Tuesday, July 25th, 2006
Gauging soil moisture
Photo by Nancy Allen/The Daily Standard

Larry Antosch, director of environmental programs at the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, crumbles some soil in his hand during a program last week in Celina. Looking on is Doug Foxx, organizational director of the Mercer, Auglaize, Shelby and Allen counties Farm Bureau. The program, sponsored by the Mercer County Soil and Water Conservation District, focused on manure management practices and government funds available to install and/or practice conservation methods that keep manure out of ditches, creeks, rivers and other water bodies. The soil exercise was designed to help farmers determine on their own the moisture content of their soil, so they know whether or not it is safe to apply manure. About a dozen livestock producers from the area attended the program.

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