Hardin County Agriculture and Natural Resources

Good afternoon,

During the month of July, Extension rainfall reporters recorded an average of 3.76 inches of rain in Hardin County. Last year, the average rainfall for July was 8.23 inches. Although less rain has been received this year during July, adequate amounts have fallen in most areas of the county for crop production.  About a third of the townships in the county were fairly dry in July while three other townships received substantially above average rainfall.  See the attached July Rainfall Summary for a listing of township rainfall amounts and their effect on crop production.  According to the attached August 13 Crop and Weather Report, corn kernels are developing faster than average and soybeans pods are filling faster than normal due to timely rains and warm temperatures.  If you look back to the attached August 6 Crop and Weather Report, most of the corn and soybeans have been in good condition.  If you take a look at the attached USDA Ohio August 1 Crop Forecast, Ohio corn is expected to average 180 bushels per acre, while soybeans are estimated to average 56 bushels per acre in Ohio this year.  If realized, both would be new record average yields for the state.

July 2018 Rainfall Summary

Ohio Crop Weather Report August 13

Ohio Crop Weather Report August 6

Ohio Crop Forecast August 1 

Are you utilizing variable rate seeding with soybeans?  There will be a soybean Variable Rate Seeding Focus Group meeting in Columbus at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center August 21.  Topics include Creating seeding rate zones and ideal seeding rate within each zone- Dr. Laura Lindsey (Ohio State) and Dr. Maninder Singh (Michigan State).  There will be an expert panel featuring farmers and Dr. Elizabeth Hawkins.  Participants will be asked to fill out a survey and be paid $80.  See the attached flyer for details to register to Laura Lindsey- lindsey.233@osu.edu (614-292-9080).  Another interesting opportunity is the Tile Drainage and Soil Health Field Day taking place August 22 near Bucyrus.  Before doing any tiling or field work, make sure you call 811 to locate pipelines, telecommunications, and other buried hazards at least 2-3 days before digging.  I have attached a news release dealing with this topic.  If you are looking for Ohio Farm Custom Rates, I have attached the newly finished document published every two years by OSU Extension.

Variable Rate Focus Group Flyer

Tile Drainage and Soil Health Field Day

Pipeline Safety News Release

Ohio Farm Custom Rates 2018

This year’s Ohio Summer No-Till Field Day is being held in Wooster on August 29.  Local Hardin County farmer Jan Layman is president of the Ohio No-Till Council this year.  Make sure you read about this event in the August edition of the Ohio No-Till News which I have attached.  Another area field day coming up on the same day is the Precision Ag Day, focusing on Data Management near Milford Center.  Check out the attached flyer for an agenda of the day as well as registration information.  Other upcoming local events include a Pork Producers meeting tonight (8/14) starting at 6:30 pm at Ag Credit; Soil and Water Conservation District board meeting Thursday (8/16) starting at 1:00 pm, followed by voting and meal at 5:00, and annual meeting at 6:30 pm.  This event is being held at the fairgrounds shelter house.  The OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers are having a Monarch Butterflies program Saturday (8/18) starting at 9:00 am in the Friendship Gardens of Hardin County located at 960 W Kohler Street in Kenton.  See the attached flyer for more information.

No-Till News

2018 Precision Ag Field Day Flyer

OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers Summer Garden Programs Flyer

Ohio State University Extension is conducting a needs assessment of the Hardin County Community so that we can better serve you!  As a supporter and patron of our office, you may receive the needs assessment survey via email from our Extension Director, Dr. Roger Rennekamp just after Labor Day.  Please watch your inbox for this survey, which will only take 10-15 minutes of your time to complete.  By providing information on the programs you use and the topic areas that you feel we need to address, you will be helping our office develop a plan of work that can have a greater impact on the Hardin County Community.  As always, I have provided some agronomy articles below that I thought you might be interested in reading.

Mark

Estimating Corn Yields at Early Stages of Kernel Development – Peter Thomison

Corn growers often want to estimate grain yields prior to harvest in order to help with marketing and harvest plans. Two procedures that are widely used for estimating corn grain yields prior to harvest are the YIELD COMPONENT METHOD (also referred to as the “slide rule” or corn yield calculator) and the EAR WEIGHT METHOD. Each method will often produce yield estimates that are within 20 bu/ac of actual yield. Such estimates can be helpful for general planning purposes. For information about estimating corn yield, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-24/estimating-corn-yields-early-stages-kernel-development.

Estimating Soybean Yield – Laura Lindsey

To estimate soybean yield, four yield components need to be considered: plants per acre, pods per plant, seeds per pod, and seeds per pound (seed size).  A printable worksheet to estimate soybean yield can be found by clicking on https://agcrops.osu.edu/sites/agcrops/files/imce/Soybean%20Yield%20Estimate%20Worksheet_1.pdf. Proceed with caution when estimating soybean yield. It is difficult to accurately predict soybean yield because of plant-to-plant variability and fall weather conditions can influence seed size.  Estimates are more accurate later in the growing season and on uniform stands.  Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-24/estimating-soybean-yield for more information.

2018 Ohio Wheat Performance Test – Laura Lindsey

Results of the 2018 Ohio Wheat Performance Test are available online at: https://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/wheattrials/. The purpose of the Ohio Wheat Performance Test is to evaluate wheat varieties, blends, brands, and breeding lines for yield, grain quality, and other important performance characteristics. This information gives wheat producers comparative information for selecting the varieties best suited for their production system and market. Varieties differ in yield potential, winter hardiness, maturity, standability, disease and insect resistance, and other agronomic characteristics. Selection should be based on performance from multiple test sites and years.  Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-24/2018-ohio-wheat-performance-test to read the complete article.

Late Summer Establishment of Perennial Forages – Rory Lewandowski, Mark Sulc

Ohio growers experienced another wet spring and compressed 2018 spring planting season.  On some farms, this caused postponement of plans for spring seeding of alfalfa and other perennial forages.  In some areas, the prolonged wet weather affected forage harvest schedules, resulting in harvest equipment running on wet forage fields leaving ruts, compacted soils and damage to alfalfa crowns.  Some of these forage acres need to be re-seeded.  Read more at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-24/late-summer-establishment-perennial-forages.

Western Bean Cutworm: Adult Moth Update – Amy Raudenbush, John Schoenhals, Mark Badertscher, Lee Beers, Amanda Bennett, JD Bethel, Bruce Clevenger, Sam Custer, Tom Dehass, Jason Hartschuh, Ed Lentz, Rory Lewandowski, Cecilia Lokai-Minnich, David Marrison, Sarah Noggle, Les Ober, Eric Richer, Garth Ruff, Jeff Stachler, Alan Sundermeier, Curtis Young, Megan Zerrer, Andy Michel, Kelley Tilmon

The number of Western bean cutworm (WBC) adult moth catches are decreasing across Ohio. For week ending August 11, 24 counties monitored 74 traps (Figure 1). Overall, there was a statewide average of 3.0 moths per trap (221 total captured). This is a decrease from an average of 5.6 moths per trap (406 total captured) the previous week. Figure 1. Average WBC adult per trap in Ohio counties, followed in parentheses by total number of traps monitored in each county for the week ending August 11, 2018. Legend (bottom right) describes the color coding on map for the average WBC per county.

Mark A. Badertscher

Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator

OSU Extension Hardin County

1021 W. Lima Street, Suite 103, Kenton, OH 43326

419-674-2297 Office

hardin.osu.edu

Good afternoon,

Wheat harvest is now complete and the focus has shifted to the progress of the growing season for corn and soybeans.  Manure is being applied around the county to area wheat stubble fields.  If you  have livestock or are involved with manure application in Ohio, you won’t want to miss the upcoming Manure Science Review being held at the Watkins Farm near Forest on July 25.  Register by Monday at www.go.osu.edu/msr2018 to get the best ticket price for this field day being held in Hardin County.  I have also attached the most recent version of the flyer for this event.  Double crop soybeans have been planted as well following the cutting of the wheat.  The most recent Ohio Crop Weather report for July 9 indicates that 44% of soybeans are blooming and 30% of corn is silking in the state.  Check out this attached report from USDA for more information about our crop progress to this point in time.

Manure Science Review Flyer

Ohio Crop Weather-July 9 

Next week on Tuesday, July 17 there is going to be the 4R Technology Review Field Day sponsored by the Ohio Agribusiness Association.  This event will also have a full slate of speakers in the morning and field demonstrations after lunch focusing on nutrient management.  It is being held at the Kellogg Farm near Forest so you will want to go to http://www.oaba.net/ to register for this event.  Read the attached news release for more details about this event also being held in Hardin County.  If you raise fruits and vegetables, you may be interested in going to this year’s Hardin County Crop Walk, which is actually taking place in Marion County, just over the county line near LaRue on Wednesday, July 18.  See the attached news release and flyer for more information about this program which will focus on insects, disease, and weed control in produce.  The OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers are having a Fairy Gardens workshop Saturday, July 21 starting at 9:00 am at the Friendship Gardens of Hardin County (see attached flyer).

4R Technology Review Field Day News Release

Crop Walk News Release

Crop Walk Flyer

Friendship Gardens Workshop Flyer

Other events that you won’t want to miss are the Western OARDC Agronomy Field Day on Wednesday, July 18 in Clark County.  See the article below for more information about this event and other ag crops topics.  Another field day that is coming up August 8 in Auglaize County is the Manure Management and Cover Crops Field Day being held near Wapakoneta.  I have attached a flyer for this event so you can register to attend before July 25.  Another opportunity to learn about hops production is a July 19 Backyard Hops program that has been announced in Madison County at the Farm Science Review site.  See the attached flyer for more information and how to register by July 18.  Another interesting read for you is ‘The Impact of the Agricultural and Food Production Cluster to Hardin County’ report that I shared this past Friday at the Ag Council breakfast.  Check it out to find out how important Hardin County Agriculture is to the local economy.  These numbers compiled by The Ohio State University Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics are based on net income, not gross income as you may have seen on other reports.

Manure Management and Cover Crops Field Day Flyer

Backyard Hops Flyer

The Impact of the Agricultural and Food Production Cluster to Hardin County

Other local events this coming week include Farm Bureau meeting Tuesday (7/17) starting at 6:30 pm at the Kenton Christian Missionary Alliance Church.  There is a Soil and Water Conservation District meeting Thursday (7/19) starting at 7:30 am at the SWCD office.    The OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers are meeting Monday (7/23) starting at 7:00 pm at Harco Industries.

Mark

Foliar Fungicide Use in Corn – Pierce Paul

Foliar diseases, especially Gray Leaf Spot (GLS), are beginning to show up in some corn fields. This is not at all surprising, given that the crop was planted relatively late and it has been wet and humid in some areas. GLS is favored by humid conditions, particularly if temperatures are between 70 and 90 F. Foliar diseases of corn are generally a concern when they develop early and progress up the plant before grain fill is complete. This is especially true when the hybrid is susceptible. In most years, GLS and NCLB usually develop late or remain restricted to the lower leaves. However, if it continues to rain and stays humid, this will likely not be the case this year. Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-20/foliar-fungicide-use-corn to finish reading about foliar fungicide use in corn.

Only Susceptible Varieties are Prone to Diseases and May Require a Fungicide Application– Anne Dorrance

From the scouting reports from the county educators and crop consultants – most of the soybeans in the state are very healthy with no disease symptoms.  However, as the news reports have indicated, there are a few varieties in a few locations that have higher incidence of frogeye leaf spot than we are accustomed to seeing at this growth stage – mid R2 – flowering in Ohio.  Most of the reports to date are along and south of route 70, which based on the past 12 years is where frogeye is the most common.  When this disease occurs this early in the season, where it can be readily observed, this is a big problem and should be addressed right away with a fungicide soon and a second application at 14-21 days later depending on if disease continues to develop and if environmental conditions (cool nights, fogs, heavy dews, rains) continue. Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-21/only-susceptible-varieties-are-prone-diseases-and-may-require to finish reading this article.

Controlling Marestail in Double-Crop Soybeans – Mark Loux
A uniform wheat crop can provide effective suppression of marestail, especially when combined with some in-crop herbicides.  It is nonetheless typical for marestail plants to be evident after the wheat is harvested, and these should be controlled prior to double crop soybean emergence.  There can be a couple types of marestail plants to deal with in this situation:  1) small ones that were lurking near the base of the wheat plants, which are largely not disturbed by the combine; and 2) larger ones that may have been present in areas of thin wheat stand, which get cut off by the combine and then regrow.  To read more, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-21/controlling-marestail-double-crop-soybeans.

Mark Your Calendars for These Important Field Days – Harold D. Watters

The Western ARS Agronomy Field Day will be held July 18th from 9 AM to 3 PM. No charge this year as we are soliciting sponsors to offset that cost. Lunch is included, and we will of course have in-season updates as well as talk about some on-going research. The location is the Western Agricultural Research Station at 7721 So. Charleston Pike, South Charleston south of I-70 and just west of the Ohio 54 and SR 41 intersection or from the west exit from I-71 onto SR 41, south, drive about 4 miles and you will see the station on the right.  To see the agenda and registration for this field day at the Western OARDC research station, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-20/mark-your-calendars-these-important-field-days.

Western Bean Cutworm Montoring – Amy Raudenbush, John Schoenhals, CCA, Mark Badertscher, Lee Beers, CCA, Amanda Bennett, Bruce Clevenger, CCA, Sam Custer, Tom Dehass, Mike Gastier, CCA, Jason Hartschuh, CCA, Ed Lentz, CCA, Rory Lewandowski, CCA, Cecilia Lokai-Minnich, David Marrison, Sarah Noggle, Les Ober, CCA, Eric Richer, CCA, Garth Ruff, Jeff Stachler, Alan Sundermeier, CCA, Chris Zoller, Andy Michel, Kelley Tilmon

Monitoring for WBC adults continues across Ohio with trap counts slowly increasing for July 1 through 7. Last week, 21 counties monitored 61 traps (Figure 1). Overall across all locations, there was an average of 3.4 moths per trap (217 captured).  This is an increase from an average of 1.2 moths/trap the previous week.  The general trend of WBC trap catches appears to be similar to 2016 where peak flight was the third week in July; however, average trap numbers are currently lower than 2016 (Figure 2). Western bean cutworm adults can peak during any week in July depending on the year. Click on https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-21/western-bean-cutworm-montoring for additional information.

Mark A. Badertscher

Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator

OSU Extension Hardin County

1021 W. Lima Street, Suite 103, Kenton, OH 43326

419-674-2297 Office

hardin.osu.edu

Hello,

This past week was eventful with our Evening Garden Affair and Ag Law program.  If you didn’t get a chance to go to the Evening Garden Affair, I have attached a copy of the third article written by OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Carol McKinley that discussed the benefits of gardening.  If you were unable to attend the Ag Law program with Peggy Kirk Hall, I have attached a copy of her presentation ‘5 Property Laws Farmers Need to Know.’  Corn continues to grow with the hot weather and adequate moisture, while the soybean fields that looked water weary are starting to improve.  Wheat harvest was in full swing this weekend in Hardin County with yields reported lower than expected.  See the attached Ohio Crop Weather Reports for June 25 and July 2 for more details about crop production progress.  The question that has some people thinking is whether they should double crop soybean into their wheat stubble.  This year we have plenty of moisture, so double cropping soybean is a viable option depending on the weather the rest of the season.  Read the attached article written by OSU Extension State Soybean and Small Grains specialist Dr. Laura Lindsey for more guidance with this topic.

Evening Garden Affair News Release Part 3

5 Property Laws Farmers Need to Know Hardin County

Ohio Crop Weather Report July 2

Ohio Crop Weather Report June 25

Double Crop Soybean News Release

There continues to be a wide variety of field days coming up in western Ohio and elsewhere around the state.  In addition to the Manure Science Review being held in Hardin County at the Watkins Farm near Forest on July 25 (see attached flyer for registration information), the Ohio Agribusiness Association is sponsoring a 4R Technology Review Field Day at the Kellogg Farm near Forest on July 17.  I have attached an agenda that you can read more about this local field day to make plans to attend.  There have been some calls to the Extension office about growing hops.  In the past, there have not been very many opportunities to learn about hops production locally.  July 24 there is a Hops Production and Management Field Day planned in Mechanicsburg, located in Champaign County.  I have also included the Spring Bulletin for Ohio Hops producers if you would like to learn more about this alternative crop.

Manure Science Review Flyer

OHIO 4R Tech Review Day – Agenda

Hops Bulletin-Spring 2018

Hop Production Field Day Flyer

Feel free to join us for our Ag Council Breakfast on Friday, July 6.  We will begin at 7:00 am in the Henry’s Restaurant banquet room in Kenton with breakfast, and then a round table discussion of agricultural issues, followed by sharing of information about the financial impact of Hardin County Agriculture.  The Men’s Garden Club is meeting Monday, July 9 at the home of Chuck Rife near Wharton at 6:30 pm.  Tuesday, July 10 the Sheep Improvement Association is meeting starting at 7:30 pm at the Extension office.  Make sure you read the agronomy articles below and I hope you and your family have a happy 4^th of July.

Mark

Reminders about dicamba – Mark Loux

This is the time of year when we received our first call about dicamba problems in soybeans in 2017.  We can probably expect any problems to become evident soon, based on the timing of postemergence applications and timeline for development of symptoms.  Off-target issues have already developed in states farther west and south, and we would expect at least some to occur here, unless we’re really lucky. The symptoms of dicamba injury show in new soybean growth within approximately 7 to 21 days after exposure, and most of our soybeans receive postemergence applications from early June on.  It’s been a challenging year to properly steward postemergence applications.  To read more, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-19/reminders-about-dicamba.

Impact of ponding and saturated soils on corn – Peter Thomison, Alexander Lindsey

Persistent rains during the past two weeks have resulted in ponding and saturated soils in many Ohio corn fields and led to questions concerning what impact these conditions will have on corn performance. The extent to which ponding injures corn is determined by several factors including: (1) plant stage of development when ponding occurs, (2) duration of ponding and (3) air/soil temperatures. Corn is affected most by flooding at the early stages of growth (see https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-15/young-corn-wet-feet-what-can-we-expect). Once corn has reached the late vegetative stages, saturated soil conditions will usually not cause significant damage.  To finish reading this article, click on https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-19/impact-ponding-and-saturated-soils-corn

Brown Spot IS NOT an economically important disease – Anne Dorrance

As farmers and consultants have been out checking their soybean stands, they are finding spots on the leaves.  The most common spotting on the unifoliates and first leaves is caused by Septoria glycines.  This is a fungus that overwinters on the previous soybean crop residue and in modern cultivars it is limited to the lower canopy.  We’ve done extensive studies on this disease over the past decade and I have yet to attribute an economic value in managing this. Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-18/it%E2%80%99s-probably-not-frogeye-leafspot-and-no-brown-spot-not to read more about Brown Spot in soybean.

Western Ohio Precision Ag Field Day Planned – Sam Custer, Amanda Bennett

Western Ohio Precision Ag Field Day is planned for July 16, 2018 beginning at 8 a.m. at 9060 Versailles, Southeastern Road, Versailles. This event will feature field demonstrations on nutrient placement, management, and utilizing field data to make decisions. Credits will be available for fertilizer applicator re-certification, certified crop consultants, and certified livestock managers. Several agribusinesses will be participating in the trade show. Those currently include Integrated Ag Services, Apple Farm Service, Green Field Ag, Precision Agri-Service, Fennig Equipment, Crop Production Services, Southwest Automation, Ohio Ag Equipment, Koenig Equipment, Bumper Crop Imagery, Otte Ag, Rogers Grain, Ohio Soybean Council, Graves-Fearon Agency, Ebberts Field Seed, and Heritage Cooperative. To read more about this upcoming field day, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-17/western-ohio-precision-ag-field-day-planned.

Western Bean Cutworm Montoring – Amy Raudenbush, John Schoenhals, Mark Badertscher, Lee Beers, Amanda Bennett, Bruce Clevenger, Sam Custer, Tom Dehass, Mike Gastier, Jason Hartschuh, Ed Lentz, Rory Lewandowski, Cecilia Lokai-Minnich, David Marrison, Eric Richer, Garth Ruff, Jeff Stachler, Curtis Young, Chris Zoller, Andy Michel, Kelley Tilmon

Another season of Western bean cutworm (WBC) trapping has officially begun! Bucket traps placed along the edge of a corn field with a lure were set between June 17th through 23rd and our first trap count is for WBC adults captured for week ending June 30th. Last week, 18 counties monitored 66 traps across Ohio for WBC adults. Overall, 76 WBC adults were captured and average moth per trap was 1.2.  Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-20/western-bean-cutworm-montoring to read more about Western Bean Cutworm monitoring.

Mark A. Badertscher

Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator

OSU Extension Hardin County

1021 W. Lima Street, Suite 103, Kenton, OH 43326

419-674-2297 Office

hardin.osu.edu

Good afternoon,

If you are looking for something to do, there are a lot of programs and events taking place in the next few weeks.  Most of the nitrogen has been applied to the corn in the county, first cutting of hay has been made, and herbicide applications continue in area fields.  According to the USDA, 100% of the corn is planted and 95% of the soybeans are planted in Ohio with 60% in good condition.  I have attached the latest Ohio Crop Weather report to this email.  Tonight (June 25) is ‘An Evening Garden Affair’ with Laura Akgerman discussing gardening with arthritis and disabilities.  It will begin with a tour of the Friendship Gardens of Hardin County at 6:30, followed by her presentation at 7:00 pm in Harco Industries.  See the attached news release and flyer for more information if you are planning to attend.  Tomorrow evening (June 26) is the Ag Law program with OSU Extension’s Peggy Kirk Hall.  She will discuss the ‘5 Property Laws that Farmers Need to Know.’  Her talk is scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm at the Burnison Barn, located at the Hardin County Fairgrounds.  It will follow the Farm Bureau Summer Social, which is set to begin at 6:30 pm at the same location.  For more details about this event, see the attached flyer.

An Evening Garden Affair News Flyer

Evening Garden Affair News Release Part 2

Ag Law Flyer

The 2018 Ohio State University Manure Science Review is scheduled for Wednesday, July 25 at the Watkins farm located at 18361 Township Road 90, Forest, OH 45843 in Hardin County. The program will begin at 8:45 am, while registration, coffee and donuts will be offered in the morning starting at 8:15 am before the field day kicks off with the afternoon activities ending by 3:30 pm.  There will be several guest speakers in the morning, lunch provided by Tim Holbrook, and field demonstrations in the afternoon.  Make sure you check out the news release and flyer for registration and other information so you don’t miss this local field day geared towards our livestock producers and manure applicators.  Registration is due by July 16 to take advantage of the $25 rate.

Manure Science Review News Release

Manure Science Review Flyer

The Ohio Sheep Day is taking place July 14 at the OARDC Eastern Research Station with several educational topics to be addressed during this field day.   See the attached flyer and contact Roger High, 614-246-8299, rhigh@ofbf.org if you are interested in attending this year’s event.  The Western Ohio Precision Ag Field Day will be held July 16 near Versailles.  Register by July 2 if you are interested in attending this year’s event.  For more information, see the attached flyer as you won’t want to miss out on the nutrient placement discussion and field demonstrations.  As you can see, there are several events planned for you to update your knowledge and skills, so make sure you take advantage of these opportunities.  I have also included some agronomy articles below for you to read if you are interested.  I hope to see you at one of these events in the near future.

June 18 Ohio Crop Weather Report

Sheep Day Flyer

Western Ohio Precision Ag Field Day Flyer

Mark

Rest of June warmer than normal with high rainfall variability – Jim Noel

Not much has changed since last week in terms of the outlook. The rest of June is likely to be warmer than normal with high variability of rainfall but tendency to above normal rainfall. It appears a heat dome will be centered in the south central U.S. this summer with periods where it shifts over the corn and soybean belt and Ohio Valley. The next surge of heat will come this weekend into early next week. With these surges come a ring of fire of storms around the heat dome leading to locally heavy rainfall. However, that rain will be scattered in nature.  To finish reading this article, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-17/rest-june-warmer-normal-high-rainfall-variability.

Corn leaf striping often temporary – Steve Culman, Peter Thomison

Leaf striping (interveinal chlorosis) in corn is appearing in many Ohio fields.  There are several nutrient deficiencies (including sulfur, zinc, magnesium, and manganese) that result in leaf striping and some of these look similar. The severity of the striping may vary considerably within a field and may be associated with differences in soil pH, organic matter, compaction, tillage, temperature and moisture. Bright yellow to white interveinal striping running the length of leaves may be the result of “genetic stripe”, but it’s usually limited to scattered plants within a field.  Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-16/corn-leaf-striping-often-temporary to read more about this issue.

Wheat and Barley: Cool, Wet Late-Season Conditions – Pierce Paul

Cool weather and moisture after flowering often means extended grain-fill and high yields, especially when disease levels are as low as they were at the time of pollination and early grain development in some fields. However, excessive rainfall associated with the cool temperatures could increase the severity of diseases that thrive under cool conditions. But with the crop now well into grain-fill and even turning in some locations, there is very little you can do about late-season diseases. The pre-harvest interval for some of the best fungicides is 30-45 days, which mean that they are now off-label in most areas, given that harvest will likely begin in less than 30 days. Click on https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-17/wheat-and-barley-cool-wet-late-season-conditions to finish reading this article.

Diagnosing Soybean Seedling Issues in 2018 – Anne Dorrance, Kelley Tilmon, Laura Lindsey, Mark Loux

It seemed to take forever this spring, but hopefully all of your soybeans are planted – for the first and only time.  Ohio’s biggest challenge is replanting; it is costly (new seed, cost of planting, lower yields due to delay in planting).  The first step is assessing overall stand health – do you have enough plants to obtain the best yields?  Based on a substantial amount of data, for soybeans planted in May, a harvest population of at least 100,000 plants/acre is generally adequate to maximize yield. Data from the Ag Crops Team on-farm trials indicate that a stand of 50,000 plants/acre only reduced yield by 15% compared to a stand of 116,000 plants/acre (when planting in May). Soybeans have the ability to compensate for low populations by increasing the number of branches, nodes, and pods per plant.   Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-17/diagnosing-soybean-seedling-issues-2018 to read more about diagnosing soybean seedling issues.

Using PEAQ to Estimate Alfalfa NDF for Multiple Cuttings – Rory Lewandowski, Mark Sulc

Much of the region’s alfalfa crop has been harvested over the past two weeks.  As cooler temperatures move into the area regrowth will likely slow down. Once regrowth reaches 16 inches tall again, the NDF (neutral detergent fiber crude protein) can rapidly be estimated in the field using the predictive equations for alfalfa quality (PEAQ). Instructions on how to rapidly measure NDF in the field can be found at https://forages.osu.edu/sites/forages/files/imce/Estimate%20Alfalfa%20NDF.pdf. This in-field estimate can be useful for timing each of your subsequent harvests in different fields, based on your forage quality goals. It’s important to remember PEAQ NDF estimates are to be only used in standing pure alfalfa stands. PEAQ will not provide growers with an accurate representation of quality once the alfalfa has been cut, cured, and stored. After the forage is stored, samples should be sent to a lab to determine nutritive values for fitting the forage into a ration.

Mark A. Badertscher

Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator

OSU Extension Hardin County

1021 W. Lima Street, Suite 103, Kenton, OH 43326

419-674-2297 Office

hardin.osu.edu

Good afternoon,

This week our Hardin County OSU Extension summer intern Dillon Rall and I have been busy doing stand counts in the soybean populations plot and setting traps to monitor insect pests around the county.  Insects that we are currently trapping include common armyworm, black cutworm, European corn borer, and spotted wing drosophila.  These traps are located around the county where we are monitoring the presence of these pests of wheat, corn, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, grapes, and peaches.  We plan to set up additional types of traps as the season progresses, inform farmers of possible issues, and provide management information if necessary.  Since my last newsletter, the crops have really progressed with the exception of some soybeans that have had issues.  According to this past week’s Ohio Crop Weather report that I have attached, Ohio is at 97% corn planted and 90% soybeans planted.  This is up from a week ago, which had corn at 90% and soybeans at 81% planted (see additional attached report).  It appears that only a few soybean fields need to be planted in Hardin County, and possibly some that might be candidates for replanting, at least in spots.  May rainfall in the county ended up at 3.40 inches with 4.96 inches for the growing season beginning April 15.  To see a township breakdown, check out the attached May 2018 Rainfall Summary.

June 11th Ohio Crop Weather Report

June 4th Ohio Crop Weather Report

May 2018 Rainfall Summary

There are some local garden programs coming up soon.  This Saturday, June 16 there is a program at the Friendship Gardens, 960 W Kohler Street in Kenton about how to design children’s gardens.  It is part of a monthly series and will begin at 9:00 am for an hour.  All children need to be accompanied by an adult.  I have attached a flyer with more information about this series and its location.  On June 25 you can learn about gardening with visual, physical or health limitations with Laura Akgerman, Disability Services Coordinator from the Ohio Agrability program.  Plan and practice good, safe habits while managing limits and preventing injury.  Design your garden to work the best for you, while using adaptive tools to keep your favorite hobby enjoyable.  These and other topics will be presented at ‘An Evening Garden Affair’ starting at 6:30 pm with a garden tour followed by the speaker and demonstrations at 7:00 pm.  See the attached flyer and news release written by OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Carol McKinley for more information.

Friendship Gardens Workshop Flyer

An Evening Garden Affair Flyer

Evening Garden Affair News Release

On Tuesday, June 26 Peggy Kirk Hall, Assistant Professor and Director, Agricultural & Resource Law Program for OSU Extension will be at the Burnison Barn at the Hardin County Heritage Farm located next to the fairgrounds at 14380 County Road 140 in Kenton.  She is going to be discussing the “Five Property Laws that Farmers Need to Know.”  Her talk will begin at 7:30 pm and last about 30 minutes with questions.  All farmers and property owners are welcome to attend.  This program is being provided in cooperation with the Hardin County Farm Bureau and Hardin County OSU Extension.  The Farm Bureau is having an ice cream social at 6:30 pm at the site with doors opening at 6:00 pm.  Farm Bureau members attending the summer social event are asked to RSVP by contacting the Hardin County Farm Bureau at 419-447-3091 or hardin@ofbf.org.  People who are interested in the ag law presentation only do not need to pre-register.  More details are in the news release which is attached to this email.  I have also included some agronomy articles below that you may be interested in reading.

Ag Law News Release

Mark

Young Corn with Wet Feet: What Can We Expect? – Alexander Lindsey, Peter Thomison, Steve Culman

Around the state, there are many corn fields with young plants with standing water due to the intense storms that have passed through. But what are the long-term effects of standing water on emerged corn? Preliminary data from two locations in Ohio in 2017 suggests that as long as a sidedress N application can be made following the waterlogging, yield loss may be minimal if the waterlogged conditions lasted 4 days or less. Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-15/young-corn-wet-feet-what-can-we-expect to read more.

Increasing Variability In Rainfall – Jim Noel

As summer nears, the weather pattern supports an increasing risk of big differences in rainfall totals from too wet to too dry. There is a growing risk of a heat dome developing off the drought area in the south central to southwest parts of the U.S. The heat dome will expand northeast into parts of the corn and soybean belt from time to time over the next several weeks. This means enjoy the cooler than normal weather this week. Storms will ride along the northern edge of the heat dome as it shifts north and south. This means locally heavy rain will be next to areas that get missed. The end result will be a wide variety of rainfall reports in June.  Read more about the June weather pattern at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-16/increasing-variability-rainfall.

Weed of the Week: Cressleaf Groundsel – Sarah Noggle

Many questions come into the County Extension Office daily.  Many times those include a question about a weed identification.  During the month of June 2018, OSU Extension will be featuring a weed identification of the week.  This week’s weed is cressleaf groundsel, Senecio glabellus. Cressleaf groundsel is a member of the Aster/Composite family.  Cressleaf groundsel can go by many other common names like butterweed, yellowtop, golden ragwort, and yellow ragwort.  It can be identified by its small yellow daisy like flowers or its purplish hollow stem and leaves.  This plant is commonly found in no-till fields or low till fields.  Cressleaf groundsel is highly toxic to livestock and humans.  For any additional questions, you may contact your county extension office or go to you your county’s website at your county name.osu.edu for more information.  Source: https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/u.osu.edu/dist/7/3461/files/2014/04/Cressleaf_groundsel_article_-_p-zna9t9.pdf, https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-14/cressleaf-groundsel-wheat-and-hay.

Early Corn Coloration – Green, Purple, or Yellow? – Alexander Lindsey, Steve Culman, Peter Thomison

Corn seedlings often turn yellow (due to low nitrogen uptake and/or limited chlorophyll synthesis) or purple (reduced root development and/or increased anthocyanin production) under cool, wet conditions. Some hybrids are more likely to increase anthocyanin (purple pigment) content when plants are cool. Yellowing or purpling of corn plants at this stage of development generally has little or no effect on later crop performance or yield potential. If it’s induced by environmental conditions, the yellow or purple appearance should change to a healthy green after a few sunny days with temperatures above 70 degrees F. If plants remain yellow, then closer inspection and assessment is needed to determine if yellowing is caused by nutrient deficiency or some other factor.  To finish reading this article, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-16/early-corn-coloration-%E2%80%93-green-purple-or-yellow.

Agronomic Field Day June 21 at OARDC Northwest Ag Research Station – Alan Sundermeier

The public is invited to attend at no cost the 2018 Agronomic Field Day.  It will be held on Thursday, June 21 starting at 9:00 am to 11:30 am.  The location is 4240 Range Line Road, Custar, Ohio, 43511.

The topics for the field day include:

•Fertilizer Placement Options for Different Management Systems  – John Fulton, Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering

•The Impacts of a Half Century of No-Till on Soil Health and Properties – Steve Culman, School of Environment and Natural Resources

•Identifying and Developing Winter Barley Adapted to the Great Lakes, Midwestern and Northeastern State Regions – Eric Stockinger, Horticulture and Crop Science

•Agronomic Management of Winter Malting Barley and Double Crop Soybean – Laura Lindsey, Horticulture and Crop Science

•Management of Seedling Diseases, Wise Choices for Seed Treatments, Potential Herbicide Interactions and Better Cultivar Selection – Anne Dorrance, Plant Pathology

Contact information: Matt Davis, 419-257-2060, or davis.1095@osu.edu

Mark A. Badertscher

Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator

OSU Extension Hardin County

1021 W. Lima Street, Suite 103, Kenton, OH 43326

419-674-2297 Office

hardin.osu.edu

Good afternoon,

I hope this issue of the Hardin County Agriculture and Natural Resources Update finds you finished or close to being finished with this year’s planting season.  I have been gone on vacation lately, but have been monitoring local crop progress.  According to our online rainfall reporting system, CoCoRaHS (https://www.cocorahs.org), Hardin County received between 0.42 and 1.06 inches of rain in the past week.  The latest USDA Ohio Crop Weather report dated May 29 has the state 82% done planting corn and 67% done planting soybeans.  I would suspect our local Hardin County numbers to be higher than that from my own observations, what a couple local farmers mentioned at Ag Council breakfast this morning, and with the northern edge of Ohio still working to get this year’s crops planted.  The previous week’s Ohio Crop Weather report (May 21) listed Ohio 71% done with corn and 50% done with soybeans.  I have attached both of these reports so you can compare them with how your crop planting situation is.  This past weekend I checked a wheat field that was flowering.  This is the time that monitoring for head scab is so very important with regards to timing of possible fungicide application.  Although our area has been low to moderate risk for the past two weeks, those with wheat in the field should read the attached article about wheat head scab for information about how to manage this potential disease.

 Ohio Crop Weather May 29 Report

Ohio Crop Weather May 21 Report

Wheat Head Scab Article

If you are interested in commodity prices and outlook for Ohio, I have attached the Agriculture Across Ohio USDA report for May.  It gives a brief summary of prices as well as other information for agricultural commodities.  The March 2018 weighted average prices for corn was $3.79, soybean $10.10, and wheat $ 4.90 per bushel.  Milk averaged $15.80 per hundredweight, alfalfa was $190 per ton, and mixed hay $115 per ton.  See the attached report for more information about ag commodities, including livestock, poultry, and eggs.  This year OSU Extension is again partnering with the Soil and Water Conservation District to host a Pond Clinic.  It will be held on Tuesday, June 12, beginning at 6:30 pm.  Pond owners and perspective pond owners are invited to the clinic being held at the Wallace Pond, located at 13231 State Route 309, west of Kenton.  For more information about the clinic and speaker Dr. Eugene Braig, see the attached news release and flyer.  If you have a pond, we hope to see you there so that you can learn from the expert and get your pond questions answered.

 Agriculture Across Ohio Report

Pond Clinic News Release

Pond Clinic Flyer

Other upcoming events include a Farm Bureau meeting Tuesday, June 5 at 6:30 pm at the Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Kenton; a Fairboard meeting Wednesday, June 6 at 7:00 pm at the fair office; Lamb weigh-in and tagging is Saturday, June 9 for the Hardin County Fair at 8:00-10:00 am at the fairgrounds; and the Hardin County Men’s Garden Club is meeting Monday, June 11 at 6:30 pm at the home of Gordon Kline in Kenton.  For more information about the lamb weigh-in and tagging, go to https://hardin.osu.edu/news/market-lamb-weigh-intagging-0.  For more information about ag crops, see the articles below.

Mark

Diseases of Wheat and Barley and Their Management with Fungicides – Pierce Paul

It is wet and rainy outside and the forecast calls for more rain throughout this the second week of May (May 14–19). Therefore, growers’ concerns about diseases and the need for fungicides are understandable. However, although most of our common diseases of small grain crops are favored by wet, humid conditions, it does not automatically mean that you have to apply a fungicide this week. The timing has to be correct to get the best results with the fungicide you apply, to protect the crop when it is most susceptible to the disease in question, and to attack the fungus when it is most vulnerable. Unfortunately, there is no single timing that works best for every single disease, as the growth stage at which the crop is most susceptible and the conditions under which the greatest damage occurs vary with the disease. Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-13/diseases-wheat-and-barley-and-their-management-fungicides to read more about diseases of wheat and barley.

Estimating Fiber Content of Alfalfa in the Field – Rory Lewandowski, Mark Sulc

Alfalfa stands in Ohio had a slow start this spring, but our recent change in weather is causing alfalfa development to move quickly. Stand growth is catching back up to where it would normally be at this time of year. As we approach the end of May many producers will be making harvest decisions. It is common for many growers to base harvest decisions primarily on alfalfa maturity; however, variable weather conditions affect the rate of bud and flower development in alfalfa and this method can be inaccurate. Estimating fiber content before harvest can be valuable to producers for making harvest timing and storage decisions. Traditional laboratory methods for estimating forage fiber content are often expensive and time consuming and are not practical as a tool for making harvest timing decisions in the field.  To finish reading this article, click on https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-13/estimating-fiber-content-alfalfa-field.

Kudzu Bug Monitoring Update – Amy Raudenbush, Andy Michel, Kelley Tilmon

The kudzu bug is an insect pest that is not currently known to exist in Ohio; however, since its introduction to the United States in 2009, the distribution has been rapidly expanding. It is now found in Kentucky, and the I-75 corridor connects Ohio to the Southeastern US where it is very prevalent.  The kudzu bug is a serious invasive pest of soybean causing a reduction to yield with heavy infestation. Both immature and adult kudzu bugs feed on soybean plants with piercing-sucking mouth parts. Adult kudzu bugs are globular and greenish-brown. In addition to soybean, the kudzu bug also feeds on the kudzu plant, an invasive weed. To read more about the Kudzu bug, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-12/kudzu-bug-monitoring-update.

Lady Landowners Leaving a Legacy – Amanda Douridas

Land is an important investment. One that is often passed down through generations. Farmland needs to be monitored and cared for to maintain the value and sustainability if it is to be enjoyed and profitable for future generations. Nearly 50% of landowners in Ohio are female. If you fall into this statistic and want to learn more about your land, farming and conservation practices and how to successfully pass it on to the next generation, this program is for you!  Farming has changed dramatically over the last several decades. The thought of trying to understand it all can be overwhelming, especially if not actively farming. This series is designed to help female landowners understand critical conservation and farm management issues related to owning land. Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-12/lady-landowners-leaving-legacy for more information about this program.

Sidedressing Manure into Newly Planted and Emerged Corn – Glen Arnold

Ohio State University Extension has conducted manure research on growing crops for several years in an effort to make better use of the available nutrients. Incorporating manure into growing corn can boost crop yields, reduce nutrient losses, and give livestock producers or commercial manure applicators another window of time to apply manure to farm fields. Our research started with using manure tankers modified with narrow wheels and in recent years progressed to using drag hoses on emerged corn. We now feel confident that liquid livestock manure can be surface applied or incorporated into corn from the day of planting to the V4 stage of development. Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-14/sidedressing-manure-newly-planted-and-emerged-corn to read more about the results of this research.

Mark A. Badertscher

Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator

OSU Extension Hardin County

1021 W. Lima Street, Suite 103, Kenton, OH 43326

419-674-2297 Office

hardin.osu.edu

Good afternoon,

Farmers have been busy planting the past three weeks with a few moderate rains to break things up.  This year planting was delayed by a couple weeks due to cool and wet conditions.  Because of that, the activities such as spraying fields with herbicides, applying fertilizer and tillage activities were not completely done by the usual date of the beginning of May.  Most farmers only began working in the fields by that time this year.  Planting progress for both corn and soybeans jumped ahead of the five-year average following a delayed start to the planting season.  High temperatures with moist soil conditions also helped to promote corn emergence.  Winter wheat has started to head and alfalfa will soon be cut.  For more information about Ohio Crop Weather and planting season progress, see the attached USDA report.  Most of the corn has been planted in Hardin County, however soybeans are still being planted in several area fields.  Because of this activity along with other field activity, keep an eye out for farm machinery on the roads.  I have attached an article written by Ed Lentz, OSU Extension-Hancock County that discusses farm machinery safety on the roads that you may want to read to bring yourself up to date with guidelines for transporting agricultural equipment.

Ohio Crop Weather Report

Farm Machinery Road Safety News Release

If you are a beef cattle producer, you may be interested in checking out the Beef Quality Assurance training flyer for an program being held June 9 in Lexington.  This event will cover proper ear tagging, tattooing and recordkeeping for purebred cattle.  The Southeastern Ohio Hay Day has been planned for June 21 at the Eastern Research Station in Caldwell.  See the attached flyer for registration details about this field day, which will offer demonstrations of hay harvesting equipment, tradeshow exhibits, educational presentations, dinner, and door prizes.  Lady Landowners Leaving a Legacy is an interactive workshop series that provides women landowners with the confidence, skills, and resources necessary to interact with tenants and ensure the integrity of their land is preserved for future generations.  See the attached flyer for more information about this series which begins June 14 in Urbana.  I have also attached a flyer about a Dairy Educational Tour scheduled for June 16 in Mt. Gilead if you are interested in learning more about this industry.

Beef Quality Assurance Flyer

Southeastern Ohio Hay Day Flyer

Lady Landowner Flyer

Educational Dairy Tour Flyer

Upcoming local events include a Master Gardener Volunteers meeting tonight starting at 7:00 pm at Harco Industries.  Dairy Beef Feeder tagging, vaccination, and weigh-in will be held Saturday, May 26 from 8:00-10:30 am at the Hardin County Fairgrounds.  For more specific Information, go to https://hardin.osu.edu/news/dairy-beef-feeder-possession-deadlineregistration-due-extension-office.  If you have Beef Feeders for this year’s Hardin County Fair, you will want to read about the rules at https://hardin.osu.edu/news/beef-feeder-registration.  The rules for Hardin County Fair Rabbits can be found at https://hardin.osu.edu/news/rabbit-registration-due-june-1st.  If you have further questions, call the Extension office and ask for Amanda Raines or Mark Light.  Other than that, you may want to read the agronomy articles that I have posted below as you get ready to mow hay, spray weeds, or sidedress corn.

Mark

Warm Weather Continues…High Rainfall Variability – Jim Noel

Above normal temperatures will continue for the rest of May. Unlike temperatures, rainfall will be very inconsistent with a tendency to be wetter than normal. Some areas of Ohio will receive flooding rain while other areas will struggle to receive an inch or perhaps less than a half inch of rain for the rest of the month. Uncertainty is high for where the flooding rains will occur and where the driest areas are. Runoff will also be highly uncertain the rest of May.  If you would like to read more about the weather, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-13/warm-weather-continueshigh-rainfall-variability.

Corn, Soybean, and Alfalfa Yield Responses to Micronutrient Fertilization in Ohio – Steve Culman, Anthony Fulford, Laura Lindsey, Douglas Alt

Ohio farmers often wonder if micronutrient fertilization will increase grain yields. A recent study exhaustively compiled the last 40 years of Ohio State University micronutrient fertilizer trials in corn, soybean and alfalfa. A total of 194 trials (randomized and replicated) were found across 17 Ohio counties. In general, micronutrient fertilization rarely resulted in a statistically significant yield response. Manganese (Mn) fertilization or a blend of Mn with other micronutrients increased soybean yield in 9 out of 144 trials. Boron fertilization had no effect on corn grain yield in 8 out of 9 trials and actually decreased yield in one trial. Micronutrients had effect on alfalfa yields in 17 total trials. Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-12/corn-soybean-and-alfalfa-yield-responses-micronutrient to read more about micronutrient fertilization efficacy in Ohio.

Be Mindful of Honeybees and Other Pollinators During Planting – Reed Johnson, Kelley Tilmon, Andy Michel

The winter of 2017-2018 is destined to go down in Ohio beekeeping history as one of the worst on record.  In October, the OSU honey bee lab had 50 living colonies, but by the beginning of April, we were down to just 5 survivors. While some of these honey bee colonies died as a result of the exceptionally long, cold winter, more than half of our losses occurred before the first snow fell in November 2017.  In talking with other beekeepers around the state it has become clear that 90% losses were typical for many beekeepers this year.  To finish reading this article, click on https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-12/be-mindful-honeybees-and-other-pollinators-during-planting.

2018 Small Grains Field Day – Rory Lewandowski

Plan now to attend the 2018 Small Grains Field Day on June 12.  The event will begin with registration and sign in at 9:30 am at the OARC Schaffter farm located at 3240 Oil City Road, Wooster OH.  The cost is $25 per person when registered by June 4. Beginning June 5, registration will be $35 per person. Lunch is included in the registration fee. Commercial and private pesticide applicator credits as well as Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) credits are available to field day participants. Go tohttps://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-11/2018-small-grains-field-day to find out more about this year’s Small Grains Field Day in Wooster.

Chance to view Ohio’s 2018 Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference video sessions – Sarah Noggle

For those of you who did not attend the 2018 Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference in Ada, Ohio in March, or you want to learn from concurrent sessions you missed, here is another chance.  Sixty-six recorded video presentations are available at https://fabe.osu.edu/CTCon/ctc-2018-archive.  Topics from the conference included: regenerative agriculture, climate change, healthy soil, water quality, research reporting of data, cover crops, federal policy, and nutrient management.  Plan now to attend in 2019 on March 5-6.

Mark A. Badertscher

Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator

OSU Extension Hardin County

1021 W. Lima Street, Suite 103, Kenton, OH 43326

419-674-2297 Office

hardin.osu.edu

Good evening,

Things have been rolling the past two weeks in the fields throughout the county.  Very little corn has emerged although many acres have been planted in the past two weeks. Several farmers are completing corn planting and have switched to soybean. Warmer weather days are accumulating, which will soon be followed by crop emergence around the county.  Corn typically requires 100 to 120 growing degree days (GDDs) to emerge (but emergence requirements can vary from 90 to 150 GDDs).  For more information about growing degree days, see the attached news release about Growing Degree Days.  As of May 6, it was estimated that 23% of the corn was planted and only 8% of the soybeans were planted in Ohio as indicated on the attached USDA Ohio Crop Weather report.  However, favorable weather in Hardin County this week has greatly increased that amount.  I have heard from some area farmers that they are done planting corn or soon will be.  Several have changed over to soybeans, in between the moderate rains we have experienced.  For the time period of April 15-30, Extension rainfall reporters recorded an average of 1.56 inches of rain in Hardin County.  Last year, the average rainfall for the same time period was 3.16 inches.  Rainfall for the April 15-30 time period is 0.61 inches less than the ten year average rainfall during the same dates.  Check out the April 15-30 rainfall summary for more local rainfall information.

Growing Degree Days News Release

Ohio Crop Weather

April 15-30 Summary

This Saturday will be the Hardin County Plant Sale sponsored by the OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers.  Head out to the fairgrounds Arts and Crafts building for the 9:00 am start to this annual plant sale to select local plants from local gardeners.  See the attached flyer for more details and be sure to get there early as the sale only lasts until 11:00 am as most plants are gone in the first hour.  The Master Gardeners have also planned Summer Friendship Garden programs each month this summer.  The first demonstration program is Saturday, May 19 at 9:00 am and will focus on planting different types of vegetable gardens.  I have attached a news release that will provide you with additional information if you are interested.  Do you raise fruit?  If so, you might be interested in taking a look at the May 2018 Ohio Fruit News that I have included with this newsletter.

 Plant Sale Flyer

Summer Friendship Garden Programs News Release

May 2018 Ohio Fruit News

Upcoming local events include a Men’s Garden Club meeting at the Extension office on Monday, May 14 starting at 6:30 pm.  There is also a Soil and Water Conservation District meeting at the SWCD office on Thursday, May 17 starting at 7:30 am.  Other than that, hopefully by the end of next week most of the crops should be in the ground if the weather continues to cooperate.  Until then, I have attached some ag crops articles for you to read.

Mark

Adjusting Corn Management Practices for a Late Start – Steve Culman, Peter Thomison

As prospects for a timely start to spring planting diminish, growers need to reassess their planting strategies and consider adjustments. Since delayed planting reduces the yield potential of corn, the foremost attention should be given to management practices that will expedite crop establishment. The following are some suggestions and guidelines to consider in dealing with a late planting season. Although the penalty for late planting is important, care should be taken to avoid tillage and planting operations when soil is wet. Yield reductions resulting from “mudding the seed in” are usually much greater than those resulting from a slight planting delay. Yields may be reduced somewhat this year due to delayed planting, but effects of soil compaction can reduce yield for several years to come. Keep in mind that we typically do not see significant yield reductions due to late planting until mid-May or even later in some years. To finish reading this article, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-10/adjusting-corn-management-practices-late-start.

Adjusting no-till burndown programs for a prolonged wet spring – Mark Loux

This is a revision of an article we seem to publish in C.O.R.N. about every three years, when wet weather prevents early planting and in some cases also prevents early burndown applications.  Not a lot of either has occurred yet, although it’s starting to dry out and warm up.  The good news is that cool weather has slowed weed growth, but even so, the weeds obviously continue to get bigger under wet conditions, and what is a relatively tame burndown situation in early to mid-April can become pretty hairy by early to mid-May.  One issue with later burndowns certainly is that there can be a need for a more aggressive herbicide mix, but also a need to plant as soon as possible, and these can be conflicting goals.  For example, unless dicamba is an option, we would say keep 2,4-D ester in the mix if at all possible, but this means waiting 7 days to plant.  Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-11/adjusting-no-till-burndown-programs-prolonged-wet-spring to read more.

Soybean Planting Date, Seeding Rate, and Row Width – Laura Lindsey

Before heading out to the field this spring, download a free pdf of the recently revised Ohio Agronomy Guide available here: https://stepupsoy.osu.edu/soybean-production/ohio-agronomy-guide-15th-edition Also, check out other information related to soybean management at http://stepupsoy.osu.edu. Planting date. Planting date strongly influences soybean yield. In 2013 and 2014, we conducted a planting date trial at the Western Agricultural Research Station near South Charleston, Ohio.  In both years, soybean yield decreased by 0.6 bu/ac per day when planting after mid-May. The greatest benefit of planting May 1 to mid-May is canopy closure which increases light interception, improves weed control by shading out weeds, and helps retain soil moisture. Click on https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-11/soybean-planting-date-seeding-rate-and-row-width to read more about soybean planting recommendations.

Using the Slake Test to Determine Soil Crusting – Alan Sundermeier

An easy to use test can be done to predict potential soil crusting on farm fields.  All you need is some chicken wire, water, a glass jar, and a dry clump of soil.  When you immerse the clump of soil in the jar of water, the longer it holds together, the better the soil structure to resist crusting. The slake test compares two chunks of topsoil in water to see how well and how long they will hold together. Poor structure soil that easily falls apart will form small soil aggregates, which collect at the soil surface and will dry into a hard crust.  Crusted soil will make it difficult for seed emergence and will limit future rainfall infiltration and cause runoff and erosion.  Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-10/using-slake-test-determine-soil-crusting to find out more about conducting the Slake Test.

Inversion and Drift Mitigation Webinars available – Cindy Folck, Amanda Bennett

The recorded webinars from the Inversion and Drift Mitigation Workshop held in April are available online at https://ipm.osu.edu/information/specialty-crops. The recordings include: Understanding Inversions and Weather Conditions by Aaron Wilson, Weather Specialist & Atmospheric Scientist, OSU Extension, Byrd Polar & Climate Research Center; and Using Tools in the Ohio Sensitive Crop Registry by FieldWatch by Jared Shaffer, Plant Health Inspector, Ohio Department of Agriculture. This project was funded by: The Ohio IPM Program and USDA-NIFA Project 20177000627174.

Mark A. Badertscher

Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator

OSU Extension Hardin County

1021 W. Lima Street, Suite 103, Kenton, OH 43326

419-674-2297 Office

hardin.osu.edu

Good evening,

Mother Nature decided to give our local farmers a chance to get some fieldwork done with the warmer temperatures and drier conditions.  This has enabled a good start on fertilizer, manure, and herbicide burndown applications.  Tillage is going on in several fields around the county and some planting of corn has begun.  Rainfall reports are coming in for the second half of April to begin our annual township rainfall reporting, but let’s hope it doesn’t start out like last year.  In case you are interested, I attached the Hardin County Rainfall Report for 2017.  It has township rainfall amounts for each month of the growing season as well as the ten year average for each month.  Last year we ended up with 28.25 inches of rain compared with our ten year average of 23.35 inches as reported by our township rainfall reporters for the period of April 15-October 15.  If you are interested in the Ohio Crop Weather Report, I have attached it as well.  It shows only 1% of the Ohio corn and soybeans planted as of this past week with only 2.6 days of suitable weather for field work.  If you want to know how Ohio crop prices fared, March corn, at $3.79 per bushel, increased $0.15 from February and increased $0.10 from last year; March soybeans, at $10.10 per bushel, increased $0.28 from last month and increased $0.18 from last year; March wheat, at $4.90 per bushel, increased $0.44 from February and increased $0.68 from last year; March milk, at $15.80 per cwt., increased $0.10 from last month, but decreased $2.70 from last year according to the attached USDA report released April 30.

Rainfall Report 2017

Ohio Crop Weather

Ohio Crop Prices

If you were one of the people who attended fertilizer recertification this past March in Hardin County, you might remember taking a fertilizer survey.  Several applicators are taking a look at their fertilizer use, and in some cases making changes based on what OSU Extension has been teaching the past three years.  There is still much work to do in order that the nutrients we apply stay in the field and not end up in our waterways.  One thing that I have been doing related to this issue is on-farm nutrient management research in the county.  If you look at the Ohio No-Till News that is attached, you will see that Hardin County OSU Extension has been awarded a Conservation Tillage Conference mini-grant to continue this research into 2018 with a nitrogen timing trial.  This past year we did a nitrogen rate trial with the 2017 mini-grant, and in 2016 we did a nutrient placement trial with a mini-grant from the CTC.  Thanks to the cooperating farmers who helped make this happen.  Currently, research reports are going through a peer review process before being released to the public.  I have also attached a copy of the Master Gardener Volunteers Plant Sale news release and flyer for this annual event that is coming up May 12 at the fairgrounds, along with this season’s schedule for the Scioto Valley Produce Auction in Mt. Victory.

Hardin Fertilizer Survey

Ohio No-Till News

Plant Sale News Release

Plant Sale Flyer

Scioto Valley Produce Auction Schedule

Other local upcoming events include a Fairboard meeting tonight (5/2) starting at 7:00 pm in the fair office.  Feel free to join us Friday morning (5/4) for Ag Council breakfast starting at 7:00 am at Henry’s Restaurant.  In addition to our monthly roundtable discussion, I will have information to share about soil temperatures and growing degree days for corn.  Hardin County Farm Bureau will be having a Legislative Dinner with an Energy Policy question and answer session with Ohio Farm Bureau Energy Specialist Dale Arnold about wind, solar, and pipeline energy policy on May 9.  Call the Hardin County Farm Bureau office at 419-447-3091 if you are interested in attending this program which includes dinner.  It starts at 6:00 pm at the Plaza Inn Restaurant.  I have included some agronomy articles below if you are interested in reading them.

Mark

Wheat Growth Stages and Associated Management- Feekes 6.0 through 9.0 – Laura Lindsey, Pierce Paul, Ed Lentz

With below average temperatures and snow, wheat growth and development is slower this year compared to the previous two years. Last year, wheat in Pickaway County reached Feekes 6.0 growth stage the last week of March. Remember, exact growth stages cannot be determined by just looking at the height of the crop or based on calendar dates. Correct growth identification and knowledge of factors that affect grain yield can enhance management decisions, avoiding damage to the crop and unwarranted or ineffective applications.  Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-08/wheat-growth-stages-and-associated-management-feekes-60-through to finish reading this article.

Spring Warm-Up: How does 2018 Soil Temperature Compare? – Aaron Wilson, Elizabeth Hawkins

The calendar says it’s time for spring field activity in Ohio and farmers are eager to prep fields and plant this year’s crops. However, average temperatures across Ohio have remained cooler than usual with the previous 30-day period (March 16 – April 15, 2018) running 2 to 6 degrees Fahrenheit below normal (based on 1981-2010). Combined with precipitation up to twice the normal amount in some areas, the weather is certainly not cooperating with ideas of an early jump on planting.  Read more about this spring’s soil temperatures at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-09/spring-warm-how-does-2018-soil-temperature-compare.

Seed is Precious – Anne Dorrance

We are off to a rough start again, as we saw the pictures on Facebook of replanting.  So I thought I should chime in here about how precious this seed is and what a seed treatment can and cannot do.  In this eastern soybean belt – we have a lot of poorly drained soil.  More importantly, we also have a lot of inoculum and a great diversity of watermolds, Pythium and Phytophthora, that can infect both corn and soybeans.  When soils are saturated – like today and tomorrow, these watermolds will form swimming spores that are attracted to the young seeds and seedlings.  Based on the past 10 years of research we only see a benefit of the seed treatments when there is soil saturation, typically 2” of rain within 2 weeks of planting.  Sometimes it only takes an inch of rain if the soils are “just fit” and it rains again immediately after planting.  Go tohttps://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-09/seed-precious to finish reading about seed and seed treatments.

When to begin Alfalfa Weevil Scouting – Andy Michel, Kelley Tilmon

The larvae of alfalfa weevil can cause considerable damage, especially when alfalfa is just starting its growth in the spring. When temperatures are greater than 48 degrees F, the adults become active and start to lay eggs. After hatch, the plump and green larvae (which resemble little worms) feed, with 3rd instar (mid-aged) larvae being the hungriest. The heaviest feeding can occur between 325 and 500 heat units. As of the time of writing this article, the heat units (base 48 degrees F) for the Western Ag Research Station in South Charleston are 98, and for the South Station in Piketon is 175. Scouting for larvae should begin at around 250 heat units.

OARDC Branch Station Two Inch Soil Temperatures – Greg LaBarge

The Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) Agricultural Research Stations located throughout the state have 2 and 4 inch bare surface soil temperatures monitored on an hourly basis. The chart provided here summarizes the average daily two inch bare soil temperature from several stations. More complete weather records for the just passed day as well as long term historical observations can be found at http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weather1/ . Observations include temperature, precipitation, different measures of degree day accumulation and other useful weather measures.

Mark A. Badertscher

Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator

OSU Extension Hardin County

1021 W. Lima Street, Suite 103, Kenton, OH 43326

419-674-2297 Office

hardin.osu.edu