Adams Soil and Water Conservation

06/04/2026

https://www.morningagclips.com/pastures-in-head-clip-graze-tighter-or-stockpile/

COLUMBUS, Ohio — This spring has been a good reminder that no two grazing seasons are exactly alike. Growth started early this year after having...

06/03/2026

https://www.morningagclips.com/can-mulch-film-from-farms-be-effectively-recycled-cleanliness-is-key/

PULLMAN, Wash. — Nearly a billion pounds of plastic film mulch is used in American agriculture each year, and most of it is dumped into...

06/01/2026

Edge of Appalachia is offering some great learning opportunities this summer!

The Edge of Appalachia Preserve is offering FREE family friendly nature programs this summer. A great opportunity to spend time with naturalists in field and on the trails of this amazingly biodiverse area of Ohio and learn about our birds, butterflies, fish and prairie pollinators.

06/01/2026

🐦✨ Weekly Wing Watch: Red-headed Woodpecker ✨🐦

This week, we're featuring the Red-headed Woodpecker! With its bright crimson head, bold black-and-white body, and acrobatic feeding habits, this bird is one of Ohio's most recognizable woodpeckers.

Red-headed woodpeckers prefer open woodlands, forest edges, parks, and savannas with scattered mature trees. Unlike many woodpeckers that spend most of their time clinging to tree trunks, they often perch in the open and can even catch insects in midair!

Their diet is incredibly varied, including insects, acorns, beechnuts, fruits, and seeds 🫐🦗🥜. They are also one of the few woodpecker species known to store food for later, tucking nuts and seeds into cracks in trees and fence posts for future meals.

Unfortunately, Red-headed Woodpecker populations have declined over the years due to habitat loss and the removal of dead trees, which they rely on for nesting. Leaving standing dead trees (when safe to do so) can provide valuable habitat for these and many other wildlife species. 🌳

Information From:
ODNR https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/animals/birds/red-headed-woodpecker
Audubon https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/red-headed-woodpecker

06/01/2026

https://www.morningagclips.com/are-farmers-liable-for-escaped-livestock/

COLUMBUS, Ohio — According to USDA statistics, there are somewhere around 4 million head of cattle, hogs, sheep, and goats in Ohio. As anyone knows...

05/27/2026

Thinking about getting started with rotational grazing or improving your current grazing operation? 🐄🌱 In this video, we cover the basics of grazing management and the infrastructure needed to make a grazing system successful. From watering systems and fencing setups to pasture rotation and livestock movement, this video provides a practical overview of how managed grazing can improve pasture health, animal performance, and overall farm efficiency.

Topics covered include:
✔️ Rotational grazing basics
✔️ Watering systems for livestock
✔️ Temporary and permanent fencing
✔️ Pasture management tips
✔️ Improving forage utilization
✔️ Benefits of managed grazing systems

Whether you’re new to grazing or looking for ways to enhance your operation, this video offers useful information and real-world examples from grazing systems in action.

Thinking about getting started with rotational grazing or improving...

05/26/2026

Weekly Wing Watch

These videos may not be recent, but there’s a good reason why! Unfortunately, a mischievous raccoon or squirrel destroyed the feeder camera antenna and chewed through the wire connected to the solar panel that powers it ⚡. The raccoon also broke the perch to the bird feeder (make sure to watch the first video to the end!)

The good news? A new setup is already in the works, and we hope to have fresh feeder footage again soon!

In the meantime, enjoy these throwback clips of a hungry raccoon and squirrel helping themselves to the bird seed at Anita’s bird feeder 🌻

Raccoons are nocturnal omnivores found throughout Ohio and will eat almost anything, including berries, acorns, frogs, fish, and bird seed 🦝🌙. Squirrels, on the other hand, are active during the day and commonly feed on nuts, seeds, fruits, and buds 🌳🥜.

While they may not be the feathered visitors we expected, they definitely know where the free snacks are! 😂

05/19/2026

🐦✨ Weekly Wing Watch: Tufted Titmouse✨🐦

These small songbirds are easy to recognize by their soft gray coloring, pointed crest, large dark eyes, and rusty-colored flanks. Their clear whistled “peter-peter-peter” call is a common sound in eastern woodlands 🎶🌳.

Tufted titmice are year-round residents of deciduous forests, woodland edges, parks, and backyards throughout the eastern United States. They prefer habitats with mature trees and tree cavities, which they use for nesting. Their diet includes insects, caterpillars, spiders, seeds, nuts, and berries 🐛🌻, and they are frequent visitors to feeders for sunflower seeds, peanuts, and suet.

These birds are known for their food-caching behavior—often taking one seed at a time and hiding it in bark crevices to eat later. During winter, tufted titmice commonly join mixed flocks with chickadees and nuthatches, helping improve predator awareness and foraging success.

Keep an eye on the feeder this week—you may spot one darting in for a seed before flying off to stash its snack away! 🐦✨

https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/tufted-titmouse

05/13/2026

Ready to Improve Your Grazing Game?

Join us for an Intro to Grazing Management Workshop and learn how to make the most of your pasture while protecting your soil and resources!

This free workshop is perfect for landowners, farmers, and conservation-minded individuals looking to:
✔️ Improve forage quality
✔️ Boost livestock performance
✔️ Enhance soil and ecosystem health

Topics include:
• Managed Intensive Grazing Basics
• Grazing Management Systems
• Paddock Layout & Design

Plus, connect with local producers and experts who can help you reach your goals!

Date: May 19, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: OSU South Centers, Piketon
Cost: FREE

Register today: go.osu.edu/2026grazing or call 740-289-4837

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn practical tools that can make a real difference on your land!

05/13/2026

🐦✨ Weekly Wing Watch: American Goldfinch ✨🐦

This week, we got a glimpse of the bright and cheerful American Goldfinch! Often called “wild canaries,” these small birds are easy to recognize in spring and summer when the males display their brilliant yellow feathers and black caps. Females and winter males are a softer olive-brown color.

American goldfinches are commonly found in fields, meadows, woodland edges, and backyards 🌾, especially where thistles and other seed-producing plants grow. They primarily eat sunflowers🌻, thistles, and other small seeds, and their acrobatic feeding habits make them fun to watch at feeders.

One interesting fact about goldfinches is that they molt twice each year. In the top video, you can see a male in his bright yellow breeding colors, while the bottom video shows goldfinches molting out of their dull winter plumage into their vibrant summer feathers. During this transition, they can look patchy or uneven as new feathers grow in.

Listen closely for their cheerful song 🎶 and watch for their rolling flight pattern! 🐦