October 30, 2020

Good afternoon,

Harvest has continued throughout the county, although slowed by recent rains.  The most recent attached Ohio Crop Weather report for October 26 puts soybeans harvested at 73% and corn harvested at 32% across the state.  In Hardin County during the month of September, Extension volunteer rainfall reporters received an average of 4.77 inches of rain.  The most rain for this month, 7.92 inches, fell in Taylor Creek Township, as measured by Silver Creek Supply.  The least rain reported during the month, 2.60 inches, was reported in Jackson Township by Rick Weber.  During the same month last year, an average of 2.82 inches of rain fell.  The rainfall recorded in September over the past ten years averaged 3.53 inches.  For more local rainfall information, see the attached September 2020 rainfall summary.  The combination of high temperatures and dry conditions are the perfect conditions for field fires and combine fires during harvest, as were the conditions earlier in the month.  See the attached news release for tips to avoid combine fires.

Ohio Crop Weather Report

September Rainfall Summary

Combine Fires News Release

A total of 80 fields were surveyed in Hardin County this fall when I conducted the annual county weed survey on September 24.  Waterhemp was found to be a problem in 35% of these fields, marestail (19%), giant ragweed (16%), velvetleaf (10%), giant foxtail/grasses (6%), common lambsquarter (6%), volunteer corn (6%), and redroot pigweed (4%).  The highest degree of infestation in individual fields was redroot pigweed, common lambsquarter, waterhemp, and marestail. Thirty-six percent (36%) of the 80 soybean fields surveyed were found to be weed-free which was an improvement over 2019.  For more details about this annual survey, read the attached County Weed Survey News Release.  I have also included another popular Extension bulletin, the Ohio Farm Custom Rates 2020 to this edition of the Hardin County Agriculture and Natural Resources Update.  This handy reference contains the rates paid for custom farm work done by others around Ohio and gives up-to-date ranges that are being charged for these services.

County Weed Survey News Release

Ohio Farm Custom Rates

OSU Extension and Ohio Dairy Producers Association is offering a Dairy Outlook & Risk Management Webinars series November 5, 17, and 24 from noon-1:00 pm.  These webinars are free to attend and include the topics “Milk pricing during an uncharacteristic 2020,” “Domestic and international dairy market outlook,” and “Risk Management Tools: Dairy Margin Coverage, Futures and Options, Livestock Gross Margin Coverage, and Dairy Revenue Protection.”  See the attached Dairy Risk Management Series flyer for registration information.  Another free webinar series that you won’t want to miss is the 2020  Agricultural Policy and Outlook Conference being held November 9, 10, 12, and 13 from 12:00-2:00 pm.  Organizers of the 2020 Agricultural Policy and Outlook Conference hosted by the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics (AEDE) at The Ohio State University, say the aim of this year’s conference is to offer much-needed insight to those involved in the agricultural industry during a time marked with so much global uncertainty. Past attendees, ranging from producers to consumers and agribusinesses leaders to elected officials, say the annual conference provides information and outlooks that influence their businesses and decision-making processes.  For details about how to register, see the attached news release, flyer, agenda, and session descriptions for this year’s conference being presented free of charge.

Dairy Risk Management Webinar Series

Agricultural Policy and Outlook Conference News Release

Ag Outlook and Policy Flyer

Agricultural Policy and Outlook Conference

Agricultural Policy and Outlook Conference Session Descriptions

Finally, I would like to find out how your harvest is going so far this fall.  Plan to join us for our monthly Virtual Ag Coffee Hour on Friday, November 6 starting at 8:00 am for a local discussion of county agriculture issues and I also plan to share information about the latest Western Ohio Cropland Values and Cash Rents.  You can join us on your computer at https://osu.zoom.us/j/97176748384?pwd=Q2xzUlVyZkQwT3dCRUJIcE5uM1J5Zz09 or call (312) 626 6799 using the Meeting ID: 971 7674 8384 and Password: 6565125.  I hope harvest continues to be a safe one and have provided some articles below for you to read if you are interested.

 

Mark

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Planting Fall Cover Crops – Sarah Noggle, Rachel Cochran

We are now approaching the time of year to think about planting fall cover crops. Cover crops can serve many purposes, ranging from erosion control to nutrient sequestration. Depending on the type and species of cover crop, benefits range from providing a Nitrogen source, scavenging nutrients to decrease leaching potential, acting as a soil builder, preventing erosion, fighting weeds, acting as a forage, conserving soil moisture, and enhancing wildlife habitats. Read more at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2020-37/planting-fall-cover-crops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall-Applied Herbicides: Odds and Ends – Mark Loux

A commonly asked question about fall herbicides – how late in the fall can herbicides be applied and at what point is it too cold to apply?  We have applied well into December under some very cold conditions and still obtained effective control of winter annuals.  We suggest applying before Thanksgiving and aiming for a stretch of warmer weather if possible, but the effective treatments should work regardless.  Extended periods of freezing weather will cause the perennials to shut down – dandelion, thistle, dock.  Continue reading about fall-applied herbicides at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2020-37/fall-applied-herbicides-odds-and-ends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) has Made Itself at Home in Ohio – Anne Dorrance

This invasive species has adapted quite well to Ohio conditions, and is unfortunately doing very well in some fields based on egg counts.  We are wrapping up intensive sampling of Ohio Fields from the support of the soybean check-off through Ohio Soybean Council and United Soybean Board.   To date, 566 samples were submitted from 34 counties.  From these, 33.7% had populations of 200 eggs or more. There were 7.6% in the high range (>5,000 eggs per cup of soil), which are associated with significant yield losses. Find out more about SCN at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2020-37/soybean-cyst-nematode-scn-has-made-itself-home-ohio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Safety’s Sake: Don’t Take Drying Shortcuts with Stored Corn – Dee Jepsen, Lisa Pfeifer

Wet weather conditions are causing concerns with the 2020 corn crop going into storage. Proper management of stored grain will be the key to eliminating risks to human health and safety later in the season. Grain that goes into the bin with higher moisture content presents a host of possible issues. It can freeze or bind. Mold issues can arise. An environment susceptible to insect problems can be created. Higher volumes of bin fines can result. All of these issues ultimately affect grain flow efficiencies, which can lead to a number of safety hazards. These conditions can cause grain to become bridged or line the sidewall of the bin, resulting in the need for bin entry into an unstable environment. Finish reading this article at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2020-37/safety%E2%80%99s-sake-don%E2%80%99t-take-drying-shortcuts-stored-corn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agricultural Policy and Outlook Conference – Ben Brown

On November 9th-13th, OSU’s College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences will host the Agricultural Policy and Outlook Conference. The conference will be a series of two-hour online webinars Nov. 9, 10, 12 and 13. Each day will focus on a different topic. Nov. 9 will be on agriculture finance, Nov. 10, agricultural and environmental policy; Nov. 12, agricultural trade and the health of the U.S. economy; and Nov. 13, grain, livestock and consumer demand projections. Agricultural economists from CFAES will speak along with other experts from Washington D.C., other leading land grant institutions, and the Federal Reserve System. The webinars begin at noon and include a daily panel discussion that starts at 1 p.m. and invites people in the audience to ask questions. Read more about this conference at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2020-37/agricultural-policy-and-outlook-conference.

 

 

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