August 18, 2017

Good evening,

Tuesday night was the Fruit and Vegetable Crop Walk program held at Daniel Hostetler’s farm near Mt. Victory.  OSU Extension entomologists Celeste Welty, Jim Jasinski, and Curtis Young helped out with the program along with an OSU research associate and graduate students from the Weed Science and Plant Pathology departments.  The program began with presentations, followed by a walk through a greenhouse and produce field, pointing out issues and giving recommendations for the produce growers.  For more information on this event, see the attached news release and flyer.  Our next big event is the Hardin Precision Ag Field Day coming up this coming Wednesday, August 23 at Bill and Shane Kellogg’s farm near Forest.  This is one of the Blanchard River Demonstration Farms, which two of the three are located in Hardin County while the other one is in Hancock County.  These farms are doing research on various practices to improve water quality in the Lake Erie Watershed, so we know what practices improve water quality while at the same time are economically feasible and sustainable for crop and livestock producers.

Crop Walk News Release

Crop Walk Flyer

Hardin Precision Ag Field Day Flyer

Precision Ag Field Day Event News Release

Precision Ag Day Agenda

By now 900 people should have received their postcard about this upcoming field day, so as a last reminder, make sure you register if you plan on attending by Monday at noon.  Didn’t get a postcard?  Please consider this email as your invitation to participate in this event.  I need to tell the caterer how many meals to prepare so make sure you go to go.osu.edu/hardinprecisionagday or call the Hardin County Extension office at 419-674-2297 so we have enough lunches for everyone.  Ag Credit is sponsoring the coffee, juice and donuts so you shouldn’t go home hungry.  We believe there is an excellent line up of speakers in the morning and field demonstrations in the afternoon, so check out the news release, agenda, and flyer for more details.  I hope to see you there as several people have put a great amount of effort into planning this special event for you.

Other local events coming up include Hardin County Fair Work Day, Saturday, August 19 starting at 8:30 am; Master Gardener Volunteers Vegetable Harvest Party, Saturday, August 26 starting at 10:00 am at the Friendship Gardens in Kenton; and the Hardin County Cattle Producers’ Picnic on the same day starting at 6:00 pm in the Community Building at the fairgrounds.  I have included some agronomy articles for you to read below if you are interested.

Mark

Register Now for Hardin Precision Ag Field Day – Mark Badertscher

Plan to attend the Precision Ag Field Day to be held August 23 at Kellogg Farms, 17392 Township Road 50 near Forest. Aaron Heilers, project manager for the Blanchard River Demonstration Farms will give an overview of the water quality and nutrient management goals of the three farms in Hardin and Hancock County. Greg LaBarge, OSU Extension agronomist will discuss how Edge of Field research is addressing nutrient management issues in Ohio. Kirt Wells will show how farmers can get started with precision data management to make their farming operation more efficient while Kevin Ward will explain how precision agriculture equipment can be used with the smaller producer. Both Wells and Ward are from Findlay Implement Company.  To read more about the Hardin Precision Ag Field Day, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2017-25/register-now-hardin-precision-ag-field-day.

Wind Damage in Corn – “Green Snap” and Root Lodging  – Peter Thomison

Strong winds associated with rain storms can cause localized root lodging and “green snap”. The magnitude of this damage is influenced by several factors including crop stage of development and hybrid genetics. Root lodging occurs when strong winds pull corn roots part way out of the soil. The problem is more pronounced when soil are saturated by heavy rains accompanying winds. If root lodging occurs before grain fill, plants usually recover at least partly by “kneeing up.” This response results in the characteristic gooseneck bend in the lower stalk with brace roots providing above ground support. If this stalk bending takes place before pollination, there may be little effect on yield. When lodging occurs later in the season, some yield decrease due to partial loss of root activity and reduced light interception may occur. If root lodging occurs shortly before or during pollen shed and pollination, it may interfere with effective fertilization thereby reducing kernel set.  To read more of this article, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2017-21/wind-damage-corn-%E2%80%9Cgreen-snap%E2%80%9D-and-root-lodging.

Cool Nights and Lots of Moisture can Equal Sclerotinia Stem Rot – Jaqueline Huzar Novakowiski , Anne Dorrance

We are past the flowering stage of soybean in many parts of Ohio. The cool nights and wet conditions over the last couple of weeks are very favorable for infection of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, the fungus that causes Sclerotinia stem rot or white mold of soybean. This is particularly concerning if you have a field with history of this disease and if a susceptible cultivar was planted. The fungus forms sclerotia which are black, hard and irregular bodies with a pink to white center. Sclerotia can survive in the soil for many years, and the cool and wet conditions are favorable for germination and production of apothecia.  Note that not every field in Ohio has inoculum. Sclerotia must be introduced into a field with contaminated seed or from another susceptible crop. To learn more about Sclerotinia Stem Rot in soybean, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2017-21/cool-nights-and-lots-moisture-can-equal-sclerotinia-stem-rot.

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like – Off-Target Dicamba Movement – our Favorite Time of the Year! – Mark Loux, Bill Johnson

You would probably have to be living under a rock to not at this time be aware of the issues with off target dicamba movement affecting soybeans and other plants in the states of Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missouri.  The latter two states banned any additional dicamba applications for the remainder of the growing season to avoid additional problems (subject to change probably), and some changes are coming in Tennessee also apparently.  We have seen firsthand examples of this in at least some Indiana and Ohio fields, and have heard about a number of additional ones.  It’s somewhat difficult to gauge how widespread the issue is, since there is often reluctance of an affected party to contact regulatory officials and file a complaint, in order to keep good relations with the offending neighbor.  Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2017-21/it%E2%80%99s-beginning-look-lot-%E2%80%93-target-dicamba-movement-%E2%80%93-our-favorite to finish reading this article.

Potential for Silk Clipping by Beetles – Andy Michel, Kelley Tilmon

We have received many reports of Japanese beetles and other defoliators munching on soybean over the past few weeks with some reaching economic levels of defoliation. Like a few other insects Japanese beetles are “buffet style” eaters, they have many plants that they can feed on, including corn. On corn, much of the feeding occurs on silks where they chew the silks back to the ear tip and can interfere with pollination. Another well-known insect that can feed on silks is the adult corn rootworm (mainly the Western corn rootworm) that should begin emerging soon, if not already. As tasseling begins and silk emerges, growers will want to make sure that the silk feeding does not reach economic threshold and impact pollination. Common thresholds are: 1) if 5 or more rootworms or 3 or more Japanese beetles are found per ear, 2) if silks have been clipped to within 1/2 inch of the ear tip, and 3) pollination is less than 50% complete. As silk clipping is highest along the edges, growers should check at least 100 plants, (10 plants in 10 different areas) to sample the entire field for any signs of silk clipping.

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

August 3, 2017

Good evening,

It seems as time is just flying by as I have been out of the office the past three days at the Manure Science Review, vegetable crop training, and the Ohio State Fair.  Last week I took ear leaf samples from the Nitrogen Rate corn fertility plot near Alger.  These samples were pulled while the corn was in the R1 or silking stage to be sent to the lab and analyzed for nutrients.  I seemed to get lucky this time and did not do the sampling while the pollen was dropping, but a pollen anther did plug up the charging jack in my phone as it took the help of 4-H Educator Mark Light to determine why my phone wasn’t charging.  The good thing to point out was that I avoided the pollen spread in the early morning and late afternoon or early evening.  The bad thing was that I collected the samples in the heat of the afternoon.  Either way, the job is done and the lab in Wooster can now work with the ear leaves to get the data they need.

Dr. Steve Culman addressed the audience at the program Tuesday evening at Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative about the compaction issues in the county.  See the attached article for related information on this topic.  His take home message included a combination of using a v-ripper or deep tillage, adding organic matter, and planting small grains and cover crops to help break up compaction layers and build back soil structure.  Much more research needs to be done on this topic, which is why he is leading a study to address this issue around pipelines in other areas of the state.  Soil disturbance is taking place but the amount of compaction and the impact on crop production is largely unknown.  The Hardin County Precision Ag Field Day is creeping up on us with the date of August 23.  Registration is now open for this field day so make sure you read the article below and register at go.osu.edu/hardinprecisionagday or by calling the Hardin County Extension office at 419-674-2297 by August 16 in order that we can plan for meals and other arrangements for this free field day near Forest.  Remember that you can earn fertilizer credit by attending this field day if you have not yet received your yellow fertilizer card from the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Soil Compaction Issues – Part One

2017 Champaign Precision Ag Day Flyer

Another Precision Ag Field Day is coming up August 17 in Champaign County.  I have attached a flyer for this event if you are interested in making the trip to Urbana.  Topics presented at this Champaign County field day include: Economics of Precision Soil Sampling, Nitrogen Placement, Sulfur Requirements in Corn, Soil Fertility Limitations in Soybeans, and a Water Quality Update.  There will also be an option for fertilizer certification at this event so check the flyer for registration information if interested.  Local events coming up soon include Ag Council tomorrow morning (8/4) starting at 7:00 am at Henry’s Restaurant; Fairboard meeting Saturday (8/5) starting at 7:30 pm in the Arts & Crafts Building at the fairgrounds; and a Food Safety Training being taught by our Family and Consumer Sciences Educator Jami Dellifield on Wednesday (8/9) starting at 7:00 pm for volunteers in charge of serving food at the fair and other events.  This training is scheduled to happen at the Extension office.  Enjoy your weekend and see the articles below for more information about ag crops.

Mark

Precision Ag Field Day August 23 – Mark Badertscher

Mark your calendar now for the Hardin County Precision Ag Field Day to be held August 23 at Kellogg Farms, 17392 Township Road 50 near Forest.  Bill and Shane Kellogg have committed 305 acres to the Blanchard River Demonstration Farms Network in cooperation with Ohio Farm Bureau and USDA.  Existing edge of field research shows that placing nutrients below ground dramatically decreases potential for nutrient losses. This farm utilizes subsurface placement of nutrients using strip tillage techniques.  Cost savings and yield benefits that can be achieved by improving nutrient efficiencies by subsurface nutrient placement are being measured.  In addition, various crop rotations are being compared while testing how to best implement cover crops and reduce tillage in those rotations.  This farm is testing technologies that will help improve crop input efficiency, lower cost of production, while protecting our water quality. Read more about this upcoming field day at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2017-21/precision-ag-field-day-august-23.

Pollination Underway in April Planted Corn – Peter Thomison

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending 7-9-17, 10% of the state’s corn was silking compared to 16% for the 5-year average. Given the wide range in corn planting dates this year, some late planted (corn planted in mid-June corn) may not achieve tasselling and silking until early August. The pollination period, the flowering stage in corn, is the most critical period in the development of a corn plant from the standpoint of grain yield determination. Stress conditions (such as hail damage and drought) have the greatest impact on yield potential during the reproductive stage. The following are some key steps in the corn pollination process. Most corn hybrids tassel and silk about the same time although some variability exists among hybrids and environments. On a typical midsummer day, peak pollen shed occurs in the morning between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. followed by a second round of pollen shed late in the afternoon.  To read more about the pollination process in corn, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2017-21/pollination-underway-april-planted-corn.

First Report of Frogeye Leaf Spot in Ohio – is it Sensitive? – Ethan Smatnik, Linda Weber, Anne Dorrance

Northern Ohio and North Central Ohio farmers need to focus on Sclerotinia as we move into flowering.  Southern Ohio producers also have something to focus on, scouting for frogeye leaf spot.  There are still a few very high yielding but very susceptible cultivars planted in Ohio and it is the susceptible ones that we are most concerned about.  Losses of 35% have been reported when the disease starts early and we have consistent, weekly rains.  Another complication in the frogeye story, Ohio has a mixed population, some strains are still susceptible to the strobilurin class of fungicides while other strains are resistant, and some fields have both.  We do have funding this year from Ohio Soybean Council to evaluate the strains for sensitivity to strobilurin fungicides.  So if you have some samples, please mail them to us and we will test for sensitivity to strobilurin fungicides.  Click on https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2017-21/first-report-frogeye-leaf-spot-ohio-%E2%80%93-it-sensitive to read more about Frogeye Leaf Spot in soybean.

Southern Rust and Common Rust on Hybrid Corn: How to Tell Them Apart – Pierce Paul

Ohio corn producers are reporting more rust on corn this year, and are concerned that it might be southern rust, the rarer but more damaging of the two major rust diseases that affect corn in state. Based on the fact that they both produce rusty looking pustules on the leaves, producers may actually be confusing common rust with southern rust, especially when they are not occurring side-by-side on the same leaf. Fungicides do equally well against both diseases, but are rarely ever needed for common rust on hybrid corn. Scout fields and observe the weather before making an application. As it becomes warm and dry, typical of summers in Ohio, the development and spread of common rust slow down considerably or stop. For southern rust, however, fungicides may be warranted and economically beneficial if timed correctly (as soon as the first few pustules are observed).  To find out more about rust in corn, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2017-22/southern-rust-and-common-rust-hybrid-corn-how-tell-them-apart.

Western Bean Cutworm Monitoring Update for Week Ending July 21, 2017 – with assistance from Mark Badertscher, Lee Beers, JD Bethel, Bruce Clevenger, Sam Custer, Thomas Dehaas, Allen Gahler, Mike Gastier, Ed Lentz, Rory Lewandowski, David Marrison, Cecelia Lokai-Minnich, Sarah Noggle, Les Ober, Adrian Pekarcik, Eric Richer, Garth Ruff, John Schoenhals, Jeff Stachler, Alan Sundermeier, Chris Zoller

Western bean cutworm (WBCW) populations have decreased across monitoring counties in Ohio. A total of 68 traps were monitored in 19 counties. Overall, 3451 WBCW adults were captured. The average number of WBCW per trap decreased from 68.71 last week, to 50.75 this week.  Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2017-23/western-bean-cutworm-monitoring-update-week-ending-july-21-2017 to check out the state WBC map and graph for this week.

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