Ritchie County Agriculture & Natural Resources

This Month in the Garden Calendar

Importance of Color in the Garden

An exciting benefit of gardening is the vast palate of colors that can be observed with garden plants. Vegetables, flowers, herbs and fruits contain natural pigments that can be visually seen as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, white, black and brown.

The colors we find among our garden plants are the result of complicated genetic traits that are expressed over the course of the growing season. Color can even be an indicator of plant nutrition and overall plant health. Sometimes, poor color expression, like yellow or dull leaves, can be a signal for plant disease or nutrient stress. Colorful plants also attract pollinators and other beneficial insects to the garden.

More from the Garden Calendar

Master Gardeners

The Master Gardener program and training are conducted by West Virginia University Extension through county Extension offices. The training provides gardeners with the opportunity to improve their horticultural knowledge and skills and then share their experience with the public through organized volunteer activities. The program topics covered include: botany, plant problem diagnosis, soils, ornamentals, pest management, fruits, vegetables, and plant propagation. Contact us for class availability and schedule.

Agriculture News for Ritchie County

Lease Recommendations for Land Owner & Tenants

Ben Goff, WVU Extension Agent in Mason and Putnam counties, offers recommendations for landowners and tenants who want to prepare for the upcoming farming season and work to minimize their respective risks.

Goff covers a variety of tips for farmers and landowners regarding farm leases, including:

Mid-Ohio Valley Fall 2021 Beef Quality Assurance Trainings

The fall 2021 WVU Extension BQA trainings will focus on topics including:

Register for 2021 Pasture Management Certificate Training

The Pasture Management Certificate Training is offered as part of Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College Agricultural Innovation Workforce Trainings & Certifications. 

Instructed by Kevin Shaffer, Ed Rayburn and Ben Goff from WVU Extension, this certification will teach farmers how they can improve sustainability to their operation by improving their pasture management so there is more available forage year-round. 

Ritchie County Agriculture News

2018 Regional Calf Sale

Ritchie County Cooperative Marketing Association will host the 2018 Regional Calf Sale, at the Ritchie County Co-Op Barn, located on Bunnell's Run, Harrisville.

New consignors are welcome. There will be a $1 per head cattlemen fee.

Read 2018 Regional Calf Sale

Harrisville Regional Feeder Calf Sale to be held October 6

The Harrisville Regional Feeder Calf Sale will be held Friday, October 6, 2018 beginning at 9 a.m., at the Ritchie County Cooperative Marketing Association Sale Barn in Harrisville.

Anyone wanting to help with the sale should contact Floyd Mahaney, Sale Manager at 304-643-2543. Media inquiries about the sale should be directed to Richard Gorrell, Ritchie County Cooperative Marketing Association President at 304-684-3753. 

The Harrisville Regional Feeder Calf Sale is sponsored by the Ritchie County Cooperative Marketing Association, Inc. in cooperation with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, the WVU Extension Service, and WV Cattlemen's Association.

Read Harrisville Regional Feeder Calf Sale to be held October 6

Ritchie County Farmers Market Open May Through October

The farmers market is located at the  Harrisville Municipal Building parking area.

Anyone interested in becoming a vendor at the Farmers Market should contact the WVU Extension Service Ritchie County Office by calling 304-643-5200.

Read Ritchie County Farmers Market Open May Through October

Natural Resources News for Ritchie County

Register for White Oak in West Virginia Webinar

Join us as we dive into the opportunities and challenges related to sustaining and harvesting white oak trees in West Virginia.

Tuesday, February 2

Register for West Virginia Woodland Stewards Seminar

Join us as we dive into a variety of educational topics and learn more about how we can be better stewards of West Virginia's woodlands.

Tuesday, February 9

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In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).
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