August 26, 2020

Good afternoon,

The past couple of weeks, Water Quality Extension Associate Boden Fisher and I have been doing yield checks around the county in corn and soybean fields.  We have seen some variable fields, with everything from poor pollination and tip die back in corn and short, but bushy soybeans with several pods.  Rains in late July and early August seemed to help with putting on pods but we are now dry again.  Join us for our Virtual Ag Coffee Hour on Friday, September 4 to discuss crop production around the county and I plan to share some videos we made for the Farm Science Review that document these yield checks.  You can connect to this 8:00 am meeting on Zoom by clicking on https://osu.zoom.us/j/99905170782?pwd=MjFGdWZ1bXlBUGtyZUQ0U2ROQk83Zz09 or join us by calling in by dialing (646) 876-9923 and using Meeting ID: 999 0517 0782 and Password: 431218.  We hope you are able to join us.

Approximately 65 percent of the state was abnormally dry or worse, according to the most recent Drought Monitor.  During the week, farmers harvested corn silage, hauled manure, mowed wheat stubble to control weeds, and installed tile.  Soybeans blooming reached 100 percent while soybeans setting pods was at 93 percent, ahead of the five-year average by 8 percentage points. Corn dough was at 81 percent, 8 percentage points ahead of the five-year average. Other hay second cutting was at 90 percent and other hay third cutting was at 57 percent.  Find out more information by checking out the August 24 Ohio Crop Weather report that is attached.  During the month of July, Extension rainfall reporters recorded an average of 2.54 inches of rain in Hardin County.  Last year, the average rainfall for July was 3.96 inches.  Low amounts of rainfall in June and July has had an adverse effect on crops in Hardin County as some areas were listed for moderate drought by the U.S. Drought Monitor.  This has caused crops in these areas to need more rain at a crucial time during the growing season.   Read more about Hardin County rainfall in the attached July 2020 Extension Rainfall Summary.

Ohio Crop Weather Report

July 2020 Rainfall Summary

As you can imagine, heat stress is an issue and I am sure you have experienced your share of heat if you have been outside working recently.  I have attached an article titled “Farm Workers at Increased Risk this Summer” that discussed this very topic.  Hopefully temperatures will cool down in a couple weeks for the Hardin County Fair.  In case you haven’t heard, this year’s county fair is Jr. Fair only and attendance is limited to exhibitors and their families.  Shows and the sale will be live streamed so that people will be able to watch from the safety of their homes.  As a result, the annual Hardin County Carcass Show of Champions will be virtual in 2020.  Instead of attending an actual event, exhibitors and others will be able to view the carcass show online when it becomes available after September 18.  Viewers will be able to watch the OSU Meat Judge giving reasons and results at both the Hardin County OSU Extension and Ohio State – Hardin County 4-H Facebook pages in addition to the hardin.osu.edu website.  The carcass show will evaluate the meat value of the grand champion and reserve champion steers, barrows, gilts, and lambs from this year’s Hardin County Fair.  See the attached news release and flyer for more details.

Heat Stress News Release

Carcass Show News Release

2020 Carcass Show Flyer

Do you still need to get your Pesticide or Fertilizer recertification from 2020?  The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), has partnered with the OSU Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) to offer online recertification for applicators whose licenses expire this year and have been unable recertify as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Registration for the private pesticide and agricultural fertilizer programs are currently available at pested.osu.edu/onlinerecert.  Online commercial pesticide recertification has been available from the same site since August 10.  For additional information regarding online recertification or assistance with the online registration and payment process, please contact the OSU Pesticide Safety Education Program at 614-292-4070.   Private pesticide and fertilizer applicators who do not wish to recertify online for 2020 should contact the Hardin County OSU Extension office to make an appointment to recertify at the local office by calling Mark Badertscher at 419-767-6037.  If you recall, the deadline was extended for renewing pesticide and fertilizer licenses as a result of the state of emergency in Ohio.  You can read more information in the attached news release.

Pesticide-Fertilizer Make-up News Release

Upcoming programs include a Virtual Pumpkin Field Day being held Thursday, August 27, 6-7 PM.  Beginner, experienced and curious growers welcome as subjects include Insect Management Tips, Powdery Mildew Management Update, Mustard Cover Crop / Biofumigation Update, Hybrid Pumpkin/Squash Trial (Video & 3D model), and Herbicide Weed Screen and Reflex Label Update.  See the attached flyer for details about how to connect.  There is a Fall Fruit Research Updates and Live Q & A taking place on Wednesday, September 9 from 10-11:30 AM.  This virtual program will feature Brambles (Blackberries and Raspberries) Grapes, Hardy Figs, and Hardy Kiwis so see the attached flyer if you are interested in participating.  Finally, I have attached a fact sheet about our Water Quality Extension Associates in case you are interested in talking with Boden Fisher regarding cover crop research starting this fall.  In addition, I have included some ag crops articles from the CORN Newsletter below.  Take care and I hope to see you soon.

2020 Pumpkin Field Day Flyer

Fall Fruit Research Q A

Water Quality Extension Associates

 

Mark

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making Corn Silage in Dry Conditions – Bill Weiss

The primary goal of making corn silage is to preserve as many nutrients in the corn plant as possible, to produce a feed that is acceptable to cows, and to minimize any risks associated with feeding the silage.  The following are important considerations for making corn silage when growing conditions have been dry. Read this article at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2020-28/making-corn-silage-dry-conditions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preharvest Herbicide Treatments – Mark Loux

Information on preharvest herbicide treatments for field corn and soybeans can be found in the “Weed Control Guide for Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois”, at the end of these crop sections (pages 72 and 143 of the 2020 edition).  Products listed for corn include Aim, glyphosate, and paraquat, and for soybeans include Aim, paraquat, glyphosate, and Sharpen.  Some dicamba products are also approved for preharvest use in soybeans, and some 2,4-D products are approved for use in corn, and these are not listed in the guide.  Read more at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2020-28/preharvest-herbicide-treatments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Late Season Forage Harvest Management – Mark Sulc

The best time to take a last harvest of alfalfa and other legumes is sometime in early September in Ohio, for the least risk to the long-term health of the stand. These forages need a fall period of rest to replenish carbohydrate and protein reserves in the taproots that are used for winter survival and regrowth next spring. Continue reading this article at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2020-28/late-season-forage-harvest-management.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is Required Before You Sell Your Field Harvested Seed in Ohio – Mark Sulc

This is the time of year we often hear of Ohio producers considering seed harvests of red clover or other crops (e.g. cover crop seed). If the intention is to sell that seed, even if just “across the fence” to a neighbor,  it is important to be reminded there is a permitting process that must be followed before any seed can be sold in order to stay legal with state and federal laws related to seed sales and consumer protection. Finish reading this article at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2020-28/what-required-you-sell-your-field-harvested-seed-ohio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cover Crop Driving Tour – Amanda Douridas

Local farmers invite you out to their farms for a Drive-It-Yourself tour of fields with growing cover crops. These three farms are located in Northern Champaign and Logan Counties and are planted to different species of cover crops after wheat. The farmers will be on hand to answer questions and discuss how they adopted cover crops and make it work for their operations. You can find out more about this driving tour at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2020-28/cover-crop-driving-tour.

 

Mark A. Badertscher

Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator

OSU Extension Hardin County

1021 W. Lima Street, Suite 103, Kenton, OH 43326

419-767-6037

hardin.osu.edu