Good afternoon,
I hope this issue of the Hardin County Agriculture and Natural Resources Update finds you finished or close to being finished with this year’s planting season. I have been gone on vacation lately, but have been monitoring local crop progress. According to our online rainfall reporting system, CoCoRaHS (https://www.cocorahs.org), Hardin County received between 0.42 and 1.06 inches of rain in the past week. The latest USDA Ohio Crop Weather report dated May 29 has the state 82% done planting corn and 67% done planting soybeans. I would suspect our local Hardin County numbers to be higher than that from my own observations, what a couple local farmers mentioned at Ag Council breakfast this morning, and with the northern edge of Ohio still working to get this year’s crops planted. The previous week’s Ohio Crop Weather report (May 21) listed Ohio 71% done with corn and 50% done with soybeans. I have attached both of these reports so you can compare them with how your crop planting situation is. This past weekend I checked a wheat field that was flowering. This is the time that monitoring for head scab is so very important with regards to timing of possible fungicide application. Although our area has been low to moderate risk for the past two weeks, those with wheat in the field should read the attached article about wheat head scab for information about how to manage this potential disease.
Ohio Crop Weather May 29 Report
Ohio Crop Weather May 21 Report
If you are interested in commodity prices and outlook for Ohio, I have attached the Agriculture Across Ohio USDA report for May. It gives a brief summary of prices as well as other information for agricultural commodities. The March 2018 weighted average prices for corn was $3.79, soybean $10.10, and wheat $ 4.90 per bushel. Milk averaged $15.80 per hundredweight, alfalfa was $190 per ton, and mixed hay $115 per ton. See the attached report for more information about ag commodities, including livestock, poultry, and eggs. This year OSU Extension is again partnering with the Soil and Water Conservation District to host a Pond Clinic. It will be held on Tuesday, June 12, beginning at 6:30 pm. Pond owners and perspective pond owners are invited to the clinic being held at the Wallace Pond, located at 13231 State Route 309, west of Kenton. For more information about the clinic and speaker Dr. Eugene Braig, see the attached news release and flyer. If you have a pond, we hope to see you there so that you can learn from the expert and get your pond questions answered.
Agriculture Across Ohio Report
Other upcoming events include a Farm Bureau meeting Tuesday, June 5 at 6:30 pm at the Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Kenton; a Fairboard meeting Wednesday, June 6 at 7:00 pm at the fair office; Lamb weigh-in and tagging is Saturday, June 9 for the Hardin County Fair at 8:00-10:00 am at the fairgrounds; and the Hardin County Men’s Garden Club is meeting Monday, June 11 at 6:30 pm at the home of Gordon Kline in Kenton. For more information about the lamb weigh-in and tagging, go to https://hardin.osu.edu/news/market-lamb-weigh-intagging-0. For more information about ag crops, see the articles below.
Mark
Diseases of Wheat and Barley and Their Management with Fungicides – Pierce Paul
It is wet and rainy outside and the forecast calls for more rain throughout this the second week of May (May 14–19). Therefore, growers’ concerns about diseases and the need for fungicides are understandable. However, although most of our common diseases of small grain crops are favored by wet, humid conditions, it does not automatically mean that you have to apply a fungicide this week. The timing has to be correct to get the best results with the fungicide you apply, to protect the crop when it is most susceptible to the disease in question, and to attack the fungus when it is most vulnerable. Unfortunately, there is no single timing that works best for every single disease, as the growth stage at which the crop is most susceptible and the conditions under which the greatest damage occurs vary with the disease. Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-13/diseases-wheat-and-barley-and-their-management-fungicides to read more about diseases of wheat and barley.
Estimating Fiber Content of Alfalfa in the Field – Rory Lewandowski, Mark Sulc
Alfalfa stands in Ohio had a slow start this spring, but our recent change in weather is causing alfalfa development to move quickly. Stand growth is catching back up to where it would normally be at this time of year. As we approach the end of May many producers will be making harvest decisions. It is common for many growers to base harvest decisions primarily on alfalfa maturity; however, variable weather conditions affect the rate of bud and flower development in alfalfa and this method can be inaccurate. Estimating fiber content before harvest can be valuable to producers for making harvest timing and storage decisions. Traditional laboratory methods for estimating forage fiber content are often expensive and time consuming and are not practical as a tool for making harvest timing decisions in the field. To finish reading this article, click on https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-13/estimating-fiber-content-alfalfa-field.
Kudzu Bug Monitoring Update – Amy Raudenbush, Andy Michel, Kelley Tilmon
The kudzu bug is an insect pest that is not currently known to exist in Ohio; however, since its introduction to the United States in 2009, the distribution has been rapidly expanding. It is now found in Kentucky, and the I-75 corridor connects Ohio to the Southeastern US where it is very prevalent. The kudzu bug is a serious invasive pest of soybean causing a reduction to yield with heavy infestation. Both immature and adult kudzu bugs feed on soybean plants with piercing-sucking mouth parts. Adult kudzu bugs are globular and greenish-brown. In addition to soybean, the kudzu bug also feeds on the kudzu plant, an invasive weed. To read more about the Kudzu bug, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-12/kudzu-bug-monitoring-update.
Lady Landowners Leaving a Legacy – Amanda Douridas
Land is an important investment. One that is often passed down through generations. Farmland needs to be monitored and cared for to maintain the value and sustainability if it is to be enjoyed and profitable for future generations. Nearly 50% of landowners in Ohio are female. If you fall into this statistic and want to learn more about your land, farming and conservation practices and how to successfully pass it on to the next generation, this program is for you! Farming has changed dramatically over the last several decades. The thought of trying to understand it all can be overwhelming, especially if not actively farming. This series is designed to help female landowners understand critical conservation and farm management issues related to owning land. Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-12/lady-landowners-leaving-legacy for more information about this program.
Sidedressing Manure into Newly Planted and Emerged Corn – Glen Arnold
Ohio State University Extension has conducted manure research on growing crops for several years in an effort to make better use of the available nutrients. Incorporating manure into growing corn can boost crop yields, reduce nutrient losses, and give livestock producers or commercial manure applicators another window of time to apply manure to farm fields. Our research started with using manure tankers modified with narrow wheels and in recent years progressed to using drag hoses on emerged corn. We now feel confident that liquid livestock manure can be surface applied or incorporated into corn from the day of planting to the V4 stage of development. Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2018-14/sidedressing-manure-newly-planted-and-emerged-corn to read more about the results of this research.
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
