Good afternoon,
First of all, I want to congratulate the families of Dean and Barbara Dulin, Madelyn Lowery, Fred Rarey, and Mark Watkins for their induction Tuesday evening into the Hardin County Agriculture Hall of Fame. I wasn’t feeling well that evening but the banquet went on as planned thanks to the work of the committee members who stepped up and took care of things. I also want to take the time to show my appreciation to the Hardin County agricultural community who attended the banquet to show their support of these deserving individuals. It is never too early to nominate someone for 2020, so if you have someone in mind, stop by the Extension office for an application or go to hardin.osu.edu for a downloadable and fillable form.
Tonight is the Farm Bill Update meeting to find out about the changes in the ARC and PLC program for the next five years. A Farm Bill Update meeting for farmers has been planned for Thursday, December 5 at Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative, 1210 W Lima Street, Kenton. The meeting will begin at 6:30 pm and end at 8:30 pm. The 2018 Farm Bill allows the choice to enroll in ARC or PLC for 2019-2023. Enrollment for 2019 is currently open with the deadline set as March 15, 2020. Join OSU Extension and the Farm Service Agency for an informational meeting to learn about changes to the ARC/PLC, important dates and deadlines, crop insurance – supplemental coverage option, and using decision tools to evaluate program choices to make informed program decisions. See the attached flyer for more details. If you are not able to attend tonight’s meeting, there are many other meetings being held in other counties planned that you can attend listed on the attached press release. If you plan to attend tonight, there is overflow parking if needed at both Ag Credit and the Ag Center. Please do not park on the grass at Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative.
Hardin Co Farm Bill Training Flyer
OSU County Farm Bill Meetings Press Release
As harvest draws to a close on this unusual growing season, we look back at what we did to be successful in this difficult year. OSU Extension tried to be responsive to this Ag Crisis by providing a Cover Crops for Prevented Planting meeting along with the Ohio No-Till Council back in June at ONU in Ada. Statewide, we had an Ag Crisis website to help answer producers’ questions and we informed farmers of options through our newsletters. This is a year for all of us to learn from, so if you would please complete the attached 2019 Yield Survey about this crop year, we will be better prepared to help if this type of year happens again. You can also access the survey at go.osu.edu/yield19 by December 31. Now is also the time to take a look at cash rents for cropland. I have attached a copy of the annual OSU Western Ohio Cropland Values and Cash Rents fact sheet that may help you with this process. Be sure to use Table 2 for Northwest Ohio when reviewing Hardin County values as recorded by this survey.
OSU Western Ohio Cropland Values and Cash Rents
Other attached information you might be interested in includes an article I wrote about the Sheep and Agriculture Tour of Argentina. If you are part of a group and would like me to do a presentation about this trip, be sure to contact me to set up a date. I have also included a farm stress fact sheet from Michigan State University Extension regarding “Opioids in Rural Farming Communities.” There are also some articles that I included below from our OSU Extension newsletters that you may like to read. Other upcoming local events include Ag Council breakfast tomorrow morning (12/6) starting at 7:30 am with information to share on 2020 Corn, Soybean, and Wheat Budgets at the Kenton McDonalds. There are Jr. Fair Livestock Sale Committee and other Livestock Committee meetings being held Wednesday, December 11 starting at 6:30 pm at the Hardin County Fair office.
International Sheep Tour News Release
Opioids In Rural Farming Communities Fact Sheet
Mark
2019 Ohio Corn Performance Test: Regional Overviews – Rich Minyo, Allen Geyer, David Lohnes, Peter Thomison
In 2019, 163 corn hybrids representing 20 commercial brands were evaluated in the Ohio Corn Performance Test (OCPT). Four tests were established in the Southwestern/West Central/Central (SW/WC/C) region and three tests were established in the Northwestern (NW) and North Central/Northeastern (NC/NE) regions (for ten test sites statewide). Hybrid entries in the regional tests were planted in either an early or a full season maturity trial. These test sites provided a range of growing conditions and production environments. Find out more information at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2019-40/2019-ohio-corn-performance-test-regional-overviews.
Precision University: Combating Compaction – Amanda Douridas
The fall of 2018 and spring of 2019 created some less than ideal conditions for field work leaving many farmers concerned with field compaction. This concern is justified as compaction can significantly reduce yields. Compaction has been a concern for many years as equipment size grows, increasing axle weight. Researchers have been conducting on-farm trials comparing farming practices to uncover ways farmers can reduce compaction. Comparisons include tires and tracks, equipment size and tillage practices. At the 2020 Precision University, OSU Extension has invited in some of the leading experts from across North America on compaction research and management. Read more about this year’s Precision U at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2019-40/precision-university-combating-compaction.
Certified Crop Adviser Pre-Exam Training to be held January 8 & 9 – Harold Watters
The Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) Exam Training program, sponsored and delivered by members of the OSU Agronomic Crops Team, will be offered at the Shelby County Ag Building, 810-820 Fair Rd, Sidney, Ohio 45365 on January 8th and 9th beginning at 9:00 a.m. on the 8th and adjourn by 5:00 p.m. on the 9th. This is an intensive two-day workshop somewhat directed toward the local exam – to be used as a reminder on what best to study in preparation for the CCA exams. The price for the exam preparation class is $250. More details about the CCA exam training can be found at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2019-40/certified-crop-adviser-pre-exam-training-be-held-january-8-9.
Field Drying and Harvest Losses in Corn – Peter Thomison
According to the USDA/NASS (https://www.nass.usda.gov/) as of Sunday, Oct. 27th, 37 percent of Ohio’s corn was harvested for grain, compared to 62 percent for last year and 56 percent for the five-year average. Late corn plantings and sporadic rain in some areas are not helping with field drying. Some growers are delaying harvest until grain moisture drops further. However, these delays increase the likelihood that stalk rots present in many fields will lead to stalk lodging problems. Leaving corn to dry in the field exposes a crop to unfavorable weather conditions, as well as wildlife damage. A crop with weak plant integrity is more vulnerable to yield losses from stalk lodging and ear drop when weathering conditions occur. Additional losses may occur when ear rots reduce grain quality and can lead to significant dockage when the grain is marketed. Some ear rots produce mycotoxins, which may cause major health problems if fed to livestock. Find out more about this topic at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2019-37/field-drying-and-harvest-losses-corn.
2019 Ohio Soybean Performance Trial- All Yield Results Available – Laura Lindsey, Wayde Looker
All yield results of the 2019 Ohio Soybean Performance Trials are available online here: https://stepupsoy.osu.edu/news/2019-ohio-soybean-performance-trial-all-yield-results-available. The report will be updated with seed size, protein, and oil results in the upcoming weeks.
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
