In the past, aesthetic mowing of Conservation Reserve Program grass cover was a widely accepted practice by many participants. Today, with more research and understanding, it has been shown that properly managed grass cover will reduce soil erosion and improve water quality, and is more beneficial to wildlife than annually mowed grass covers.

MOUNT BLANCHARD — The Riverdale FFA recently had several accomplishments at the regional FFA award evaluations. Evaluations include a quality check of record books and applications for American degrees, state degrees and proficiencies.

The Wyandot County FFA chapters currently are selling fresh strawberries. The chapters, including Carey, Mohawk, Riverdale and Upper Sandusky, will continue the sale through Feb. 24.

The Wyandot Soil and Water Conservation District is offering a scholarship to Wyandot County youth who have been accepted or currently are enrolled in an accredited college for fall 2016 and hold a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Eligible students must be planning on or currently pursuing a degree in natural resources, environmental science, agriculture or a related field.

A Bob Evans community fundraiser to benefit the Sandusky River Watershed Coalition will take place from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. March 17 at the Tiffin, Fostoria, Upper Sandusky, Fremont and Bucyrus Bob Evans restaurants. Those who present the event flier will have 15 percent of their sales donated to the watershed coalition by Bob Evans.

COLUMBUS — Farmers who apply fertilizer on more than 50 acres are being encouraged to obtain their fertilizer applicator certification before this year’s planting season. The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation is asking farmers to attend a training session being conducted by the Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation has $18,000 in scholarships available to Ohio students from rural, suburban and urban communities who are pursuing degrees connected in some way to agriculture. Twelve $1,500 scholarships will be awarded through four programs: Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation Scholar, Women’s Leadership in Agriculture Scholarship Program, Darwin Bryan Scholarship Fund and Cindy Hollingshead Scholarship Fund.

DUBLIN — Students from FFA chapters across Ohio recently attended the 212 and 360 degree leadership conferences. The conferences are activities of the National FFA Organization made possible by title sponsor Syngenta as a special project of the national organization.

The Farm Service Agency is reminding producers who are interested in the 2016 Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program of the need to apply for coverage by March 15, the deadline for 2016 NAP coverage on forage sorghum, oats, potatoes, soybeans, sunflowers and all spring-planted specialty crops grown for food.

MOUNT BLANCHARD — The Riverdale FFA chapter had three teams of two compete in the tractor trouble shooting contest at Cory-Rawson High School on Jan. 21, and one of those teams took home first place. Tractor trouble shooting consists of finding and fixing what is wrong with farm machinery, according to a press release from the chapter.