Author: Ryan Medley

Supervisor Election Notice

The Ohio Soil & Water Conservation Commission will cause an election of the Coshocton Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) to be held in accordance with Chapter 940 of the Ohio Revised Code. Anyone that owns land or lives in the City of Coshocton or Coshocton County and are 18 years of age or older may vote for Supervisor. One candidate will be elected to a three-year term beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2027. The nominee is Beth Mullen.

There are 3 ways an eligible voter can cast a ballot:

  1. At the SWCD office (724 S. Seventh Street Room 120, Coshocton, OH 43812) during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) starting September 18 and ending at noon on October 17.
  2. At the SWCD Annual Meeting, which will take place at the Lake Park Pavilion on October 17, with voting from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. You do not have to purchase an Annual Meeting ticket to come and vote for Supervisor.
  3. Voting absentee from September 18 until October 17 by requesting the ballot application and election ballot from the SWCD office by calling 740-622-8087 ext. 4 or email ryanmedley@coshoctoncounty.net. Absentee ballots must be received by the SWCD office by noon on October 17, 2024.

Nominee Information:

BETH MULLEN and her husband, Cole, have 2 daughters and live in Franklin
Township. Beth and her family farm with her father, sister, and uncle operating
Blair Porteus and Sons, raising corn, soybeans, hay, beef cattle, and contract hog
feeding. Conservation practices utilized on the farm include no-till planting, tile
drainage, spring developments, contour strips, sod waterways, comprehensive
nutrient management plan, and cover crops.
Beth is the Environmental Manager at McWane Ductile. Beth is a Farm Bureau
member, FFA Alumni, 4-H Advisor, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church
and Ohio Cattlemen’s Association.

 

 

 

 

First Farm Friday

We hope you will join us on Main Street in Coshocton for First FARM Friday on August 2. The goal of First FARM Friday is to educate the public about the importance of agriculture in our community and beyond. Visit one of our many displays, climb into farm machinery, and get up close to farm animals. Bring the kids to complete a stamp card and receive a free cup of custard from Whit’s Frozen Custard. Food will be available for purchase from vendors at the event.

Do you have a question for a local farmer? At First FARM Friday, you can talk to the men and women of Coshocton County agriculture. All of the presenters at the event volunteer their time to educate the community about Coshocton County’s number one industry. First FARM Friday was organized to be a fun, educational event that helps the general public understand the importance of agriculture in our community and beyond.

 

Pasture Walks Scheduled

There are two Pasture Walks planned for 2024. The first is on Tuesday, June 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Rick Haines farm and the second is Tuesday, August 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Travis Hahn farm.

The address for the June Pasture Walk is 29392 County Road 22, Warsaw, OH 43844 and it will feature beef cattle management. The August Pasture Walk address is 23794 County Road 93, Fresno, OH 43824. This date will highlight goat production. There will be signs posted to help you find the farm for both events.

We hope you will join us for these events where you will hear directly from the landowners about their operations and get ideas to use on your farm.  Reservations are not required. If you would like more information or to receive a postcard for pasture walks please call us at (740)622-8087 x 4 or email zachwallace@coshoctoncounty.net.

 

 

Board Meetings

The Coshocton Soil and Water Conservation District’s Board of Supervisors meets once a month, and uses the following schedule:

January, February, March, and December – Second Wednesday of the Month – 12:00 p.m.

April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November – Second Wednesday of the Month – 8:00 p.m.

Any special or emergency meetings will be posted on our Events page as soon as they are scheduled.

SWCD Board Meetings are open to the public, and most meetings are held at the District Office, 724 S. 7th Street, Coshocton, Ohio.  If you are interested in attending our meetings or would like more information, please contact our office at 740-622-8087, ext. 4.  The Chairman of the Board may need to change the date and/or time of meetings throughout the year. Any changes will be made known to the public and updated on our Events page.

2023 Plat Book

The 2023 Coshocton County Plat Books are now available! For the first time, the maps are in color. You can purchase them at our office for $10.00 each ($9.28 plus 7.75% sales tax). A mailed copy of the plat book is an additional $5.00. If you would like to see sample pages visit our website, www.coshoctonswcd.org, under “Available Items.”

For a mailed copy, please send a check to the Coshocton SWCD for $15.00 ($9.28 + $0.72 sales tax + $5.00 mailing fee) with a note that you want a plat book. Be sure to also provide your mailing address. The plat book will be sent to you when we receive payment. Our mailing address is Coshocton SWCD, 724 S. 7th Street Room 120, Coshocton, OH 43812-2362. Contact our office at (740)622-8087 ext. 4 or email samanthadaugherty@coshoctoncounty.net with any questions.

Click here to view Sample Pages from the 2023 Plat Book.

Our mailing address is:
 
Coshocton SWCD
724 S 7th Street, Rm 120
Coshocton, OH 43812-2362
 
 

Annual Tree Seedling Sale

Coshocton SWCD holds an annual tree seedling sale each year starting in February. The sale typically includes 12 to 15 varieties of trees and shrubs. Order forms are due in the middle of March with pick-up in the middle of April. We encourage customers to order early because there are a set number of seedlings available for the sale. All orders are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you would like receive an Order Form when they are available, please email kelseysaylor@coshoctoncounty.net or call us at (740)622-8087 ext.4. Order Forms will also be available on our website, and there will be a link for online ordering. 

 

Pond Management Book

This book’s subtitle is “The Common Sense Guide” and it is full of information for both new and seasoned pond owners. The author, Steve Fender, is a second generation fish farmer with years of pond experience. His book is an easy read and a great resource.

The Pond Management book is available for $20 in our office. If you would like to order the book online, follow this link to the Fender’s Fish Hatchery website: Pond Management Book

Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Manure Application Record Book

Coshocton SWCD now sells Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Manure Application Record Books. These books make it easier for farmers to track applications. To see sample pages from the book, click this link:

The record books are $10 if they are purchased through our office, or $15 per book if mailed. For more information, stop by our office in the County Services Building at 724 S. 7th Street, or call (740)622-8087 ext. 4.

Technical Assistance

Coshocton SWCD provides technical assistance through a cooperative working agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service.  All technical assistance provided by the Coshocton SWCD MUST follow USDA-NRCS standards and specifications.  If the landowner wishes to install the practice without following these guidelines, our assistance will be withdrawn immediately.

Coshocton SWCD and USDA-NRCS provide technical assistance for the construction of conservation practices with the following guidelines:

Technical Assistance will be provided for site evaluation, conservation planning, design of the engineering plan and on-site supervision of the construction only if USDA-NRCS Standards & Specifications are followed.

What we DO
 
Assistance is provided for:
           •  Site evaluations.
           •  Conservation plan development.
           •  Engineering assistance- including plan and design.
•  Technical assistance provided at site:
           •  Provide technical assistance during construction.
           •  Answer questions about the construction of the practice.
           •  Materials- MUST meet USDA-NRCS specifications.
           •  USDA-NRCS standards and specifications MUST be followed.  
           •  Pre-construction meetings to review with landowner and contractor.
           •  Any changes to plan- needs to be approved by person with the proper
                job approval authority.
          •  All USDA-NRCS safety requirements must be followed and met.
          •  OUPS MUST be called 48 hours prior to digging, at 1-800-362-2764.
          •  Ohio Oil & Gas Association MUST be called 48 hours prior to digging, at
               1-800-925-0988.
•  Assistance for the installation of tile drainage:
          •  Site review and soils information.

What we DON’T do
•  Assist with projects that DO NOT follow USDA-NRCS standards and
     specifications.

•  We DO NOT operate equipment for the contractor.
•  We DO NOT supply the labor to install the practice.
•  We DO NOT provide assistance with construction of any practice without an
     approved conservation and engineering plan.

•  We DO NOT provide assistance if the materials do not meet USDA-NRCS
     standards and specifications.

Failure to follow any guidelines will result in our withdrawal of technical assistance and could effect the eligibility of cost-sharing funds.

Coshocton SWCD Board of Supervisors have prioritized the workload of our technical staff and will follow the priorities as set by our stakeholders.  
Priorities are as follows:
          1. CONSERVATION EDUCATION
          2.  IMPROVE WATER QUALITY
          3.  FOREST MANAGEMENT
          4.  PASTURE MANAGEMENT

Soils and Technical Assistance
     
•  Information on soil types and limitations for different uses- basements,
          septic tanks, roads, etc.

     •  Information about suitable crops, rotations for each kind of soil, and
          development of conservation plan.

     •  Information about manure application rates and development of
          comprehensive nutrient management plans to properly handle manure and
          commercial fertilizer.

     •  Assistance in designing, laying out, and supervising construction of
          conservation practices; for example, grassed waterways, diversions,
          contour strips, spring developments, structures, and animal manure
          storage facilities.

     •  Information about alternative land uses and treatments for controlling
          erosion and reducing sedimentation.

     •  Aerial and soil maps of Coshocton County.

 

Conservation Education

Enviroscape Model

This model is available for Classroom Demonstrations for grades K-12. It is used as an educational tool to demonstrate how everyday activities can result in Non-Point Source Water Pollution (NPS). Non-Point Source pollution refers to pollution which does not come from one single identifiable source, however it includes runoff from lawns, streets, farms and other surfaces. With the model, students are able to see and discuss the cause and effect of daily activities within the watershed. The model is designed for grades K-6, however high school students can benefit from the presentation as well. The model involves a hands-on approach for students.

Groundwater Model

The groundwater model is available for classroom demonstrations for grades 4-12. The model is designed to help teach principles of groundwater movement and contamination. The model is a cross-section of a soil profile, highlighting the different textures (sand, silt, clay and rock) which make up our soils. Dye is added to the model to demonstrate various types of groundwater pollution. Students can see how pollution can enter into the groundwater supply and how it travels.

Ag Awareness Day

Coshocton County Farm Bureau sponsors an Ag Awareness Day for all fourth graders in Coshocton County every fall. Several volunteers from Coshocton County Farm Bureau, agricultural related businesses and agencies as well as individuals participate. The Farm Bureau puts the program together for the day with stations set up to give students a chance to participate in activities directly related to farming. Some stations include honeybees, food production, dairy cattle, fish, forestry, goats, grain production, greenhouse, llama, safety and 4-wheelers, sheep, soybean uses, swine, GPS technology, watershed education and soil conservation.

Due to limited school funding for special events such as Ag Awareness Day, Coshocton SWCD and Coshocton County Farm Bureau work together to generate funds for the schools’ transportation costs.

Thank You
to these area individuals, businesses and
organizations for donating towards transportation
costs over the past several years:

Bluck & Sons, Inc. • Chase Bank • Coshocton Broadcasting Company • Coshocton County Advertiser • Coshocton County Beacon • Coshocton County Farm Bureau • Coshocton Grain Company • Coshocton Soil & Water Conservation District • Finton Equipment-John Deere • Frontier Power Company • Hopewell PTO • Ridgewood FFA • River View FFA • Tim & Nanci Rogers • Tumblin Farms-David Tumblin • WenMar Farms, Inc.

Earth Day Celebration

Each year Coshocton SWCD assists with the annual Earth Day Celebration. More than 400 students from area schools grades 6-8 take part in several different activities throughout the day. In the past, this event has been held on AEP Conesville’s reclaimed acreage and at the Muskingum Valley Boy Scout Camp. With the SWCD, students collect samples for stream monitoring. Depending on macroinvertebrates found, students can determine the quality of water.
Macroinvertebrates are identified and listed on a stream assessment in groups. Group 1 are pollution-sensitive organisms found in good water quality. Group 2 are somewhat pollution tolerant and can survive in good or fair water quality. Group 3 includes pollution tolerant organisms and can be in any quality of water. Students learn how people can make a difference in the environment by using conservation practices to help protect the environment from pollutants.

Envirothon Competition

This is a competitive outdoor team event for high school students that tests their knowledge in 5 areas: aquatic ecology, forestry, soils, wildlife and current environmental issues. The contest is designed to stimulate and reinforce their interests in the environment and our natural resources. The event is sponsored by the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

All area high schools are encouraged to participate in this competition. Each participating school is permitted to have a maximum of two teams. Teams should consist of 5 students per team. For more information contact us or visit OFSWCD’s Envirothon page.

 Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Camp – Scholarships Available

Coshocton SWCD co-sponsors delegates to the Ohio Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Camp held at Camp Muskingum in Carroll County. Students participate in hands on conservation training and develop a better understanding and appreciation of our natural resources. They participate in classes covering tree identification, silviculture, ecology and forest products. Students will also learn how to measure the size of standing trees and logs and determine their value. This camp is held in June each year. Those interested in being considered for a scholarship must contact the office in April.

5th Grade Poster Contest

Coshocton SWCD sponsors a 5th Grade Poster Contest in conjunction with our display at the Coshocton County Fair. Coshocton city and county fifth graders receive a classroom presentation titled “Have You Eaten Any Soil Lately?” Students are then asked to draw a poster about something they learned from the lesson that everything we eat can be traced back to a plant grown in the soil. Teachers select the best poster for their classroom. All entries are displayed in the Coshocton SWCD Fair Booth, and the fair going public takes it upon themselves to decide a winner. First place receives $25 and a pizza party for their class, second place $15 and an ice cream party for their class, and third place $10 and an ice cream party for their class.

Junior Fair Hay Show

The Coshocton SWCD sponsors the Junior Fair Hay Show every year as part of the Coshocton County Fair. Five classes are judged – Alfalfa, Clover, Grass, Light Mixed Hay and Mixed Hay. The top winner in each class is given a complimentary ticket to the Coshocton SWCD Annual Banquet, a rosette for their class and a $25 cash prize for attending the banquet.

Project Wet Workshop For Teachers

The goal of Project Wet is to facilitate and promote awareness, appreciation, knowledge and stewardship of water resources through classroom resources and a Project Wet Curriculum Guide for grades K-12. For more information on Project Wet in Ohio go to ODNR’s webpage.

Storm Water Education

Coshocton SWCD works to educate Coshocton City residents about the storm drains in the city. The drains run straight to the river, so any litter, oil, or other pollutants in or along roadways go into the river.

Voluntary Nutrient Management Plan

             On September 30th 2017, Senate Bill 150 will be in effect for the entire state of Ohio.  Part of this law is the responsibility of farmers to develop Voluntary Nutrient Management Plans and have them approved by SWCD board of supervisors or Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA).
             Voluntary Nutrient Management Plans (or NMPs) will give affirmative defense to a farmer should anyone complain about use of commercial fertilizer, as long as the plan is being followed.  These plans are for farmers using commercial fertilizer only – anyone using manure must have a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan or CNMP.  Unlike a CNMP, which the district can complete for anyone that needs one, a NMP can be developed by the farmer following the Ohio Nutrient Management Workbook available from OSU Extension. 
Another way to develop an NMP is if grid soil sampling and variable rate application are being used, the recommendations that a farmer receives back from the grid sampling will suffice as long as the time of year and method of fertilizer application are included.  These plans also must follow Tri-state recommendations for P and K to be approved.  
If a farmer would like the SWCD to develop a NMP, we can do that as well.  We just need a current soil test for every field and the fertilizer products used, time of year they will be applied, and application method.  ODA is in the process of approving a very nice spreadsheet that will make NMPs fairly quick and easy to read.  The spreadsheet will also have a records page for each field where a farmer can write down the time, date, field conditions, 2 day weather forecast, what product was applied, etc.  Good record keeping is paramount for defense in the event of a complaint.  If anyone has any interest in developing an NMP or has any questions please feel free to contact us at the Coshocton SWCD.