District Blogs

Article about the mating season of small animals found in the Southwest corner of Ohio

What is the Ohio CAN Program, and how can I get involved? Objective and Purpose: The Ohio CAN program aims to foster the development and growth of agricultural businesses, particularly those operated by individuals from historically underrepresented regional communities. By providing resources and support, the initiative seeks to enhance opportunities for these producers in the agricultural sector. Eligibility: The program targets individuals or groups who meet specific cri

Prescribed fire is a tool as old as time. Long before human interaction, trees, many species of native grasses, and herbaceous flowering plants adapted to be fire resistant. Some native plants require fire to thrive, releasing seeds after a wildfire flashes through an area. The Native peoples of North America utilized fire to rid areas of dead plant materials, release nutrients, and encourage re-growth of important plant species. As European settlers moved into areas, prairie

The journey of monarchs is one of the insect world’s greatest phenomena. Sometimes traveling thousands of miles to their destination, the instinct and environmental triggers that cause them to move are not fully understood by researchers. Natural Phenomena The north American monarch populations journey begins at their overwintering grounds in the mountains of Mexico. Monarchs cluster together on oyamel fir trees, nearly 2 miles above sea level; it is important for them to gat

With harvest nearing many farmers are beginning to look at cover crop seed supplies. Depending on supply and demand some folks may choose to purchase "bin run" seed to help save on cost. Rightly so, cover crops are not a cash crop and buying seed from a local supplier can often be easier to handle and may sometimes be cheaper. But there are few considerations to keep in mind, if you have an NRCS contract for cover crops they are going to need a seed tag. Seed tags contain vit

In 1972, Congress passed the Clean Water Act (CWA) with goals to restore the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of water in the United States. Its basic structure is to regulate discharges of pollutants into the nation’s waters. Discharges can mean anything from a wastewater treatment plant outflow to filling a wetland with sediment. In the U.S., any impacts to streams or wetlands are regulated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Environment

After a long, wet winter the scars on the landscape are difficult to ignore. Torrential rains are becoming more widespread across the Midwest; heavy storms deliver 3-5" of rainfall in a 24 hour period and its effects can be seen all around the county. From urban residents dealing with stormwater issues to rural residents concerns about stream erosion and field erosion, these unusual rain events are becoming more frequent and causing damage to property. One of the ways farmers

Since 2019 Butler SWCD has employed the use of drones as a tool for conservation. Our first drone, a DJI Phantom 4 Pro was paid for...

Nichole Banks, Natural Resource Tech Throughout the county, streambank erosion has become a large concern for many homeowners. With...

As the holiday season comes to an end you may have noticed your real Christmas tree looking a little ragged and dry. Instead of putting your tree out to the curb, where it’ll take up space in our crowded landfills, perhaps you can use it on your property. There are many ways your dead tree can be utilized, let’s take a look at the most conservation minded options. Shelter for Backyard Wildlife You can leave the tree right in its stand, and set it out in the yard for the rest