In This Issue
1. Calendar
2. Research Reports Available
3. MAAHS Workshops
January 6-7, 2005. 59th Annual Muck Crops School. Thursday, 9 AM to 4 PM; Friday, 8 AM to2:30 PM. Moose Lodge, U. S. Route 224, Willard, OH. For complete details, contact Erie County Extension at 419-627-7631.
January 19-21, 2005 Ohio Fruit and Vegetable Congress, Seagate Center, Toledo, OH. Educational sessions in truck crops, processing crops, potatoes, tree and small fruit, farm markets, general sessions , Christmas trees plus trade show. For complete details, about the program, exhibits and hotel information, contact Tom Sachs at 614-246-8292 or email tsachs@ofbf.org
February 1, 2005. MAAHS Ohio Ag and Hort Human Resource Managers' Forum. Hillard OH. (See article below)
MAAHS Innovative Safety Workshops for Ohio Agricultural and Horticultural Employers
Up to forty workshops will be conducted until September 30, 2005. (See article below)
R. Precheur
The first of the 2004 research results are now available at
the VegNet website. As we are made aware of other research
reports, we will let you know of their availability.
E (electronic) Copies of the following Vegetable Research Reports are Available at the VegNet website. http://vegnet.osu.edu
Hard copies are available of the following report:
Vegetable Research Results – 2004. M. Bennett et al.. Copies available from: Mark Bennett, 2021 Coffey Rd., Columbus, OH 43210, 614-292-3864. email: Bennett.18@osu.edu
Do you have ag or hort human resource (HR) responsibilities? Would you like to interact with ag and hort HR people from across the state? Would you benefit from knowing how other HR people tackle some of the same problems you face? Do you face some tough HR problems that occur over and over? Mid American Ag and Hort Services (MAAHS) is pleased to announce the second Ohio Ag and Hort Human Resource Managers' Forum for people who answered yes to one or more of these questions. The Forum will be held Tuesday, February 1 at Hilliard from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This opportunity will provide a forum for fostering professional development and advancing effective human resource practices for human resource managers in agricultural and horticultural businesses.
The featured topic at the Forum will be "Orienting and Training New Employees." Bernie Erven of Erven HR Services LLC, a well-respected human resource expert, will facilitate this two-hour portion of the program. John Wargowsky, executive director of MAAHS, will review how to properly handle Social Security number mismatch letters. The program will conclude with an open discussion.
Participants in the pilot Forum held in November agreed that MAAHS should continue sponsoring the Forum and looked forward to new participants to broaden sharing and learning opportunities. Those attending the pilot Forum gained from extensive interaction and left with positive ideas to try in their businesses.
The registration fee of $50 for MAAHS members and $70 for non-MAAHS members includes lunch and materials. Participation in the Forum is limited to the first 40 registrants and reservations are requested by January 26. Contact MAAHS at 614-246-8286, maahs@ofbf.org or www.midamservices.org (click on "Events") for more information.
Mid American Ag and Hort Services is offering a safety workshop for Ohio agricultural and horticultural employers in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture's Risk Management Agency. Dr. Bernie Erven of Erven HR Service, LLC developed the workshop. Erven has 30 years of human resource management experience in agricultural and horticultural businesses.
Work place accidents injure workers and economically harm both workers andemployers. The consequences of unsafe work, equipment and buildings are obvious. Employers and employees can partner for safety and reduce the risk from work place hazards and injuries. This workshop provides practical take home ideas on how employers, supervisors and workers can cooperate for safety through: (1) Creating an organizational culture that highly values safety, (2) Identifying and removing work place hazards with the help of employees, (3) Making safety an important part of worker training and (4) Implementing progressive discipline programs that reinforce safety in the workplace.
Those attending these workshops will receive a participant manual and the Ohio Agricultural and Horticultural Employer Checklist. The checklist was developed in partnership with the Ohio State University Ag and Hort Labor Education Program.
This 90-minute workshop is available for Ohio organizations to conduct workers' compensation safety programs and to improve the general safety environment for Ohio's agricultural and horticultural production businesses while managing legal, financial, and human resource risks. Up to forty workshops will be conducted until September 30, 2005 on a first-come, first-served basis.
Additional partners in this effort include Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. Contact MAAHS at 614-246-8286, maahs@ofbf.org or visit www.midamservices.org and click on 'Projects' to obtain more information or locate a workshop being conducted near you.
