Contact Us

Wood SWCD

1616 E. Wooster St.

Suite 32

Bowling Green, OH

43402

Phone: 419-354-5517

Fax: 419-354-7923

email@wcswcd.com

Visit us on the web at

www.woodswcd.com

Promoting Conservation Ag to Urban Communities

Board of Supervisors

Bernie Scott, Chairman Dennis Ferrell, Vice Chairman Kris Swartz, Fiscal Agent Ron Snyder, Secretary Lee Sundermeier, Member

District Staff

Nicki Kale, District Administrator/Education Coordinator

Jim Carter, District Administrator/ Engineering & Technical

Jeremy Gerwin, District Technician Beth Landers, Portage River Watershed

Coordinator Abby Wensink, Strategic Watershed Action Team Conservationist Julie Lause, Administrative Assistant

NRCS Staff

Becky Duncan, District Conservationist

Kelly Copeland, Resource Conservationist

Jim Stafford, Hydraulic Engineer Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider

Equipment for Rent

Great Plains Drill

(for CRP Practices only)

10’ working width

7 1/2’ row spacing

Minimum 65 hp with live

hydraulics

Rental Rate is $10.00/acre

($50 minimum)

Delivery Charge $20.00

Cleanout Charge $25.00

(if applicable)

Tree Planter

$25.00 First Day

$45.00 Each Additional Day

Weed Wrench

$225 Refundable Deposit

$20 Rental 1-3 Days

$20 Each Additional Day

For Wood County

Residents Use Only

Items for Sale Floating Pond Filter $245.00 Pond Filter Float $ 92.00 Replacement Filter $ 55.00 Pond Safety Kit $110.00 Ring Buoy $ 64.00 Deep Water Sign $ 14.00 Rope (per foot) $ 0.25 Tile Probes $ 33-35 Soil Test Probe $ 63 & $ 95 Garden Soil Test Kits $ 25.00 Tree Protectors $ 2.50 Tree Wraps with Stake $ 4.00 Flags $ 0.10 ea 100 4x5 $ 8.00 100 5x8 $ 9.00 6’ field flag $ 7.00 Nut Wizards® $ 40-45 Composter $ 50.00 Rat Guards 4” $ 5.00 6” stainless steel $ 10.00 8” stainless steel $ 12.00 10” stainless steel $ 10 & 18 12” stainless steel $ 15 & $ 28 15” $ 25.00

(Cash or Check payable upon receipt)

Current Resident or

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT #51

BOWLING GREEN

OH 43402

Eye on Conservation WORKING LOCALLY, THINKING REGIONALLY

“Unless someone like you

cares a whole awful lot,

Nothing is going to get better.

It's not.”

― Dr. Seuss, The Lorax .

Wood SWCD

Office Hours

7:30 a.m.—4:30 p.m.

Monday—Friday

‒ • ‒ The Wood SWCD

Board of Supervisors holds

regular monthly meetings the

third Friday of each month at

8:00 a.m. at the district office.

L to R: Lee Sundermeier, Bernie Scott, Ron Snyder, Dennis Ferrell, and Kris Swartz

2017 Board of Supervisors The new year at the district office brings the reorganization of the Wood

SWCD board of supervisors. Bernie Scott will serve as Chair, Dennis

Ferrell as Vice-Chair, Ron Snyder as Secretary, Kris Swartz as Fiscal

Agent, and Lee Sundermeier as member.

A special election is held each September for county residents and

landowners to elect a supervisor to serve a three year term. Dennis

Ferrell and Lee Sundermeier will be sworn in prior to the January meeting

as each was elected to serve a new three year term.

Why they choose to serve? Serving on the Wood SWCD board is voluntary. Each board member shares

a genuine concern for the protection and conservation of our local soil and

water resources. Each member considers this position an opportunity to share

ideas, provide solutions, implement projects, and educate the community to

benefit not only the county residents but the entire region.

The district supervisors and staff work locally but think regionally. Western

Lake Erie Basin does not stop at the water’s edge. The Wood SWCD partners

with other districts, local farmers, county residents, and local private entities to

promote conservation practices from ag to urban communities. Look for

educational activities, workshops, field days, and media of interest to you.

Take an active part in conservation right where you live. We are here to help.

Wood Soil & Water Conservation District Newsletter Winter 2017

“Boots on the Ground” provided by Beth Landers Most Mondays here start with a staff meeting, where we go over everyone’s

plans for the week, and make sure we have the office covered and vehicles

scheduled. Most Mondays do not then involve herding a three foot tall bird out

of traffic in a cold, slushy parking lot. But December 12th, we did just that.

Sandhill cranes are endangered in Ohio, with just a few dozen breeding

pairs. Flocks also move through northwest Ohio during fall

migration. Somehow this juvenile bird got separated from the rest, and was

acting lethargic. Taking a wild animal into captivity isn’t a decision to be made

casually, but a bird that won’t fly also won’t migrate, and there isn’t much food

to be found in a parking lot in Bowling Green.

Fortunately, there is an animal rehabilitation organization that was willing to take

in a confused, lost crane. Nature’s Nursery sent a volunteer to pick up the bird,

and they gave it a thorough physical examination. That didn’t turn up any

problems, so the next step is to look for diseases or toxins that might be

affecting it.

If the crane recovers, it can either be driven south and released with a flock on

their wintering grounds or it will have to stay in captivity until spring when the

rest of the cranes return north.

“Boots on the Ground” is an addition to our quarterly newsletter

highlighting an experience, quotes, quips, and commentary offered by the

supervisors and staff of the district.

Annual Tree

Seedling Sale The Wood SWCD is holding

tree seedling sale January—

February 28.

If you have been looking to

replace older trees, establish a

wildlife habitat on your

property, or provide protection

from the wind or sun, this is a

great opportunity to get started

with a few seedlings.

Orders accepted no later

than February 28, 2017. Pick

up for orders is Thursday, April

20, 2017 at the Exhibition Barn

on the Wood County

Fairgrounds.

Complete the enclosed order

form and return to the district

office with payment enclosed—

1616 E. Wooster St. Suite 32

Bowling Green, OH 43402.

Additional order forms are

available online at

www.woodswcd.com, at the

district office, or by calling 419-

354-5517.

One large tree can provide a

day's supply of oxygen for

up to four people.

Sandhill crane visits the Greenwood Centre

Nutrient Bus Tour Comes to Wood County by Shelli Stockmeister

A diverse group of people interested in Lake Erie water quality got together in November for a Nutrient Bus Tour; they traveled to sites ranging from a large dairy farm to a city water treatment plant.

Soil & Water Conservation Districts and Farm Bureau organizations from Seneca, Sandusky, Lucas, Ottawa and Wood counties, along with the National Wildlife Federation and the National Center for Water Quality Research, sponsored the tour.

Two busloads of farmers, scientists, ag business people, students, education personnel and conservation organization representatives participated in the tour to five locations: MSB Dairy, Wood County, a large animal operation, to learn how it deals with manure and other issues; Northwestern Water and Sewer District’s Cygnet wastewater lagoons, to learn about how small towns are dealing with sewage issues; a USDA-ARS edge-of-field research site near Custar, to learn about research being done on water runoff from farm fields; Luckey Farmers Cooperative hub in Graytown, to learn about precision agriculture and how farmers are using soil testing to place the right amount and nutrients on each field; city of Oregon’s water plant, to learn how the plant deals with water quality issues when they arise; and a confined disposal retention area in Toledo, which is designed to learn new ways of recycling soil dredged from the bottom of the Maumee river and bay.

During the bus ride in between stops, tour leaders led discussions about the science behind nutrients entering Lake Erie and how the issue effects people scientifically as well as socially.

Back at the starting point, Ole Zim’s Wagon Shed, Gibsonburg, the group heard a presentation from Christopher Winslow, director of the Ohio Sea Grant and Ohio State University’s Stone Lab.

Winslow gave an overview of the issues regarding dissolved reactive phosphorus entering Lake Erie from scientific, economic and agricultural perspectives.

Another tour will be organized soon! Please contact our office to be added to the invite list!

Sam Dilsaver , owner/operator of MSB Dairy, talking about the farm.

January 1– February 28

Tree Seedling Sale

February 2—

Northern Ohio Crops Day

Olde Zim’s, Gibsonburg

February 6—Join us and

Meteorologist, Ryan

Wichman at 4:00 p.m.

‘Weather or Not,

Conservation is Key.’

March 21—

National Ag Day

agday.org

March 25—

Maple Syrup and

Woodland & Wildlife

Family Festival

8 a.m.—12 Noon

Williams County

Fairgrounds

March 31—

Women in Ag

(Contact Wood County

Extension for registration)

TBA—

Winter Nutrient Update

Meeting, in partnership

with Farm Bureau

Follow the Wood Soil and

Water Conservation

District on Facebook, the

blog and check the

website for additional

details on each event.

Meet Shelli Hi, my name is Shelli Stockmeister and I am the new Western Lake Erie Basin (W.L.E.B.) Technician for Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca, and Wood Counties. The position was created to help the residents of the counties listed to comply with Senate Bill 1 and educate them about the new legislature. I will also be helping the offices with everyday tasks and events.

Senate Bill 1 was created due to the link between the algae crisis in Lake Erie and the application of fertilizer and manure that farmers apply to their fields. Although I do not personally farm, my father owns and operates a grain farm a few counties away and my husband and I raise beef cattle, chickens, and hogs on a small scale farm. It is very important to us to not only raise our own food, but to teach others about the importance. I realize that my family’s farm is a part of the bigger picture, and we must take care of the assets that surround us.

Lake Erie is a major asset to our state, and without the resources that it provides we would all feel the effects. I am very excited to start this journey with each of the Soil and Water Conservation Districts that I will be working with. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or complaints related to Senate Bill 1; my email is sstockmeister@senecaswcd.com.

Shelli Stockmeister—WLEB Technician

New Year. New Look. New Ideas. The Wood SWCD is stepping up its game to reach out to Wood

county residents. With the challenges in preserving our natural

resources locally, regionally, and globally, the district is working

to get the appropriate information and education out to farmers,

and rural and urban dwellers alike.

Please visit the Wood SWCD website to complete a brief three

question survey on the best way to reach you. The information

you provide gives an idea of how to best serve your conservation

needs and concerns.

www.woodswcd.com

“Weather or Not, Conservation is Key. Join us on Monday, February 6th at 4:00 p.m. at the Wood SWCD office for a presentation and Facebook Live with meteorologist Ryan Wichman.

The WTOL Weather Team faces the challenges of reporting the weather for both the agricultural and residential urban communities...all in two minutes! Find out how this impacts our local natural resources.

Ryan is a meteorologist with WTOL 11 and Fox 36 in Toledo. Ryan grew up in Bowling Green and is a 2005 graduate of Bowling Green High School.

Following graduation from Western Illinois

University in 2009, Ryan's first on-air job

was a as meteorologist at WGEM in

Quincy, Illinois. He began working at

WTOL 11 in 2011.

Ryan and his wife, Kaley, are proud

parents of 3 month old son, Grant.

Along with partner Krista Evans, Ryan was

the winner in the 2015 Dancing with the

BG Stars.

Ryan Wichman, Meteorologist

American Arborvitae Thuja occidentalis is a dense, pyramidal evergreen tree. Main trunk often divides into several leaders. The branches with scale-like foliage are displayed in horizontal sprays. Fruit is a small (3/8") light brown cone. Needs a moist rich soil, somewhat tolerant to wet soils.

Colorado Spruce Picea pungens 'glauca'is a stiffly pyramidal evergreen conifer. Horizontal branches reach to the ground, but form may become more open with age. Foliage occurs in a wide range of colors from green to silver blue. Prefers a moist, well-drained soil but will tolerate drier soil. Adaptable to a wide range of conditions. Full sun, especially for blue foliage types which will lose "blueness" in shade.

Norway spruce Picea abies is a large conifer that is well adapted to much of the upper Midwest. It is faster growing than many of the other spruces. Foliage color is dark green. Norway spruce produces pendulous cones up to 6" long. Prefers soil with ample moisture. Transplants well. Best in full sun since foliage becomes sparse in shade.

Concolor Fir Abies concolor is an evergreen with flat, varying green to deep blue needles, 1½” to 2” long, a hardy tree stands dryness and high temperatures better than other firs.

White Pine Pinus strobus is a hardy, valuable tree. Clustered soft blue-green needles. Ideal screen or windbreak. Likes moist, well-drained soils. Grows 50'- 80' with a 20-40' spread in the landscape.

Bald Cypress Taxodium distchum is a stately deciduous conifer adaptable to wet or dry conditions. Best known in wet areas. Prefers acid soils. Grows to 50' - 70', 25' spread.

Swamp White Oak Quercus bicolor has a broad oval to round crown. Is found in the wild in moist lowland sites. It also does well in upland sites in the landscape. Leaves are medium green above and silvery green beneath. Fall color is yellowish tan to orange brown. Tolerant of heavy soils. Good tolerance to poor drainage. Drought tolerant. Requires a somewhat acid soil.

Red Maple Acer rubrum brings color to your landscape year-round. Green stems turn red in winter; new leaves are red-tinged, turning to green. Fall color is deep red or yellow. Flowers are also red. Fast growing and tolerant of many soils. Grows to 40' to 60', 40' spread

Tulip Poplar Liriodendron tulipfera is a fast growing large shade tree that can grow 15 to 20’ over a 6 to 8 year period. As a specimen tree on a large property it has great beauty and in fall can be spectacular. Tulip Poplar has moderate water requirements and a moderate tolerance for salt and alkali soils.

Black Walnut Juglans nigra is a native nut tree. Medium size tree known mainly for its edible nuts and fine wood. Grows in a variety of soils, but does best in fertile, well-drained soil. Grows to about 50 – 75 feet.

Shagbark Hickory Carya ovata The average height of shagbark hickories is between 60 and 80 feet tall, but they sometimes reach 120 feet in height. Usually grows among oak trees. It grows in wet and dry areas, but grows better in well-drained soils.

Red Bud Cercis Canadensis is a small to medium size ornamental tree with small pinkish-purple flowers in the early spring and large dark green heart shaped leaves. Grows to 25-35 feet.

Common Lilac Syringa vulgaris is well-known and loved by gardeners all over the world for its beauty and fragrance. One of the most powerful fragrances emitted by a plant. Used as a hedge or as an individual accent plant. It has light purple flowers occurring in clusters amid the dark-green heart-shaped leaves. A mature common lilac shrub growing in ideal conditions can reach a height of 10’ to 15’ and width of 4’.

Butterfly Bush Buddleia davidii is a deciduous shrub with arching branches that can reach a height of 15 feet. The showy flower spikes are often purple, and the leaves and stems are typically hairy.

Spice Bush Lindera benzoin is found throughout Ohio; can grow to 12 feet tall and 15 feet wide, when found under optimum conditions. Strongly prefers permanently moist to wet soils that are rich and of variable pH, especially under shaded conditions. However, it adapts reasonably well to dry, average soils in sunny locations.

Black Chokeberry Aronia melanocarpais a very adaptable shrub, 1 ½’ to 3’ tall producing red to purple fruit in fall. Shade tolerant, preferring wet bog or swampy soils. Valuable source of wildlife food for fall and winter.

Red Raspberry Rubus idaeus, Latham prefers organic, well-drained, slightly acidic, sandy loam soil. Disease resistant. The standard for Spring-bearing red raspberries. Full flavored, aromatic fruit that is somewhat non-cohesive. Vigorous, highly productive. Ripens evenly over a 3 week period.

Black Raspberry Rubus occidentalis, Jewel prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. Prefers organic soil and the soil should be well drained. The ideal soil pH should be 5.8 to 6.5.

Celebrate Ag Day! March 21, 2017

Agriculture: Food for Life

Agriculture provides almost everything we eat, use and wear on a daily basis. But too few people truly understand this contribution. This is particularly the case in our schools, where students may only be exposed to agriculture if they enroll in related vocational training.

By building awareness, the Agriculture Council of America is encouraging young people to consider career opportunities in agriculture.

Each American farmer feeds more than 144 people ... a dramatic increase from 25 people in the 1960s. Quite simply, American agriculture is doing more - and doing it better. As the world population soars, there is an even greater demand for the food and fiber produced in the United States.

National Ag Day is

organized by the Agriculture

Council of America (ACA).

ACA is a nonprofit

organization composed of

leaders in the agricultural,

food and fiber community,

dedicating its efforts to

increasing the public's

awareness of agriculture's

role in modern society.

agday.org

Why Plant Trees?

Stand- alone trees as well as windbreaks provide an array of benefits to soil,

water, plants, animals and man. Trees are a valuable part of the agricultural

and urban landscapes. Windbreaks come in many different sizes and shapes

to serve different conservation purposes.

Trees prevent wind erosion from causing loss of soil productivity, polluting

air and water, obstructing public roads, and generally damaging the

environment.

Trees beautify the countryside and provide fall and winter color to the

landscape.

Windbreak research substantiates that field windbreaks improve crop

yields which offsets the loss of production from the land taken out of

cultivation. Windbreaks control blowing snow, conserve energy, protect

livestock and farmsteads during the winter months.

Windbreaks control pesticide spray drift and provide buffers to delineate

property lines and protect neighbors.

Choose native trees and shrubs to provide food, shelter and nesting sites

for songbirds and other forms of wildlife.

Find planning, planting, and maintenance guidance at forestry.ohiodnr.gov/

portals/forestry/pdfs/windbreaksguide.pdf.

www.plantnative.org/rpl-inoh.htm offers a list of native trees and plants for

Northwest Ohio.

ianadamsphotography.com