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Agriculture and Natural Resources
Purdue Extension-Wabash County
A Word From the ANR Educator
A Word From the ANR Educator
Happy November Everyone,
October went by in a flash! Most farmers got harvests in and we had some great programming here in Wabash County. Yield numbers are below average this year as we had little to no rain during the grain fill portion of our corn and soybean life cycles. Please be safe as tractors and combines commute from field to field. Wabash was able to host author and professor Douglas Tallamy through the efforts of the Bringing Nature Home group. He gave 2 talks, one on The Nature of Oaks and also Natures Best Hope. Each was focused on conservation and the importance of our native species. I've also been in the classroom at Southwood Jr./Sr. High School teaching Jr. Master Gardeners. The 6th and 7th grade science class cleaned up the beds, collected the last of the vegetables, and learned about the importance of soils. I also was able to be a part of the North Manchester 5th graders Natural Resources Field Day. Besides teaching I've also been promoting Extension at different symposiums and expos to help increase our outreach to Wabash County.
Feel fre to reach out if you'd like to have a meeting! However, November is a busy time for me so call or email before heading into the office. If you have any questions about upcoming programming or Ag questions in general, feel free to reach out to the Extension Office. Phone: 260-563-0661 (Ext 1408) or emailing me directly at gschortg@purdue.edu
Best Wishes,
Geoff Schortgen
County Extension Director
Ag and Natural Resources Educator Wabash County
Farwell to Mindy
Farwell to Mindy
Mindy Mayes has been the Health and Human Sciences Extension Educator for Wabash County for the past 7 years. She has decided to transfer to Grant County and she will be greatly missed. Thankfully she will only be a county away and we wisher all the best on this next chapter. Bye Mindy and thank you for everything you brought to Wabash. For those wishing to stay in touch with Mindy, her email will remains the same (mayes7@purdue.edu).
Coming up!!
Purdue Extension Hot Topics is a monthly webinar series that hits on a timely subject with an expert. These are free, live and virtual discussions on the latest research and best practices.
Register once to be signed up for each monthly program. If you can make it on, great! If you can’t make a month, no problem. (If you've already registered, no need to do it again.)
Register HERE: https://bit.ly/HotTopics2024 *You only need to register once*
Can't make it on live? That's okay. We record every session and post here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx1L2c89r3d3P7LspotyPzg
#PurdueHotTopics #PurdueExtension
Join us November 20th to talk about Poultry with Dr. Darrin Karcher.
List of Past 2024 Hot Topics with YouTube Link
List of Past 2024 Hot Topics with YouTube Link
January- Ants of Indiana
January *Bonus-Backyard Gardening and Landscaping for Birds
February- Climate and Weather Updates in Indiana
March- Purdue on the Farm
April-Eat Midwest Fish
May- Purdue Institute for Family Business
June- Turf Problems and Insects
July- Indiana Trees
August-Drones and UAV Technology
September- Pork Industry Updates
October-Vermicomposting
List of Past 2023 Hot Topics with YouTube Link
List of Past 2023 Hot Topics with YouTube Link
January- Organics and Composting
February-Garden Planning
March-Plant Pest and Diagnostic Lab
April- Turfgrass and Weed Control
May- Soils
June-Farm Outlook
July- Hemp Production
August-Tomato Disease
September- Poison Hemlock and Other Invasives
October-Landscape Pests
November- Grapes
December- Spotted Lantern Fly
October Review
Douglas Tallamy
Douglas Tallamy
Dr. Tallamy's presentations focused on conservation, planting natives, and environmental steward ship. There were over 150 people at the October 6th session and over 300 at the October 7th session. I was able to meet Dr. Tallamy in person and discuss his work. I was also able to have an information booth at both events to promote Purdue Extension Wabash County. It was a wonderful time working with the Bringing Nature Home group to help make this event possible!
Pond Managment Scounting
Pond Managment Scounting
Wabash & Miami County Extension and SWCDs are hosting a pond management workshop in spring of 2025, more information to follow. Weather permitted us to scout a few possible locations.
Tar Spot
Tar Spot
Tar spot was in the corn this year, but not as bad due to lack of moisture.
Annual Meeting
Annual Meeting
Thanks to all who came to our showcase/ annual meeting. As we held multiple booths for outreach and said farewell to Mindy as she transfers to Grant County.
Tallamy Outreach
Tallamy Outreach
Miami, Wabash, and Whitly county educators all in one spot and promoting extension.
YMCA Senior Expo
YMCA Senior Expo
Passing information at the senior expo, nobody's tomatoes did well this year.
Media Outreach
Media Outreach
Giving a few quotes about the Doug Tallamy Sessions.
Vermicomposting
Vermicomposting
Michele Jones taught our Extension Hot Topics for October on Vermicomposting. Composting with worms! We had a great crowd and lots of folks really enjoyed the information and will be applying it to their gardens. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiou2pBG6w8&t=5s
Retired Teachers Presentation
Retired Teachers Presentation
I was honored to do a garden presentation at the quarterly program for retired teachers. I quizzed them on common weeds, they got a good grade!
Natural Resources Field Day
Natural Resources Field Day
5th graders learning about soil. Here we are doing a jar test to determine the amount of sand, silt and clay in the soil.
Fertilizer PSA
Fertilizer PSA
If you get fertilizer on the side walk try and sweep or blow it back into the yard, this prevents pollution in our water ways.
Grow Towers
Grow Towers
Grow towers have been poping up all over the county!
County Help
County Help
I was happy to work with the county recorders office to help with the Grass to Garden program.
What we can grow in Indiana
What we can grow in Indiana
At the NM public Library we discussed what sorts of fruits and veggies we can grow in Indiana, and then we tasted them as well!
Pumpkin Harvest Decorating
Pumpkin Harvest Decorating
We also talked about pumpkins and harvesting with the North Manchester Libarary Group.
Jr Master Gardeners
Jr Master Gardeners
Jar testing to see sand, silt, and clay separation.
Jr Master Gardeners
Jr Master Gardeners
Cleaning out the raised beds for winter.
Jr Master Gardeners
Jr Master Gardeners
Watering the Strawberries.
Past Newsletters
Past Newsletters
Geoff Schortgen
County Extension Director | Agriculture & Natural Resources Educator
Purdue Extension | Wabash County
ANR Website: https://extension.purdue.edu/county/wabash/anr/sub-page-open.html
1 W. Hill Street
Wabash, IN 46992
Email: gschortg@purdue.edu
Office Phone: 260-563-0661 (ext 1408)
Purdue University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution.
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