March 25, 2017

Good afternoon,

It appears that spring has arrived and that field activity will soon be upon us.  There are still a few more upcoming programs happening in Extension that you may be interested in participating before things get rolling full speed. We are hoping for a good crop season this year.  For a look back at last year’s season, read the attached news article about 2016 county crop yields.  There is a Hay Making Workshop planned for April 3 at the Hardin County Extension office, starting at 6:30 pm.  Topics taught during this program will include seed selection, soil preparation, planting, monitoring, growth stages, harvest steps, dry-down, bale sizes, storage tips, quality hay, nutritional content and market value.  Be sure to call the office at 419-674-2297 to register by Monday, March 27 so we have enough Forage Field Guides for everyone.  There is a $15 fee for this workshop which can be paid at the door.  See the attached news release and flyer for more details.

Crop Yields News Release

Hay Making Workshop News Release

Hay Making Flyer

Have you considered getting a Nutrient Management Plan written for your farm yet?  If you have land in the Lake Erie watershed, you might want to take advantage of the nutrient management plan writers that will be at the Hardin County Extension office on Thursday, March 30.  A nutrient management plan makes sense economically and environmentally, as well as can serve as a layer of protection for possible litigation or may be required for a USDA program benefit.  See the attached flyer and request for service form that I have attached to this email for more information about this free service.  If you would like to schedule an appointment to begin this process, see this information about how to contact Tony Campbell.  Do you know of any interested in applying for a Farm Bureau Scholarship?  If so, the Hardin County deadline is coming up April 6.  Go to https://ofbf.org/2017/02/23/hardin-county-farm-bureau-2017-scholarships/ for more information about this opportunity.

Hardin Co. NMP County Flyer

NMP Request for Service Form

Do you still need pesticide recertification for 2017?  If so, there is a make-up and specialty area video session planned for Friday (3/31), starting at 9:00 am at the Extension office.  Please call ahead to RSVP if you plan to attend.  Other local events happening this coming week include a Master Gardener Volunteers meeting Monday (3/27), starting at 7:00 pm at Harco Industries.  The Regional Master Gardener Volunteer Training Course will be taking place Tuesday (3/28) and Thursday (3/30), starting at 6:00 pm at OSU-Lima campus.  Wednesday (3/29) is the Dairy Service Unit annual meeting, starting at 7:00 pm at the Extension office.  The Fairboard is meeting Saturday (4/1), starting at 7:30 pm at the fair office.  See below for some agronomy articles that you may be interested in reading.

 

Mark

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RETHINKING GRAMOXONE AT A REDUCED PRICE – Mark Loux

Gramoxone SL (paraquat) is one of those herbicides that in our opinion really could have been used much more than it has in recent years, to help with management of marestail and to interrupt the cycle of continuous glyphosate use. A relatively high price has been one of the obstacles to more widespread use, but the price was cut approximately in half this winter. One of the problems with the standard “glyphosate + 2,4-D + residual” burndown is that the 2,4-D is carrying the full load for control of emerged marestail, and this is especially a problem in fields not treated the previous fall where plants are harder to kill. Swapping in Gramoxone for glyphosate results in an additional herbicide that has activity on marestail. To read more about using Gramoxone, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2017-06/rethinking-gramoxone-reduced-price.

 

 

 

 

 

REMINDER – WE ARE WINDING DOWN THE FIRST PHASE OF THE FERTILIZER APPLICATOR CERTIFICATION TRAINING – Harold D. Watters

Since the fall of 2014 Ohio State University University county educators and field specialists have worked to deliver fertilizer certification training to Ohio growers who farm 50 acres or more. To date we have trained approximately 14,500 at 294 meetings. Farmers tell us they will attend training programs during the winter months as that’s when they have down time to take in such programs. So we too are winding down our training programs. Checking on the Nutrient Education website: http://nutrienteducation.osu.edu, shows that there are 23 more fertilizer certification programs scheduled yet this spring and three for the summer. No doubt more will be added, so check the website if you still are need of the certification to spread fertilizer. By rules established with SB 150 in 2014, the first phase of the fertilizer certification program is to be completed by September 30, 2017. After that date we will begin re-certification programs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOPDRESSING WHEAT WITH LIQUID SWINE MANURE – Glen Arnold

Research on applying liquid livestock manure as a spring top-dress fertilizer to wheat has been ongoing in Ohio for several years. There is usually a window of time, typically around the last week of March or the first week of April, when wheat fields are firm enough to support manure application equipment. The wheat fields have broken dormancy and are actively pulling nutrients from the soil. The key to applying the correct amount of manure to fertilize wheat is to know the manure’s nitrogen content. Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2017-06/topdressing-wheat-liquid-swine-manure to read more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAKING HAY FROM SEEDING TO HARVEST WORKSHOP – APRIL 3RD – Mark Badertscher

Are you interested in learning more about hay production? The Hardin County OSU Extension office is having a workshop titled ‘Making Hay: From Seeding to Harvesting’ on April 3 from 6:30-9:00 pm. The location of the Extension office is 1021 W Lima Street, Suite 103 in Kenton. Topics taught during this program will include seed selection, soil preparation, planting, monitoring, growth stages, harvest steps, dry-down, bale sizes, storage tips, quality hay, nutritional content and market value. The instructor for the workshop will be Jason Hartschuh, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator from Crawford County. Find out more about this upcoming workshop at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2017-06/making-hay-seeding-harvest-workshop-april-3rd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHEAT NITROGEN RATES – Ed Lentz, Laura Lindsey, Steve Culman

Wheat has already reached green-up across the state so spring nitrogen may be applied anytime fields are fit. Keep in mind that research has shown no yield reduction as long as nitrogen is applied before Feekes GS 7 (two visible nodes). Ohio State University recommends the Tri-State guide for N rates in wheat. For now, this system relies on yield potential (which may change in a few years with the update of the Tri-State Guide). A producer can greatly increase or reduce the N rate by changing the value for yield potential. Thus, a realistic yield potential is needed to determine the optimum N rate. To find out more about wheat nitrogen rates, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2017-06/wheat-nitrogen-rates.

 

 

 

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

March 13, 2017

Hello,

Just when you think winter is done for the year, it reminds us that it is still March.  Hopefully the roads wont be too bad for those traveling to Mt. Victory Tuesday, March 14 for the Pesticide Recertification and 2 Hour Fertilizer Certification trainings.  The trainings are still scheduled, even with the snow.  See the attached news release and flyers for more information about these two programs that will take place at the Plaza Inn.  We will be covering Core, Grains and Cereal Crops, Forage Crops and Livestock, and Fumigation.  If a person has another category that they need recertification, they will need to call the Extension office before March 31 to make special arrangements for other areas.  The fertilizer applicator certification training is only for applicators who currently have a pesticide license.  Anyone who currently holds a yellow fertilizer card does not need to attend Tuesday’s fertilizer training as ODA will automatically renew these in 2017.

Pesticide Recertification News Release

Hardin PAT Flyer

2 Hour Fertilizer Training Mt Victory

OSU Extension and the Hardin County Farm Bureau are holding a Farm Safety Day on Saturday, March 18 at Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative, 1210 W. Lima Street, Kenton.  This free event will start at 8:30 am with donuts, coffee, and juice.  It will meet the requirements for a Workers Compensation two hour safety meeting for farmers who hire employees to work on their farm.  Wayne Dellinger, OSU Extension Educator from Union County will do a presentation on Farm Safety, including information about working with pesticides and other chemicals, grain handling, farm equipment, and roadway hazards.  There will also be a grain bin rescue demonstration from the Kenton Fire Department on the OSU Comprehensive Agricultural Rescue Trailer (CART).  This CART is a portable grain rescue training modular suitable for agricultural rescue and other safety educational programs for agricultural audiences.  Another activity happening in the afternoon of the Farm Safety Day on March 18 will be the hands-on portion of the Tractor Safety and Machinery Operation for Youth training course that has been taking place during February and March at the OSU Extension Spark Lab.  Students enrolled in this course will be completing their written test and participating in both the Pre-Operational Skills Test and Driving Skills Test portion of the training for certification.  This skills training will begin at 1:00 pm, and if time permits, will allow an opportunity for adult farmers to participate in the pre-operational and driving skills course.  Both the morning session and afternoon session are open to the public who may attend free of charge, as made possible by the sponsorship of the Hardin County Farm Bureau.  Please call the Farm Bureau office at 419-523-5874 to pre-register so that there will be enough food and accommodations for those who plan to attend.  See the attached news release for more information.

Farm Safety Day News Release

The Hardin County Dairy Service Unit is holding their semi-annual cheese sale.  Order forms can be obtained at the Extension Office, 1021 W. Lima Street, Suite 103 in Kenton or online at hardin.osu.edu.  The deadline for ordering cheese is March 22, with pick-up dates March 31 from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm or April 1 from 9:00 am until 12:00 pm at Dan and Molly Wagner’s dairy farm.  See the attached news article and order form if you are interested in supporting this spring’s cheese sale to help raise money for dairy youth scholarships.  The Dairy Service Unit will hold its annual meeting on March 29 at the OSU Extension office with a dairy industry guest speaker to be announced.  The annual meeting meal will be ham sandwiches, cheese, chips, salads, and desserts.  Families attending are asked to bring either a salad or dessert.  The meal will begin at 7:00 pm with the meeting to follow at 7:30 pm.

Spring Cheese Sale News Release

Cheese Sale Flyer

The Hardin County Cattle Producers will hold their annual Beef Banquet on Saturday, March 25 in the Community Building at the fairgrounds, starting at 6:00 pm.  Pre-sale Adult tickets are $13, Children (ages 7-18) $6.50, and 2016 Hardin County Junior Fair Beef Barn Exhibitors FREE with a reservation given to any Cattle Producers Director by March 24th.  Tickets at the door will be $15.  Tickets can be purchased from the following county Cattle Producers Directors: Holli Underwood, Adam Billenstein, Deana Gibson, Dane Jeffers, Derek Dunson, Marcia Hoovler, Stacia Hall, Traci Deckling, Aaron Hensel, or Jeff Oestreich.  See the attached news release for more information about this year’s Beef Banquet as well as the Beef Scholarships and Beef Ambassador Program applications.

Beef Banquet News Release

Don’t forget that the OSU Extension Nutrient Management Plan Writers will be at the Hardin County Extension Office on March 30 from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.  Take a look at the attached brochure to find out the advantages of having a nutrient management plan written for your farm.  Contact Tony Campbell to schedule your appointment today for this free service to farmers in the Lake Erie Watershed.  His contact information is on the attached brochure.  Other attached information includes a flyer about the upcoming OSU Extension Malting Barley Conference & Trade Show being held in Greene County on March 24, and another flyer regarding the OSU Junior Swine Day being held March 25 in both Columbus and Wooster.  Other local events happening this week include Master Gardener Volunteer training classes on Tuesday (3/14) and Thursday (3/16) at OSU-Lima from 6:00-9:00 pm, and Tractor Safety and Machinery Operation for Youth – Session 6 on Wednesday (3/15) at the Extension office from 6:00-9:00 pm.  The Soil and Water Conservation District has a meeting Thursday (3/16), starting at 7:30 am at the SWCD office.  Other than that, I have included some agronomy articles below.

NMPW Brochure 2016

Malting Barley Conference Flyer

2017 Jr. Swine Day

 

Mark

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MARCH WEATHER UPDATE – Jim Noel

It was one of the warmest February’s one record. Further, for the period of January and February combined, many reporting stations in Ohio had the most number of 60+ days ever recorded. The warm-up has led to green-up conditions running about 3 weeks ahead of schedule in Ohio. The outlook for March calls for near to slightly warmer than normal temperatures. We will not see the record warmth in March we saw in February. Precipitation will be near or slightly above normal. The outlook for April and May calls for a turn from near normal temperatures in April to warmer and slightly drier than normal conditions by late April into May. To read more, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2017-05/march-weather-update.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WINTER WHEAT PROGRESS AND MANAGEMENT- CHECK YOUR FIELDS – Laura Lindsey, Pierce Paul, Ed Lentz

Last year, wheat winter progressed quicker than usual due to warm temperatures. In our Pickaway County trials in 2016, wheat reached Feekes growth stage 6.0 by April 6. This year, with unusually warm temperatures, we may see something similar. Don’t rely on calendar date. Check your fields for growth stage. Freezes can be a concern when wheat progresses earlier in the spring. Last year, we evaluated winter wheat freeze damage at several growth stages. At Feekes growth stage 5.0, very little to no injury was observed at temperatures as low as 14°F. At Feekes 6.0 (jointing), wheat plants were sensitive to temperatures of 24°F and lower. We are continuing our wheat freeze work this spring. Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2017-05/winter-wheat-progress-and-management-check-your-fields for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ALFALFA RISKS FROM THE WILD WEATHER RIDE THIS WINTER – Jason Hartschuh

As farmers call in to discuss this strange winter and its risks to their alfalfa stand, concerns continue to grow as the green color has started to come back to alfalfa fields. Actually predicting what this weather is going to do to our alfalfa crop is impossible but scouting this spring will be imperative to determining how your alfalfa crop might do this year. As temperatures rose into the 60’s or even set records in the 70’s recently it has awakened at least some of the alfalfa plants from their winter dormancy. Once dormancy is broke, the plants start using the nutrients that were stored in the roots and crowns to start spring growth. The early start to regrowth is not the problem, the challenge is going to be how many times winter temperatures returned to average and force plants back into dormancy. Then when another round of warm weather comes through, the plants will break dormancy again utilizing more of their root reserves. Alfalfa is a strong deep-rooted crop and can handle this cycle a couple times but eventually it can run out of root and crown reserves. Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2017-05/alfalfa-risks-wild-weather-ride-winter to finish reading this article.

 

 

 

 

 

 

EARLY SEASON FORAGE SEEDING CONSIDERATIONS – Rory Lewandowski

I have been getting questions about seeding forages, both frost seeding and drilling, and this year’s weather pattern needs to be considered when making a seeding decision. Generally March is a good time in our area to consider frost seeding. Frost seeding works better some years than others. With regard to establishing a new forage stand with a drill, I think we have to look at this year’s weather pattern and what it is doing to soil temperatures. The third week in February we had 50 degree plus soil temperatures at a 2 inch depth. As I write this article in early March we have 40 degree plus soil temperatures at a 2 inch depth. We are ahead of our average. Seed placed in the soil now is likely to germinate and emerge more quickly this year. That may be okay, but it is early March and we could very well get some low to mid 20 degree temperatures yet.  Click on https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2017-05/early-season-forage-seeding-considerations to read the entire article.

 

 

 

 

 

OVERHOLT DRAINAGE SCHOOL STARTED MONDAY IN LONDON – Larry Brown

The Overholt Drainage School is March 13-17. The school is being held at the Beck’s London Facility, London, Ohio. The school is designed to provide continuing education for land improvement contractors, soil and water conservation technicians, farmers, engineers, consultants and others in soil and water conservation systems; especially in water management and quality. Instructors of the 5-day school include land-grant university faculty and staff, engineers and technicians with Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ohio Department of Agriculture-Soil and Water Conservation, USDA Agricultural Research Service, and Ohio Land Improvement Contractors and Associates. Contact Larry Brown at brown.59@osu.edu if interested in future Overholt Drainage School classes.

 

 

 

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