The pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is a native North American understory tree, known for producing the largest endemic, edible fruit in Ohio (Figure 1). The tree grows throughout the state as was shown by a 1969 survey of native and naturalized woody plants that found pawpaws growing in 80 of Ohio’s 88 counties (Braun, 1969). In 2009, pawpaw was declared Ohio’s native fruit (Ohio.gov, 2025). In the United States, Asimina triloba is the northernmost member of the Asimina genus.
The first step in the hay-making process is mowing the forage crop at the appropriate stage of maturity to best optimize hay yield and forage quality. Mowing and conditioning methods can influence drying time, quality, yield, and regrowth of the forage.
Types of Forage Mowers
Mowers can generally be broken down into two basic components:
Although the interest in conservation agriculture is growing among farmers, practices like no-tillage and more diverse crop rotations—those that go beyond corn, soybean, and wheat—are still not widely adopted in the United States. Today, 82%– 94% of the cropland is managed with crop rotations, but most are just two-year corn-soybean systems, and only about one-third of U.S. acres are under no-tillage practices (Claassen et al., 2018).
Since 1962, researchers at The Ohio State University have studied how no-tillage affects soil health and crop yields through the Triplett-Van Doren no-tillage and crop rotation experiment (soilfertility.osu.edu/research/long-term-tillage-plots). Building on over six decades of data (1962–2024), de Camargo Santos et al.
Freezing is the easiest, most convenient, and least time-consuming food preservation method. Most foods freeze well with the exception of produce with a high-water content, cream-based items, and cooked starchy foods such as cooked noodles and rice.
Soil testing is one of the most important tools available to growers, landscapers, turf managers, and other land care professionals. It offers a clear snapshot on soil properties—including plant-available nutrient levels—that provides critical information used to guide decisions about fertilization, crop selection, lawn care, and environmental stewardship. However, the accuracy and usefulness of your soil test results depend heavily on the quality and reliability of the laboratory conducting the analysis.
Pie fillings are an excellent way to preserve an abundance of fruit. The following fruit fillings are excellent and safe products. Each canned quart makes one 8-inch to 9-inch pie.
Whether by personal choice or due to special dietary needs, many people are looking for ways to reduce their sodium intake. Commercially prepared food suitable for special meal plans can be costly because low-sodium foods require slightly different production procedures. Preserving food at home can be a practical way to save money, even when reducing sodium, if fresh produce and the necessary equipment are available.
Chigger is a common name for tiny mite larva (family Trombiculidae) whose feeding behavior and saliva causes intense, irritating itching in humans and animals. Only the chigger mites’ larval stage is parasitic. They prefer to feed on small mammals and birds but they do feed on humans. Later stages of chigger nymphs and adults prey on insect eggs and small arthropods like springtails (Koehler et al., 2022). Chigger mites are yellow to reddish in color but are typically too small to see without magnification (Koehler et. al., 2022).
Stockpiling cool-season grasses is a widely recommended forage management practice that helps extend the grazing season and reduce reliance on stored feeds during winter. This method involves allowing grasses such as tall fescue, orchardgrass, and Kentucky bluegrass to grow during late summer and fall without grazing so they can be used later in the season.
