REYNOLDSBURG — In an effort to protect horses and other livestock in Ohio, the Ohio Department of Agriculture is not allowing the import of horses from counties within states with confirmed and suspected cases of Vesicular Stomatitis. This restriction includes the All American Quarter Horse Congress, which is scheduled to begin in Columbus on Oct. 1. “VSV has not been detected in Ohio and we are taking every precaution possible to keep it that way,” ODA State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Forshey said. “With the All American Quarter Horse Congress coming, we thought it was important to restrict further movement to prevent the disease’s potential spread.” VSV is a viral disease that primarily affects horses, but can also infect cattle, swine, sheep, and goats. The disease causes blister-like lesions, which burst and leave open wounds. It is extremely painful to animals and can result in the inability to eat and drink and even lameness. VSV is highly contagious, with biting insects being the most common method of transmission. Humans also can contract VSV by coming into contact with lesions, saliva or nasal secretions from infected animals. In people, the disease causes flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle ache, headache and nausea. Currently, VSV has been detected in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming with confirmed or suspected cases in specific counties across those states. A current list of suspect and confirmed cases can be found in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly situation report. For more information on the disease, visit the USDA’s VSV resource page.

On day two of YCC, conference attendees participated in a mini-Beef 509 session with Dr. Lyda Garcia, assistant professor of meat science for the Ohio State University’s Department of Animal Sciences.

BUCYRUS — The Crawford Soil and Water Conservation District recently held its 74th annual meeting at The Loft at Pickwick Place.

COLUMBUS — After nearly a year of celebrating Ohio Bureau’s Centennial, the OFBF Board of Trustees recently voted to adopt the “rosette” logo used to recognize the centennial as the organization’s new, permanent logo.

BUCYRUS — The Ohio No-till Field Day is Thursday at the Nathan Brause farm in Crawford County. The field day is 8:50 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 4565 Zeigler Road, Bucyrus. After a welcome by Jan Layman, President of Ohio No-Till Council, Director of Agriculture Dorothy Pelanda will have a few comments.

WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated 16 Ohio counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers who suffered losses due to five separate disaster events may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency emergency loans.

WASHINGTON — Agricultural producers reported they were not able to plant crops on more than 19.4 million acres in 2019, according to a new report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This marks the most prevented plant acres reported since USDA’s Farm Service Agency began releasing the report in 2007 and 17.49 million acres more than reported at this time last year.

ATLANTA — The U.S. Small Business Administration announced that economic injury disaster loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and private nonprofit organizations located in Ohio as a result of excessive rain and flooding from Sept. 1, 2018, through July 3.

CAREY — On July 16, the officers of the Carey FFA chapter traveled together to a cabin near Hocking Hills for the annual chapter officer retreat. Within three days time, the seven officers took part in several team-building activities and worked to prepare for the approaching school year; including everything from improvements to new ideas, which will continue to preserve the education of agriculture.

WASHINGTON — The Sign-up is now open for the Market Facilitation Program, a U.S. Department of Agriculture program to assist farmers who continue to suffer from damages because of trade retaliation from foreign nations. Through MFP, USDA will provide up to $14.5 billion in direct payments to impacted producers, part of a broader trade relief package announced in late July. The sign-up period runs through Dec. 6.