Good afternoon,
I just returned from the Scioto Valley Produce Auction where I met with Levi Yoder and a couple other Amish farmers who have expressed an interest in a ‘Crop Walk’ program. The event will be held Tuesday, August 20 starting at 6:00 pm. The program will feature fruit and vegetable production issues and will utilize a diagnostic table and three presenters from OSU addressing plant nutrition and soil fertility, insect problems, and disease problems. The address of the program location will be 19809 County Road 200, Mt. Victory which is about a half mile past the auction barn. Anyone with an interest in fruit and vegetable production or gardening is welcome to attend. There will be a flier next week and people are encouraged to bring plant problems, disease samples, or insect pests for identification.
The rainfall reports are in for July and as you know, we experienced more than our share of precipitation. Extension rainfall reporters recorded an average of 7.4 inches of rain in Hardin County. Last year, the average rainfall for July was 3.09 inches. This past month was an extremely wet month as rainfall was 3.21 inches above the ten year average rainfall for the month of July. See the attached press release to see how much rain your township recorded.
I have spent the past month meeting with several agricultural groups in the county to get to know people and find out ideas for future Extension programs. During this time, I have enjoyed the welcome and hope to get to know several more individuals. If I have not yet met with your group, please respond back to this email or call the office and I will try to attend your next meeting to share ideas and set priorities.
This week I attended a Precision Ag Tech Day that focused on planters. There are still several more field days coming up in August, so be sure to check our Extension webpage at hardin.osu.edu for a listing of events that may interest you. The following are articles that I think might be worth the read.
Mark
How Late is too Late to Apply Foliar Fungicide in Corn? – Pierce Paul
We have seen positive results in terms of disease control and yield for foliar fungicide applications made before tassel, at tassel, and even as late as R3. However, from year to year, the most consistent results and the greatest benefits are seen when applications are make at tassel or silking (VT/R1). The diseases we are most concerned about in Ohio such as gray leaf spot and eye spot usually develop from the lower to the upper leaves of the plant. Fungicides are applied to prevent these diseases from moving up and reaching the ear leaf and the leaves above the ear leaf before grain fill is complete. To continue reading this article, go to http://corn.osu.edu/newsletters/2013/c.o.r.n.-newsletter-2013-25/how-late-is-too-late-to-apply-foliar-fungicide-in-corn.
Foliar diseases are common this year – Anne Dorrance
Frogeye leaf spot and brown spot are very common this year. This is especially surprising for frogeye. There is resistance in northern varieties, so this is a great year to assess the resistance levels in those varieties. Soybean rust is found in the lower to mid canopy of the crop. The rust lesions are found on the underside of the leaf and look like small craters filled with light colored spores. Go to http://corn.osu.edu/newsletters/2013/c.o.r.n.-newsletter-2013-25/foliar-diseases-are-common-this-year to find out more about soybean diseases and where to send samples for testing for disease problems.
Apple Sooty Mold and Fly Speck – Samples of apple fruits with sooty mold and fly speck could arrive in the OSU Extension offices soon. Sooty blotch and fly speck are two different diseases. Both diseases are widespread throughout the Midwest, and commonly occur together on the same fruit. They are more considered late season diseases. For more information on apple sooty mold and fly speck, go to http://bygl.osu.edu/content/sooty-blotch-and-fly-speck-apple.
Tomatoes Slow to Ripen – There were several reports this week that commercial and backyard tomato crops were ripening slowly, if at all. This is not an uncommon event when the weather turns cool for more than a few days. The hot days and sultry nights that make for poor sleeping are great for many garden plants. The tomatoes, peppers and sweet corn ripen quickly in the constant heat. Cool days and even cooler nights slow ripening to a rate more common to September than August. Rest assured, once daytime temperatures get into the upper eighties and nighttime temperatures stay in the seventies, the tomato crop will ripen much faster than one can make salsa, sauce and ketchup.
The ‘New’ Ohio Beef Quality Assurance Program – Stan Smith, OSU Extension PA, Fairfield County
Many Ohio cattle producers attained their last Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification update three years ago. BQA is a national program that offers sound management practices and guidelines for beef cattle production. The knowledge acquired through BQA trainings provide cattlemen with the tools they need to produce the safest, highest quality beef in the world while also looking at ways to make their operations more efficient and productive. BQA encompasses the principles of both livestock handling and animal welfare programs. To read more about this program, go to http://beef.osu.edu/beef/beefAug0713.html.
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