Good evening,
Planting season has begun. Tuesday I saw corn being planted in southern Hancock County and then Wednesday evening I saw a planter in the field near Forest. Since then it seems as though people are in the fields throughout the county, working ground, spraying herbicides, spreading fertilizer, and planting corn. Hopefully warmer weather is here to stay and we can avoid any more frosts. Our Ag Council meeting had less people in attendance this morning, which was evidence of farmers being active in the fields. Make sure you look at the articles that I have included at the end of this email regarding timeliness of planting corn over the past fifteen years. Also, I have attached an article written by Ed Lentz about ‘Corn Planting Tips.’
If you are a fruit grower, you may be interested in attending the upcoming ‘Spotted Wing Drosophila’ webinar. This relatively new to Ohio fruit fly is causing damage to blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and other soft fruits. See the attached news article and flyer for more information about this program that will be held this coming Wednesday from 10:30 am – 12:00 noon at the Extension office. The Master Gardeners have been busy planning several upcoming programs. This week’s spring library program will be Wednesday, May 6 at the Mary Lou Johnson Library in Kenton. It will start at 7:00 pm and the subject is ‘Getting Kids Interested in Gardening.’ See the attached flyer for further details about this and next week’s library program.
Spotted Wing Drosphila News Release
I have received several calls about damage to lawns from moles in the past couple of weeks. Their unsightly tunnels and mounds damage lawns as these small mammals are looking for insects and earthworms as they burrow through a lawn. They can be very frustrating to a homeowner, because they are hard to find and trap. See the article I wrote this past week for ideas of dealing with this small animal. It is attached to this email. Upcoming meetings include Fairboard on Saturday, May 2 in the fair office, starting at 7:30 pm. There is a Farm Bureau board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 5 at Ag Credit, starting at 7:30 pm. Saturday, May 9 is the Master Gardener Volunteers annual Plant Sale in the Arts & Crafts building at the fairgounds. This sale will be from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, so show up at 8:30 am for coffee and to pick out the best selection of plants. Several Hardin County garden clubs and societies are setting up booths for this annual event.
Hardin County Plant Sale News Release
Remember to be safe and get rest when you need it during this busy planting season. If you have time, I have included some articles that you may be interested in reading.
Mark
Upcoming Weather – Jim Noel
April has been a warmer and wetter month across most of the state of Ohio. Temperatures are averaging 3-7 degrees above normal with precipitation ranging from 100-200 percent of normal. The wettest and warmest areas have been across the southern part of the state. Rainfall has been close to normal in the north. A pattern change is about to begin which will turn the weather cooler than normal for the rest of April into the first week of May. To read more about the upcoming weather, go to http://corn.osu.edu/newsletters/2015/2015-9/upcoming-weather.
Identifying Feekes Growth Stage 6: Jointing – Pierce Paul, Laura Lindsey
1- Pull, or better yet, dig up, several clusters of tillers with roots and soil from multiple locations in the field; 2- Identify and select three to four primary tillers from each cluster – usually the largest tillers with the thickest stem, but size can be deceiving; 3- Strip away and remove all the lower leaves (usually small and yellowish or dead leaves), exposing the base of the stem; 4- Now look for the first node anywhere between 1 and 2 inches above the base of the stem. This node is usually seen as a slightly swollen area of a slightly different (darker) shade of green than the rest of the stem. Go to http://corn.osu.edu/newsletters/2015/2015-9/identifying-feekes-growth-stage-6-jointing to finish reading this article.
Corn Planting Progress in Ohio: A “Historical” Perspective – Peter Thomison, Allen Geyer
How much corn is typically planted in Ohio by the third week of April? According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Ohio/Publications/Crop_Progress_&_Condition/index.asp), for the week ending April 13 no appreciable acreage of corn had been planted in Ohio (1%), which compared to 0% last year and 7% for the five year average. To find out more about corn planting progress in Ohio over the past 15 years, go to http://corn.osu.edu/newsletters/2015/2015-9/corn-planting-progress-in-ohio-a-201chistorical201d-perspective.
Black Cutworm and Armyworm Counts on the Rise – Andy Michel
Last week, both Purdue University and the University of Kentucky reported high black cutworm catches. In addition, UKY caught a large number of armyworms in one of their traps. Both of these moth species migrate into our area, lay eggs, and the developing larvae can be significant pests of corn and wheat. Go to http://corn.osu.edu/newsletters/2015/2015-9/black-cutworm-and-armyworm-counts-on-the-rise to continue reading about black cutworms and armyworms.
Soybean Planting Date, Seeding Rate, and Row Width – Laura Lindsey
Planting date (both too early and too late) can reduce soybean yield potential. 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. Planting too early (before field conditions are adequate) comes with a risk. Factors such as damping-off and pressure from bean leaf beetle are concerns to keep in mind, as well as the possibility of a late spring frost. To continue reading about soybean planting, go to http://corn.osu.edu/newsletters/2015/2015-9/soybean-planting-date-seeding-rate-and-row-width.
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