Month: March 2018

March 23, 2018

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Good evening,

Spring is here even though the weather might not agree with the date.  Each spring the Dairy Service Unit holds their semi-annual cheese sale.  The spring sale has a variety of cheeses to choose from including Colby, Muenster, Smoked Cheddar, Mozzarella, Marble, American Processed, Farmers Cheese, Cheddar, Big Eye Swiss, Baby Swiss, Lacey Swiss (low cholesterol, low fat), Hot Pepper, and also Trail Bologna.  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 April 4, with pick-up dates April 13 from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm or April 14 from 9:00 am until 12:00 pm at Dan and Molly Wagner’s dairy farm.  Funds from the semi-annual cheese sale are used to support dairy youth activities such as scholarships, royalty, awards, and other activities planned by the Dairy Service Unit.  For a complete list of items and prices, see the attached news release and order form.

Do you raise livestock and are looking for a way to dispose of dead animals?  One legal method in Ohio is Livestock Mortality Composting, but it requires certification.  In order to get certified, you must attend either a workshop put on by OSU Extension or do an online training.  Hardin County Extension will be hosting a Livestock Mortality Composting workshop on Wednesday, March 28 from 1:00-4:00 pm at the Extension office.  Pre-registration is required as mentioned in last week’s newsletter, so go to https://hardin.osu.edu/news/livestock-mortality-composting-workshop to register online or call the office by Tuesday at 419-674-2297 to register.  There is a $10 registration fee to cover manuals and refreshments, so please let us know if you are planning to attend.  I have attached the flyer to this email as well if you need further information.

Although we had our Hardin County Pesticide and Fertilizer Recertification program on March 13 at the Plaza Inn, there may still be applicators out there that missed the training or have specialty categories on their license.  If you are one of these people, we will be having a Make-up/Specialty Pesticide and Fertilizer Recertification training at the Hardin County Extension office on Friday, March 30.  We will be starting at 9:00 am with fertilizer, and then carry on with pesticides at 10:00 am.  Go to http://www.cvent.com/events/march-30-2018-hardin-county-specialty-make-up-pat-fact-recertification/event-summary-98e45558a1b945f0a824d9d80d1c3b79.aspx if you plan to attend, or call our office to let us know which categories you still need certification training by Thursday if you haven’t already pre-registered.  As there was an increase in the number of pesticide complaints in 2017, the Ohio Department of Agriculture has outlined the process with a handout.  I have attached the Pesticide Complaint Handout to this email so you are aware of the process in case you are ever on either end of a pesticide complaint.

I have included flyers for upcoming programs in the area and around the state that you may be interested that include Weed Identification and Management in the Home Garden and Landscape on April 26 in Wapakoneta; East Ohio Women in Agriculture Conference on April 6 in Massillon; and also the 2018 Northeast Ohio Small Farm Conference and Trade Show on April 7 also in Massillon.  Yes, I know Hardin County is not in eastern Ohio, but there are not equivalent conferences being held in western Ohio this year as of this point in time.  Make sure you call the phone numbers on the flyers if you are interested in attending either of these two events.  Finally, when campers, counselors, instructors and camp directors make their way to Ohio FFA Camp Muskingum the second week of June this year, their beloved Ohio Forestry & Wildlife Conservation Camp will have a new name and corresponding brand that pays homage to its inception in 1950, and its growth and success since then.  Read more about ‘Camp Canopy’ in the attached news release if you have a high schooler who may be interested in attending this summer.  Other local events happening this week include the Beef Banquet Saturday (3/24) starting at 6:00 pm in the Community Building at the fairgrounds, Master Gardener Volunteers meeting, Monday (3/26) starting at 7:00 pm at Harco Industries, and Farm Succession – Part 2 dinner and program sponsored by Ag Credit, Tuesday (3/27) starting at 6:00 pm at the Masters Building on the Wyandot County Fairgrounds in Upper Sandusky,   As usual, see below for agronomy articles.

Mark

Deciphering preplant dicamba labels and tank mixtures – Mark Loux

Dicamba can have a good fit in spring preplant burndown programs, especially for control of overwintered marestail in fields not treated the previous fall. We typically recommend a preplant burndown that includes at least two herbicides with substantial activity on marestail in this situation, such as Sharpen + 2,4-D or Gramoxone + 2,4-D + metribuzin. Dicamba is the most effective burndown herbicide on glyphosate-resistant marestail in the spring though, and in our research has usually killed or at least stopped emerged marestail in their tracks without help from other herbicides. To read more about using dicamba preplant, go tohttps://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-5/deciphering-preplant-dicamba-labels-and-tank-mixtures.

Winter Wheat Stand Evaluation – Laura Lindsey, Ed Lentz

Feekes 5 growth stage (leaf sheaths strongly erect) is a good time to evaluate winter wheat stand. Over the past two years, with funding from the Ohio Small Grains Marketing Program, we evaluated the relationship between wheat stems (main stem + tillers) and yield. Keep in mind that In our research, we counted the number of wheat stems which included both the main stem (main plant) and tillers. Make sure to count the number of stems in several areas of the field. In our research, stem counts at Feekes 5 growth stage predicted wheat yield better than stem counts at Feekes 6 growth stage (first node visible).  Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-06/winter-wheat-stand-evaluation to learn more about evaluating winter wheat stands.

Proven Production Practices for Increasing Corn Yields and Profits – Peter Thomison, Steve Culman

In the quest for high corn yields, considerable attention has been given to increasing various inputs, including seeding rates and fertilizers, narrowing row spacing, and making preventative applications of foliar fungicides, growth regulators and biological stimulants. However, the significant drop in crop net returns that’s occurred in recent years warrants developing strategies to lower input costs. An input that might have paid for itself with $5.50/bu corn may not at $3.75/bu corn. A practical and economic approach to achieving high yields is to follow proven cultural practices that enhance corn performance.  To read more practices to increase corn yields and profits, click on https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-06/proven-production-practices-increasing-corn-yields-and-profits.

Spring Seeding of Forages – Mark Sulc

Late this month (depending on the weather) and on into April provides one of the two preferred times to seed perennial cool-season forages. The other preferred timing for cool-season grasses and legumes is in late summer, primarily the month of August here in Ohio. The relative success of spring vs. summer seeding of forages is greatly affected by the prevailing weather conditions, and so growers have success and failures with each option. Probably the two primary difficulties with spring plantings are finding a good window of opportunity when soils are dry enough before it gets too late, and managing weed infestations that are usually more difficult with spring plantings.  To finish reading about spring seeding of forages, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-06/spring-seeding-forages.

Nitrogen Rate Recommendations for Wheat – 2018 – Ed Lentz, Laura Lindsey, Steve Culman

Wheat has already reached green-up across the state so spring N may be applied anytime fields are fit. Keep in mind that research has shown no yield reduction for N applications before Feekes GS 7 (two visible nodes). However, wheat is growing slow because of the cool temperatures. Nitrogen applied early has the potential to be lost since wheat will use little N until after jointing. Urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) or 28% has the greatest potential for loss and ammonium sulfate the least. Urea will have little potential for loss as long as it does not volatize. No stabilizer will protect the nitrate component of UAN, which is roughly 25% of the total N in UAN at application time. Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-06/nitrogen-rate-recommendations-wheat-2018 to finish reading this article.

 

 

 

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 16, 2018

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Hello,

This past week we recertified 57 pesticide and 79 fertilizer applicators in Hardin County.  If you were not there, I have attached a couple of important handouts that I thought you should have.  One is on the Dicamba Label Modificaitons for 2018 for use of the Engenia, Xtendimax, and FeXapan products.  Another handout is regarding the changes coming for the Ohio Sensitive Crop Registry (OSCR) that will be happening soon to help protect sensitive crops and bees in Ohio.  The Hardin County Cattle Producers will hold their annual Beef Banquet on Saturday, March 24 in the Community Building at the fairgrounds, starting at 6:00 pm.  Pre-sale adult tickets are $15 ($20 at the door), youth ages 6-12 are $7.50 ($10 at the door), kids under 6 years old are free, and 2017 Hardin County Junior Fair Beef Barn Exhibitors are free with a reservation given to any Cattle Producers Director.  Tickets can be purchased from the following county Cattle Producers Directors: Marcia Hoovler, Adam Billenstein, Jeff Oestreich, Holli Underwood, Stacia Hall-Boughan, Derek Dunson, Dane Jeffers, Traci Deckling, Deana Gibson, Dick Cronley, and Mark Badertscher.  Reservations can also be made by calling the Extension office at 419-674-2297 ahead of the banquet and pay at the door.  See the attached news release for more information about this banquet.

There will be a follow-up ‘Tools for the Transition’ farm succession workshop being hosted by Ag Credit that will be March 27 in the Masters Building on the Wyandot County Fairgrounds in Upper Sandusky starting at 6:00 pm with a dinner.  See the attached flyer and contact Kenton Ag Credit at 419-675-2303 if you plan to attend but have not yet registered.  Poultry, dairy, swine, beef cattle and other livestock producers wanting to learn economically and environmentally beneficial ways to handle the death of their animals can earn livestock mortality composting certification through a course offered by experts and hosted by OSU Extension and the local Soil and Water Conservation District.  The workshop begins at 1:00 p.m. and will end by 4:00 p.m. March 28 at the Hardin County OSU Extension office, 1021 W Lima Street, Suite 103, in Kenton.  Registration is $10, which includes a workbook and certificate, and can be paid at the door.  Please pre-register by calling Hardin County OSU Extension or going to hardin.osu.edu to register online.  See the attached news release and flyer for more details.

Other area events that you might be interested in attending are a Turkey Hunting Workshop being held on March 21 and a Controlling Woodland Invasive Plants Workshop being held on March 22.  Both of these events are taking place in Urbana and I have attached flyers to this email.  OSU Extension is also hosting a Swine Management Day in Celina on April 4, so check out the attached flyer for more details on this upcoming program.  Individuals interested in selling their locally produced food through various market channels who want to explore ways to improve their sales skills and business relationships, and those who are considering or are just developing a new food business may be interested in the Market Ready Producer Training program flyer that I have included with this newsletter.  Upcoming local events coming up soon include the Hardin County Poultry Banquet Saturday (3/17) starting at 6:00 pm at the Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Kenton, Hardin County Pork Banquet Saturday (3/17) starting at 6:30 pm at St. John’s Evangelical Church in Kenton,  and the ‘Go Native’ plants seminar being held by the OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers Thursday (3/22) starting at 9:00 am at Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative Community Room in Kenton.  Other than that, I have included some agronomy articles below from the CORN newsletter.

Mark

 

Crop Production Costs – Do you know yours? A quick look at the 2016 Ohio Farm Business Analysis – Dianne Shoemaker, Haley Shoemaker

Which number is closest to your total direct and overhead cost of production per bushel of corn: $3.08, $4.17, or $6.21? Do you know? Forty-two farms completed their 2016 farm business and crop enterprise analysis in 2017. The four lowest cost producers averaged $3.08 per bushel, the median COP was $4.17, and the four highest cost producers averaged $6.21 per bushel. Only the high 20% of these corn enterprises generated a positive net return for corn. For the other 80%, the personalized benchmark reports they receive helped them identify strengths and areas of opportunity in each crop enterprise.  To read more, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-04/crop-production-costs-%E2%80%93-do-you-know-yours-quick-look-2016-ohio

 

Spring Planting and Summer Growing Outlook – Jim Noel

La Nina, cooling of the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean waters, remains in place and is classified as a weak La Nina. This means many other things will ultimately impact our weather and climate since it is weak but it will contribute to our pattern. Indications are this could linger into spring and possibly summer before ending. Regardless of when it ends, it tends to impact weather patterns in the atmosphere longer, sometimes up to three to six months later. So there will be a contribution to our climate pattern into at least the planting season if not growing season.  Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-5/spring-planting-and-summer-growing-outlook to continue reading this article.

 

Get Your Fertilizer Certification…Before Planting Begins – Eric Richer

Ohio is now seeing full implementation of Ohio’s Agricultural Fertilizer Applicator Certification regulation. The regulation was result of Senate Bill 150, which can be found at http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/905.322 and http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/905.321. The 2014 regulation required farmers to complete a fertilizer certification program if they applied fertilizer to more than 50 acres of land in agricultural production primarily for sale. Exemptions included fertilizer applied through a planter, individuals whose crops remained on the farm for their livestock and not sold, or fertilizer applied by a commercial applicator. Click onhttps://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-5/get-your-fertilizer-certificationbefore-planting-beginsto find out remaining fertilizer certification options.

 

Soybean Planting…How Early Is Too Early? – Laura Lindsey

Soybean planting date is absolutely critical to maximize yield (in most years and environments). Over the past few years, we’ve participated in a North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) funded project with the goal of identifying causes of the “soybean yield gap.” (What factors are reducing soybean yield?) Across the Midwest, planting date was the most consistent management factor that influenced soybean yield. Finish reading this article at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-5/soybean-planting%E2%80%A6how-early-too-early.

 

Soil Health Workshop – Archbold – Garth Ruff

Are you interested in learning about cover crops and soil health? If so, consider attending a Soil Health Workshop on March 28th with OSU Extension, NRCS, and Henry SWCD. Jim Hoorman and Alan Sundermier will be presenting a variety of topics including: Biology of Soil Compaction, Economics of Cover Crops, Keeping Nutrients out of Surface Water, Managing Grasses and Brassica Cover Crops, Managing Pests: Voles & Slugs, Maximizing Mycorrhizae in Your Cropping System, and Open Discussion: Using & Managing Cover Crops. The workshop will take place at Northwest State Community College Room C200, 22600 St. Rt. 34 Archbold, Ohio 43502. There is no cost to attend the program and lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to the Henry County Extension office at 419-592-0806, by March 21st.

 

 

 

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 9, 2018

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Good evening,

Another week has come and gone and we are one week closer to spring!  Next week area farmers will be participating in the Hardin County Pesticide and Fertilizer Recertification on Tuesday, March 13 at the Plaza Inn Restaurant in Mt. Victory.  We will begin at 9:00 am with pesticides, break for lunch at noon, and then start fertilizer at 1:00 pm.  Check your Ohio Pesticide or Fertilizer Applicator card to see when yours expires.  According to the attached maps, Hardin County has 44 private pesticide applicators and 63 fertilizer certificates expiring this year.  Registration starts at 8:30 am at the door if you need to attend but have not yet registered.  If you don’t want to wait in line, contact the Extension office at 419-674-2297 on Monday to provide your information over the phone.  If you still need to get your fertilizer certification, see the attached flyer for two 3-hour fertilizer certification classes being offered March 26 in Botkins with a meal included for $30.  You can also now have the option to study on your own and take a test for fertilizer certification, just like you can for pesticide certification.

Our Master Gardener Volunteers are offering a Native Plants seminar.  ‘Go Native’ will be held March 22 at the Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative Community Room, 1210 W Lima Street in Kenton. The cost is $40 which includes a continental breakfast, lunch, handouts, and door prizes.  For Active OSU Master Gardener Volunteers the fee is $35.  Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. and the program starts at 9:00.  Registration Deadline is March 15, class size is limited.  For more information call: 937-935-3970.  See the attached news article and brochure for more details and a registration form.  The 2nd Annual Hardin County Poultry Banquet will be held at 6:00 pm, Saturday, March 17, 2018 at the Family Center of the Kenton Christian Missionary Alliance Church located at 15436 State Route 309 in Kenton.  Each family is asked to bring a side dish and dessert, as there will be no additional charge for the evening.  The meat and table service will be provided.  See the attached news release and flyer for more information on this year’s Poultry Banquet.

Other upcoming events that you may be interested include The OSU Hops Conference, Bus Tour, and Trade Show in Piketon on March 23-24; Ohio & West Virginia Food Hub Network Meeting: Growing Growers in Columbus on March 14; and Ohio SMART Agriculture: Solutions From The Land in Bowling Green on March 14.  I included flyers for these events in case you want more information.  Local events of agricultural interest include the Hardin County Agricultural Society Consignment Sale Saturday (3/10) starting at 9:00 am at the fairgrounds, Men’s Garden Club Monday (3/12) starting at 6:30 pm at the home of Ken Carlson near Kenton; Soil and Water Conservation District meeting Thursday (3/15) starting at 7:30 am at the SWCD office; and theHardin County Pork Banquet Saturday (3/17) starting at 6:30 pm at St. John’s Evangelical Church in Kenton.  Don’t forget that the Ohio Beef Expo is next weekend (3/16-3/18) at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus.  If that’s not enough to keep you busy, I’ve included some agronomy articles below.

Mark

Eliminating marestail as a determiner for postemergence soybean herbicide selection – Mark Loux

Soybean herbicide systems have evolved back to a fairly high level of complexity to deal with the herbicide resistance we have in various broadleaf weeds. By the time we use a comprehensive mix of burndown and residual herbicides, we tend to be coming back with postemergence herbicides primarily for marestail, ragweeds, and waterhemp (and grasses). Postemergence tools available for control of these broadleaf weeds vary with the type of soybean trait being used, but can include glyphosate, PPO inhibitors (fomesafen, Cobra), glufosinate, dicamba, and soon 2,4-D choline. ALS inhibitors have become somewhat irrelevant on these weeds due to widespread ALS resistance, although they may have activity on some ragweed populations still sensitive to ALS inhibitors. Resistance to various sites of action can further limit the number of options. Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-04/eliminating-marestail-determiner-postemergence-soybean-herbicide to finish reading this article.

Soil Infiltration – Alan Sundermeier

Infiltration is the downward entry of water into the soil. Infiltration rate is expressed in inches per hour. Rainwater must first enter the soil for it to be of value. Water moves more quickly through the large pores of a sandy soil compared to slower movement through a clay soil with small pores. Infiltration is an indicator of the soil’s ability to allow water movement into and through the soil profile. Soil temporarily stores water, making it available for root uptake, plant growth and habitat for soil organisms.  Read more about soil infiltration at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-03/soil-infiltration.

 

Bin run seed – some lessons from the past  – Anne Dorrance

With lower prices and higher input costs in today’s soybean farming operations, some farmers are looking where to shave a few dollars off their costs of farming. Based on the calls directly from farmers on which seed treatments to use – it is not too hard to figure out where some of those savings might be coming from. This used to be general practice but there are ways to do this to be sure it really is saving farmer’s money.  To find out more about precautions of using bin run seed in the planter or drill, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-04/bin-run-seed-%E2%80%93-some-lessons-past.

 

Topdressing Wheat with Liquid Swine Manure – Glen Arnold

Despite the rainfall expected across Ohio this week, wheat fields will eventually firm up and the topdressing of nitrogen fertilizer will commence. 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. By this date, wheat fields have broken dormancy and are actively pulling moisture and nutrients from the soil. The key to applying the correct amount of manure to fertilize wheat is to know the manure’s nitrogen content. Most manure tests reveal total nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen and organic nitrogen amounts. The ammonia nitrogen portion is readily available for plant growth. The organic nitrogen portion takes considerably longer to mineralize and generally will not be available when wheat uptakes the majority of its nitrogen in the months of April and May.  Read more at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-04/topdressing-wheat-liquid-swine-manure.


 Malt Barley Workshop – March 15th – Mary Griffith, Wayne Dellinger

OSU Extension Union County is hosting a half day workshop for growers interested in learning about malting barley. Malting barley acres have increased in Ohio with a growing craft brewery industry. While new markets exist for Ohio grown barley, malting barley markets have different quality and protein standards than feed-grade barley traditionally grown in Ohio making it a very different crop to manage. This workshop offers an opportunity to learn more about managing malting barley.  Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-5/malt-barley-workshop-march-15th to find out more information about this upcoming event in Marysville.

 

 

 

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 1, 2018

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Good evening,

Hardin County has a rich tradition of active livestock commodity group organizations.  Each of these organizations have winter banquets and we are in the middle of these banquet events.  In case you haven’t kept up on all of the winter livestock banquets happening this winter or if you would like to plan ahead to attend, I have attached a news article discussing basic information about each banquet.  The Hardin County Pork Producers will hold their annual Pork Banquet on Saturday, March 17 at St. John’s Evangelical Church, starting at 6:30 pm.  The fun-filled evening will include selection of the Queen and Scholarship Recipients as well as amazing food and door prizes.  Ticket prices are $8, and half price for 2017 Hardin County Junior Fair Swine Exhibitors, as well as Fair Workers from the Food Pavilion, and children under the age of 12.  The banquet is open to all interested persons but advance tickets are required.  Tickets can be purchased through March 9 from the following county Pork Producers Directors: Grant Mizek, Kevin (Dewey) Skidmore, Steve Searson, Doug & Christine Heilman, Tim Holbrook, Mark Watkins, Rob Wilson, Matthew Holbrook, Lavern & Nancy Weaver, Rob Underwood, Nathan Weaver, Tyler & Tiffany Sparks, Rusty Bingham, Wes VanScoy, and Jody Dye. Tickets can also be reserved from the Extension office by calling 419-674-2297.  For more information about the Pork Banquet, see the attached news release.

So what is the relationship between healthy soils and healthy water?  How can you manage inputs and planting date for high economic corn yields?  Which soils should respond to sulfur applications?  What are some opportunities and considerations with subsurface placement of nutrients?  How can you build soil health and organic matter with cover crops and no-till?  How can you use economics in the choice between growing corn and soybeans?  What will the revised P index look like?  How can you get started in honey bees, barley, or hops production?  What are some methods to manage invasive plants around the farm?  These are all questions you might have asked yourself, but have struggled to find an answer.  This year’s Conservation Tillage Conference (CTC) has the answers to these questions and many more. The McIntosh Center at Ohio Northern University will once again be the location where about 60 presenters, several agribusiness exhibitors, and approximately 900 participants will come together March 6th and 7th in Ada.  Make plans now to attend this conference by reading the attached article.

Some farmers have received a notice that informs them that their current pesticide and/or fertilizer applicator licenses will expire at the end of March 2018 and that they must complete their continuing education hours to renew before this date.  Thirty dollars is sent to the Ohio Department of Agriculture in Reynoldsburg to renew the license and $30 to OSU Extension for the pesticide continuing education requirement.  If fertilizer recertification is needed, the cost to OSU Extension is $10 for the fertilizer continuing education requirement.  The Hardin County Pesticide and Fertilizer Recertification program will be offered Tuesday, March 13 at the Plaza Inn Restaurant in Mt. Victory. The pesticide recertification session will begin at 9:00 am and end at 12:00 pm. This session is for private applicators and will consist of Core, Grain and Cereal Crops, Forage Crops and Livestock, and Fumigation.  A lunch option will be made available at the Plaza Inn Restaurant for additional cost.  The fertilizer recertification will start at 1:00 pm and end at 2:00 pm.  Farmers must pre-register online at http://pested.osu.edu, call the Extension Office at 419-674-2297, or stop by at 1021 W. Lima Street, Suite 103 in Kenton to register.  Pre-registration is encouraged if not already done so to eliminate long lines at the door.  Further information regarding make-up or specialty recertification in other areas can be obtained by contacting the Extension office before March 30.  For more information, check out the attached article and flyer.

I have included flyers of other events going on that you might be interested, including a Malting Barley Workshop on March 15 in Marysville, OSU Blueberry, Bramble, and Wine Grape Pruning School in Piketon on March 15, a Women in Agriculture event March 22 in Fort Loramie, and an OSU Junior Swine Day in both Columbus and Wooster on March 25.  Have you noticed the maple trees that have been tapped around the county?  Have you ever thought about tapping maple trees and wondered where you can buy maple syrup equipment?  OSU Extension put together a brochure of maple syrup equipment dealers that producers can use that serve Ohio.  I have attached this brochure to this email if you are interested.  Finally, local events coming up soon include Ag Council breakfast tomorrow morning (3/2) at Henry’s Restaurant starting at 7:00.  I plan to share information about land values and cash rent so feel free to join us in the banquet room.  The Lamb Banquet will be Saturday evening (3/3) at St. John’s Evangelical Church in Kenton starting at 6:30 pm.  OSU Dairy Science professor Dr. Maurice Eastridge will be the guest speaker at the Dairy Service Unit annual meeting at the Extension office Monday evening (3/5).  We plan to start with a meal at 6:30 followed by the meeting at 7:00 pm.  Feel free to join us if you are interested in learning more about his topic, ‘Forces Affecting Dairying in the Future.’  The Cattle Producers will also be meeting Monday evening (3/5) at the Allmax Building starting at 7:30 pm.  Farm Bureau will be meeting Tuesday evening (3/6) at Ag Credit starting at 7:00 pm.  The Fairboard will be meeting Wednesday evening (3/7) at the fair office starting at 7:00 pm.  And don’t forget the Ag Society Consignment Sale selling used farm machinery Saturday morning (3/10) at the fairgrounds starting at 9:00 am.  As always, I have included some agronomy articles for you to consider reading.

Mark

Winter has seen wild swings in the weather – Jim Noel

The winter has seen wild swings in the weather and climate from cold to warm to cold. The outlook for February calls for this wild swing pattern to continue with periods of cold and mild along with periods of wet, snow and dry. The end result should be temperatures slightly colder than normal for February and precipitation at or above normal. Over the next two weeks precipitation liquid equivalent should average 1.5-2.5 inches over Ohio. Normal is about 1 inch in this period. See attached graphic for details. La Nina continues in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean with cooler than normal waters. This tends to lead to more challenging years in the Ohio Valley for agriculture.  To read more about the weather, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-03/winter-has-seen-wild-swings-weather.


 Soil Aggregate Stability – a soil health physical indicator – Alan Sundermeier, Vinayak Shedekar

A suite of soil health measurements are becoming available which are not part of the traditional soil chemical tests. Soil aggregate stability is an important physical indicator of soil health, which protects organic matter accumulation, improves soil porosity, drainage and water availability for plants, decreases soil compaction, supports biological activity, and nutrient cycling in the soil. Aggregates are primary soil particles (sand, silt, clay) held together in a single mass or cluster, such as a crumb, block, prism or clod using organic matter, calcium and metals as cementing materials. Soil aggregates are formed by natural forces (such as alternate wetting-drying) and organic substances derived from root exudates, roots, soil animals and microbial by-products which cement primary particles into smaller aggregates (micro-aggregates) or smaller aggregates into larger particles, such as macro-aggregates. To read more, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-02/soil-aggregate-stability-%E2%80%93-soil-health-physical-indicator.

Ohio Farm Business Analysis Program – Dianne Shoemaker, Haley Shoemaker

The message is clear: farms must know their costs of production for corn, soybeans, hay, milk, meat, and any other commodities they produce. Why? To make informed marketing, production, and financial management decisions that contribute to the overall profitability of the whole farm business. To help Ohio’s farm families achieve financial success in today’s challenging marketplace, the Ohio Farm Business Analysis Program is expanding our capacity to serve farmers across Ohio. Thanks to a USDA/NIFA grant, four additional Farm Business Analysis Technicians are ready to help farmers complete analysis of their 2017 business year. Farm business analysis is a tool that can be applied to any farm, regardless of size, crop, or livestock enterprise. Financial management is critical to the success of every farm business, and with analysis, farms are able to better understand the numbers behind their profits or losses.  To find out more about the Ohio Farm Business Analysis Program, click on https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-03/ohio-farm-business-analysis-program.

CORN Newsletter Reader Survey – Amanda Douridas, Amanda Bennett, Mike Gastier, Greg LaBarge

We want to thank all our readers for their interest in the CORN newsletter over the years. It has been several years since we have conducted a reader survey. We are asking readers to complete this survey to provide important information about the future content of the newsletter. Our goal is to provide farmers and consultants with accurate, researched based information that helps improve farm efficiency, profitability and sustainability. Completion is voluntary. All survey responses are anonymous and cannot be linked to respondents. Only summary data will be reported. If you receive the newsletter through an email subscription then you should have received an email about the survey with a personalized link. Please use this email to complete the survey. If you do not receive the CORN newsletter through email, we ask that you complete the survey by going to: https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_577r8yARYgUZk9f . Thank you for your time and feedback as we strive to meet the needs of our readers.

Nutrient Management and Cover Crops Meeting – Jeff Stachler

Applying crop nutrients when they are not needed is costly, especially in the current farm economy and harmful to the environment. Conversely, not applying enough fertilizer will cause a reduction in crop yield causing a decrease in profitability. Cover crops are important to soil health, but how do you make them work? There are many options, what is the best option for your operation? Is soil health important? These questions along with nutrient management will be addressed at the upcoming meeting entitled: “Improving Your Bottom Line With Nutrients and Cover Crops”. The meeting will be held March 13, 2018 from 9:15 AM to 3:40 PM at the Eagles in Wapakoneta (25 E. Auglaize St.). To find out more about this meeting, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-04/nutrient-management-and-cover-crops-meeting.

 

 

 

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