Month: June 2024

June 10, 2024

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Good afternoon,

As I write this edition of the Hardin County Agriculture and Natural Resources Update, The Ohio Crop Weather report estimates that 95% of the corn is planted and 88% of the soybeans are planted across the state. Wheat is turning and it won’t be long until harvest will be happening in the county. Hay is being made in between rains, and corn is being side dressed. Herbicides are being applied to help control weeds. For the period of April 15-30, Extension rainfall reporters recorded an average of 1.78 inches of rain in Hardin County. Last year, the average rainfall for the same period was 1.72 inches. Rainfall for the April 15-30 period is 0.12 inches less than the ten-year average rainfall during the same dates. See the attached Extension rainfall report for more information for this period. Since then, there has not been a shortage of rainfall in the county. If you have unwanted farm pesticides that you wish to dispose of, I have attached a news release about the Ohio Department of Agriculture “Clean Sweep” program, which will serve as a collection site at the Auglaize County Fairgrounds on August 14 from 9:00 am-3:00 pm.

Ohio Crop Weather

April 15-30 Rainfall Summary

Clean Sweep News Release

Tomorrow evening will be our Pond Clinic, sponsored by the Hardin Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and OSU Extension, Hardin County. It will be held on Tuesday, June 11, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Pond owners and prospective pond owners are invited to the clinic being held at the Liberty Conservation Club, 1552 State Route 235, Ada. Eugene Braig, Program Director, Aquatic Ecosystems from The Ohio State University Extension School of Environmental and Natural Resources will discuss weed management, fish stocking, and how to keep your pond ecosystem in balance so plants and fish co-exist. See the attached news release and flyer for more information. Although I have recently pulled the armyworm, black cutworm, and European Corn Borer traps from around the county, I have added corn earworm and western bean cutworm. You can read the attached fact sheets for more information about these corn pests.

Pond Clinic News Release

Pond Clinic Flyer

European Corn Borer Fact Sheet

Corn Earworm Fact Sheet

Western Bean Cutworm Fact Sheet

Our Hardin County OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers have been busy planning summer garden programs with events planned for “Raised Bed Gardening,” “Growing with Intentions,” and “Flower Arrangements” scheduled for the 3rd Tuesday 2024 Summer Garden Programs in the Friendship Gardens of Hardin County located in Kenton. See the attached news release and flyer to read more about these events. Also, they are planning “An Evening Garden Affair” with the topic of Agritourism – A Blooming Business scheduled for June 24 with a garden tour and program to follow in the Simon Kenton School. I have also attached a copy of this news release and flyer for those who may be interested in attending. Master Gardener Volunteers will be stationed around the Friendship Gardens at this event to help answer your garden questions.

Summer Garden Programs News Release

Summer Garden Programs Flyer

An Evening Garden Affair News Release

An Evening Garden Affair Flyer

It has been an honor to serve as the Hardin County Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator since June 3, 2013. However, after over 11 years in this role, and over 25 years teaching agricultural education and serving as a FFA Advisor, I have decided to retire. I will have 37 years in public education as I approach the age of 60 in October. I want to thank everyone for accepting me as your Extension Educator and for cooperating with all my program events, research projects, and trapping insects over the years. I will miss working with everyone and all the opportunities that Extension has provided for me to learn and grow in this position. My final day with OSU Extension will be June 30 and the University will be hiring another person to fill this position. Until then, I hope to see you soon at an event in the county as I prepare for this next phase of my life. I hope you take every opportunity to welcome the next individual in this position and until then, I wish you the best. As always, enjoy reading the articles from the CORN Newsletter below.

 

Yours in agriculture,

Mark

 

Regional Updates: May 28 – June 2, 2024 – Lee Beers, Gigi Neal, Jordan Penrose, Nick Eckel, Stephanie Karhoff

Planting progress is still variable across the state, but the weather last week provided another window for field activities. Hear from Ohio State University Extension Educators and Specialists on crop conditions and pest issues across the state. Read more at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2024-17/regional-updates-may-28-%E2%80%93-june-2-2024.

 

Rapid Growing Degree Day Accumulation in May – Aaron Wilson

Climate Summary: For May, temperatures averaged 2-6°F above the long-term mean (1991-2020). This led to a rapid accumulation of modified growing degree days, from 400-600 over the course of the month. This is 80-120 GDDs above the long-term mean for May with seasonal totals since April 1 now sitting between 600 and 1000 (north to south). Precipitation was highly variable. Parts of west central, northeast, and southeast counties only received 1-2” (50-75% of normal). Other areas including Marion/Wyandot/Crawford Counties, across southern Ohio, and from Canton to Steubenville picked up more than 5” (125-175% of normal). According to CoCoRaHS, a site near Withamsville in Clermont County received 6.93” in May. Even where precipitation was a bit on the lighter side, frequent rainy days plagued the region early in the month, with improvements in planting windows for northwest Ohio just before Memorial Day. Continue reading at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2024-17/rapid-growing-degree-day-accumulation-may.

 

Manure Science Review Coming Thursday August 6th – Glen Arnold

The annual Manure Science Review will be held on Tuesday, August 6th from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm at the Farm Science Review Molly Caren Agricultural Center 135 SR 38 NE, London, OH. Morning educational topics will include manure placement and subsurface drainage, 360-RAIN liquid manure application, and best manure application practices. Attendees will also hear about updates on the H2Ohio program. Read more about the field demonstrations and other items planned at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2024-17/manure-science-review-coming-thursday-august-6th.

 

Statewide Slug Monitoring Project – Update #3 – Amy Raudenbush, Maddie Brillhart, John Barker, Nic Baumer, Frank Becker, Lee Beers, Amanda Bennett, Dirk Dempsey, Amanda Douridas, Ken Ford, Seth Kannberg, Kendra Stahl, Jacob Winters, Ted Wiseman, Kelley Tilmon

As we move into June, we continue to receive reports of slug damage on soybeans across Ohio. Slugs are more likely to be found in no-till fields where cover crops are grown. Slugs feed directly on the soybean, causing both seed and foliar damage that can result in complete loss of the plant. Because slugs are nocturnal, when you scout your fields, slugs may not be present; however, you may see signs of slug feeding such as holes in the cotyledon or slime trails. You are more likely to find slugs actively present in your field if you scout early in the morning or on cloudy/rainy days. Finish reading at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2024-17/statewide-slug-monitoring-project-%E2%80%93-update-3.

 

Scouting Potato Leafhopper in Alfalfa – Kyle Verhoff, Curtis Young, Jason Hartschuh

With many looking to make first cutting alfalfa as soon as fields are fit and with others checking regrowth, we switch focus from one alfalfa pest to another. Potato leafhoppers (PLH) are a common alfalfa pest that arrives late into the first cutting, carried to Ohio fields by southern winds. The life cycle of PLH only takes around three weeks for the pest to reach maturity and there can be multiple, overlapping generations per year that can quickly become economically damaging. Click on https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2024-17/scouting-potato-leafhopper-alfalfa to read more about scouting potato leafhopper.

 

Lep Monitoring Network – Last week for Black Cutworm and True Armyworm Update # 7 – Stephanie Pflaum, Amy Raudenbush, Mark Badertscher, Lee Beers, Trevor Corboy, Dirk Dempsey, Mary Jo Hassen, Alan Leininger, Clifton Martin, Beth Scheckelhoff, Kyle Verhoff, Brooks Warner, Jacob Winters, Kayla Wyse, Curtis Young, Andy Michel, Kelley Tilmon

After rounding out our seventh and final week of monitoring for black cutworm and true armyworm in Ohio, it can be noted that this past week, Trumbull County saw the highest average of BCW pests, while Van Wert County has continued its streak of seeing the highest average of AMW pests. Despite nearing the end of the season for these pests, it should be noted that Van Wert saw a drastic jump in AMW pest numbers this past week, averaging a whopping 10.8 pests per trap, with the max number in one trap hitting 23 true armyworm moths. Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2024-17/lep-monitoring-network-%E2%80%93-last-week-black-cutworm-and-true to get the latest Lep Monitoring Network information.

 

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

AgriTourism – A Blooming Business

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Hardin County – The Hardin County OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers are hosting “An Evening Garden Affair” on Monday evening, June 24 at the Friendship Gardens of Hardin County located at 960 W. Kohler Street in Kenton. The event is from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and will feature Jessica Alger, Hardin County Master Gardener Volunteer intern and family owner-operator of Make a Bouquet U-Pick Flower Farm near Arlington.

There will be walking tours of the Friendship Gardens of Hardin County with light refreshments starting at 6:00 pm. Master Gardener Volunteers will be stationed in the Friendship Gardens to provide information. Garden tours may be cancelled in the case of inclement weather.

Participants will move to the Simon Kenton School building at 7:00 pm for the program speaker, Jessica Alger, family owner-operator of Make a Bouquet U-Pick Flower Farm near Arlington for her presentation about the latest trends in AgriTourism. Topics include What is AgriTourism? Examples of AgriTourism in the area and beyond; Flowers by Season; and Make a Bouquet U-Pick Flower Farm origin, history to present day along with the process, benefits, and challenges of owning your own business.

This event is free and open to the public, rain, or shine. Those who have an interest in gardening will not want to miss this event. Parking is available at the garden off West Kohler Street or in front of Simon Kenton School. For further information contact the OSU Extension office at 419-674-2297.

Summer Programs at the Friendship Gardens

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Hardin County – The Hardin County OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers are hosting three summer garden programs at the Friendship Gardens of Hardin County located at 960 W. Kohler Street in Kenton. The programs will begin with an event on “Raised Bed Gardening” on June 18, “Growing with Intentions” on July 16, and another on “Flower Arrangements” on August 20. All programs will begin at 6:00 pm and end by 7:00 pm.

“Raised Bed Gardening” will be the topic on June 18. Master Gardener Volunteer Stewart Coats will present how to construct a raised bed garden, bed depth based on plants to be planted, and where they should be located. Also, he will speak about what kind of soil, fertilizer, best plants to grow in raised beds, and how to water to be successful with this type of gardening.

“Growing with Intentions” will be the topic on July 16. Jessica Alger and her family run Make a Bouquet U-Pick Fields, a flower farm near Arlington. Her program will talk about the meaning of different flowers. Did you know that some flowers symbolize prosperity or appreciation and some mean jealousy? Jessica will demonstrate making a bouquet and will bring flowers for a limited number of participants to make their own bouquet at minimal cost.

“Flower Arrangements” will be the topic on August 20. Brandy Hunsaker of Farmyard 1832, which is a 7-acre flower farm in Hardin County that grows fresh cut flowers for bouquets, arrangements, and events will present a program on flowers to put in arrangements. Brandy and her family are about spreading joy throughout the community and making long lasting relationships.

These events are free to attend and open to the public, rain or shine with the featured program inside the shelter house at the Friendship Gardens with seating. Registration is not necessary to attend. Master Gardener Volunteers will be stationed throughout the Friendship Gardens before and after the programs to answer your gardening questions. All interested gardeners are encouraged to attend.