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Agriculture and Natural Resources
What We Do
The Agriculture and Natural Resources (Ag/NR) program area of the Mahoning Extension is led by educator Dave Goerig. The goal of this program is to distribute information and guidance through new technology and techniques that are always being perfected through research. From answering questions asked by customers who stop by the office on how to keep moles out of their lawn, to brainstorming new ways to plant trees in a neighborhood in order to reduce energy costs, the Agriculture and Natural Resources program is always looking for ways to apply OSU's research to the needs of the community.
What's Happening Now
Currently, Ag/NR has been keeping busy with the following:
It's Garden Season!
Gardening can provide you with an abundance of food for a low price, get you more familiar with your own yard and give you a good reason to get creative in the kitchen. So, you want to grow a garden? Let us give you some tips. Search the OSU Extension Fact Sheets to get the skinny on the gardening scene in general. Go to Ohioline and search for whatever food you want to grow in particular, remembering that it is important to only grow what you want to eat. And don't worry, if you live in an apartment or don't have room in your yard, do a search on container gardening!
Emerald Ash Borer Traps
You might have noticed large purple boxes hanging in trees all around the county last summer. The Mahoning Extension Ag/NR program worked with other organizations like the Ohio Department of Agriculture and Mill Creek Metroparks to set up these traps, which were used to capture the Emerald Ash Borer, and to analyze what they captured. Since they were identified in the area, it was important for Mahoning Extension to monitor their spread. Fact Sheet on Ash Borer
Dave Goerig and Ellen Speicher from
Mill Creek Metroparks analyze the borers
they find on the EAB traps.
Good Natured Garden Partners
The Good Natured Garden Parteners are planning their Kick-Off event, to be held on May 19
Street Tree Inventory Service
This project is in its beginning stages. Planning has begun to create a tree inventory service in the Mahoning County. This service will provide GPS information, giving the location, species, health, necessary maintenance and any other important information about each street tree located on public land. This information will be helpful to parks, municipalities relative to managing their public trees. This information can also determine how much tree canopy each area is recieving from street trees, how much pollution these trees are cleaning up and many other facts. Why is this important? The amount of tree canopy in a town can reduce total energy costs as well as air pollution. After collecting this data, the Mahoning Extension will be able to give advice to on how and where to plant trees to make the largest impact!
Information related to...
Master Gardeners
This volunteer program focuses on planting and gardening issues and sharing what you know about gardening with others while working to beautify your community. Have an interest in the program? Print an application and make sure to visit their page.
Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalists
Our OCVN Program is one of the few in the state. This natural resource education program provides educational programming, leads hikes and assists with special events at local parks.
Interested? Print an application and make sure to view their page.
Horticulture
