Katzenbach and Smith (1986) define a team as a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance goals, and a common approach that they hold themselves mutually accountable. Often, 4-H clubs must operate as a team to complete such tasks as community service projects, fund raisers, fair booth, or float design, etc. However, it does not occur spontaneously. Team building within a 4-H club needs to be fostered deliberately.
Phomopsis twig blight may be the most common canker disease of blueberries. This disease has the potential to severely decrease yields, particularly on susceptible varieties.
Fruit rot of blueberry is a serious problem throughout the United States. Alternaria fruit rot is the most common and severe postharvest rot of blueberry, although it can be seen in the field on overripe fruit. Anthracnose (ripe rot) is a serious preharvest and postharvest disease. Botrytis fruit rot is typically a minor disease but can become severe. Other fruit rots are less common.
Angular leaf spot is the only bacterial disease of strawberry in the Midwest. Though not usually a major problem in the Midwest, once introduced into a planting it can become very serious. After the disease becomes established in a planting, not much can be done to manage it. Losses result from (1) decreased productivity from diseased or dead leaves and (2) reduced yields due to unmarketable fruit with calyx infections (figure 4).
For many years, the Eastern grape industry recognized a disease called "dead-arm," which was thought to be caused by the fungus Phomopsis viticola. In 1976, researchers demonstrated that the dead-arm disease was actually two
Mummy berry is one of the most serious diseases of blueberry. Once the disease becomes established in a planting, it can destroy most of the crop. Losses result from rotted berries and killed or blighted blossoms and young shoots.
Early successional habitat is characterized primarily by grasses and forbs, often with brambles and shrubs pioneering into the site. This type of structure and cover is essential for a variety of wildlife species in Ohio. In recent years, there has been a decline in early successional wildlife habitat across Ohio. Some of this decline is attributed to residential and commercial development and natural succession to forest, but other areas have been converted to row crop production and non-native hay or pasture.
Hiring and compensating farm employees is a critical component in many farming operations in 21st century agriculture. For farm business owners, equitable compensation is critical to retaining quality employees and maintaining a profitable and successful farm business. For farm employees, equitable compensation is an important part of employment satisfaction.
Why Does Wind Development Make Sense for Rural Areas?
In many rural areas, utility scale wind energy developments can be a great way to expand and grow the economy through direct investment and job creation, in addition to significant potential spinoff development activities. Because of renewable state standards and incentives, including the Federal Production Tax Credit (PTC) and the Ohio SB 232 (which levels the playing field for wind projects by setting a property tax ceiling), more wind companies view Ohio as a new and exciting market for investment.
