective for basal bark and hack and squirt methods. 

Other invasive species

There are many other invasive species (of many plant and animal kingdoms) in Ohio ecosystems that are worth the time to learn about. A great place to find additional information about Ohio’s invasive plant is the Ohio Invasive Plants Council. 

Reaching OSU Extension

Ohio State Extension is still operating via telework through July 6, 2020, so email, phone, The Noble Journal Leader, and online social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest) are our main methods of contact. We are unable to mail out paper newsletters at this point in time, so please, share the information in this email with people who could benefit, but are not on the email list. 

Also in the newsletter, you will find current announcements about COVID-19 Resources for Farms and Farm Families, OSU Extension teams to follow for updates, and some upcoming events. 

Please continue to reach out for assistance in the fields of agriculture and natural resources by contacting me directly by phone or email. 

Our staff will continue to work diligently to continue serving Noble County:

Main Line: (740) 732-5681 (Carla & Tracy)
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]

Nancy Snook, 4-H Youth Development: (740) 305-3176
Email: [email protected]

Sami Schott, 4-H Youth Development/FCS: (740) 305-3175
Email: [email protected]

Christine Gelley, Agriculture & Natural Resources: (740) 305-3173
Email: [email protected]

Gwynn Stewart, Community Development: (740) 305-3177
Email: [email protected]

Lori Harris, SNAP-Ed: (740)305-3174
Email: [email protected]

The safety of our community is OSU’s top priority. We look forward to meeting in-person with you at programs later this summer. 

Stay healthy. Stay helpful. Stay happy. 

Sincerely, 

Christine Gelley, M.S.
Extension Educator, Agriculture & Natural Resources
Noble County Extension 
46049 Marietta Rd., Suite 2, Caldwell, OH 43724
740-732-5681 Office / 740-305-3173 Direct Line
[email protected] noble.osu.edu