Author: Mark Badertscher

Summer Garden Programs

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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 “Hugelkulture” on June 15, “Worm Composting” on July 20, and another on “Growing Cabbage, Broccoli, and Kohlrabi” on August 17.

Learn about Hugelkulture on Thursday, June 15 from 6:00-7:00 pm. Hugelkulture is a centuries old traditional way of building a garden bed from rotten logs and plant debris. This program will be presented by Hardin County OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Kim Thomas.

A great way to make the richest and cheapest compost for all your garden plants is to practice Worm Composting. Join Hardin County OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Kim Thomas on Thursday, July 20 from 6:00-7:00 pm for this educational program to enhance your garden’s soil.

Want to know the best techniques for growing cabbage, broccoli, and kohlrabi? Learn the tricks on how to grow these delicious vegetables, and tips on how to keep them pest and disease free. This program will be held Thursday, August 17 from 6:00-7:00 pm and will be presented by Hardin County OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Stewart Coats.

These events are free 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.

May 19, 2023

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Good afternoon,

Good to see that the weather is finally cooperating with spring planting after some field work allowed for early planting in mid-April. According to the attached May 15 Ohio Crop Weather report, 26% of corn was planted and 28% of soybean was planted a week ago. Winter wheat is mostly rated in good condition with this spring’s cooler temperatures and wet weather. As of April 30, Hardin County township rainfall reporters recorded only 1.72 inches of rain from April 15-30, but frequent rains in early May and cool temperatures slowed down evaporation rates. See the April Extension Rainfall Report for more information.

Ohio Crop Weather

April 15-30 Rainfall Summary

Recent news articles that I have included with this edition of the Hardin County Agriculture and Natural Resources Update include topics such as scouting for Alfalfa Weevil, Soybean Cyst Nematode sampling, and Planting Considerations for Corn and Soybean. If you are a gardener, I have included an article about free Ohio Victory Garden Seeds that are available at the Extension office, and an article and flyer about our OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers Plant Sale that is taking place tomorrow morning at the Friendship Gardens located at 960 W Kohler Street in Kenton from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.

Alfalfa Weevil News Release

Soybean Cyst Nematode Sampling News Release

Corn-Soybean Planting Recommendations News Release

Victory Gardens News Release

Hardin County Plant Sale News Release

MGV Plant Sale Flyer 2023

Upcoming webinars and events that you may be interested in include a free webinar series beginning next week on Solar Development in Ohio for which I have attached an article and flyer with details about how you can register to listen in on this free program while you are working in the fields or from the comfort of your office. Topics include Solar Development Overview and Trends, Leasing Land for Solar Development, Connecting to the Electric Grid, Solar Project Approval in Ohio, and Construction and Post-Construction. Registration and additional information about the free Zoom webinar series is available at go.osu.edu/solarwebinars. Those unable to attend can view webinar recordings on the Farm Office energy law library at https://farmoffice.osu.edu/our-library/energy-law.

Solar Development Webinars News Release

Solar Development Webinars Flyer

The next Ag Council breakfast meeting will take place Friday morning, June 2 starting at 7:30 am at the Kenton McDonalds restaurant. Join us this coming month for a roundtable discussion on the spring planting season and get updated on agricultural issues and events. I hope the weather cooperates with you from this point forward and wish you a safe spring planting season. As provided in the past, I have included some ag crops articles from the CORN Newsletter that you may be interested in reading.

 

Mark

 

If You Planted and Heavy Rainfall Affected Your Fields…  – Osler Ortez, Laura Lindsey

According to the USDA-NASS report for the week ending 05/14/23, 26% of Ohio’s corn and 28% of Ohio’s soybean acres were planted. About 8% of corn and soybean was reported emerged. Ohio’s planting (and emergence) progress is coming along for both corn and soybean crops. However, there are still significant acreages to be planted yet, and weather does not always help. Heavy rainfall (1-2 inches of rain) events were reported for some areas of Ohio last week. Heavy rainfall can negatively affect planted and emerged fields, planted and non-emerged fields, and yet-to-be-planted fields. If you are in one of the areas with concerns about heavy rainfall, read about how to manage these issues at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2023-14/if-you-planted-and-heavy-rainfall-affected-your-fields%E2%80%A6

 

Forage Maturity Across Ohio – Jason Hartschuh, Amanda Douridas, Kendall Lovejoy, Carri Jagger, Beth Scheckelhoff, Ed Lentz, Les Ober

Warm weather this spring especially over the last couple of weeks has rapidly progressed forage maturity. Harvesting forages at the proper time for the livestock you are feeding is critical to farm profitability. Poor quality forages must be supplemented to maintain livestock. In the southern part of the state, many forage grasses are in head while in the northern part of the state, some species are in head but most are still in the vegetative stage but will be in head within a week. Read more at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2023-14/forage-maturity-across-ohio.

 

Interested in Soil Health? Learn together with OSU Extension – Jason Hartschuh, Elizabeth Hawkins, Amanda Douridas

Improving soil health can provide a variety of benefits including improved water infiltration, increased water holding capacity, and increased nutrient availability. However, it can be challenging to quantify these benefits in the field. With funding from Ohio Soybean Checkoff, the eFields program is continuing an effort to help better understand how management practices influence soil health and ultimately crop yields. OSU Extension has worked to identify a few soil tests that can provide helpful indicators of improved soil health. We are looking for farmers interested in soil health and who want to participate in a statewide field survey collecting soil health data from fields under various management practices, specifically conventional tillage, no-till, manure application, and cover cropping. Find out how to get involved at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2023-14/interested-soil-health-learn-together-osu-extension.

 

Lep Monitoring Network Update #2 – Black Cutworm & True Armyworm – Amy Raudenbush, Kylie Harbert, Suranga Basnagala , Mark Badertscher, Lee Beers, CCA, Trevor Corboy, Dirk Dempsey, Jamie Hampton, Alan Leininger, Clifton Martin, CCA, Beth Scheckelhoff, Curtis Young, CCA, Kelley Tilmon, Andy Michel

We are currently in our second week of monitoring for black cutworm (BCW) and true armyworm (AMW) moths in Ohio. Both moths are early season pests in Ohio that migrate to the state and lay eggs in fields. Once the eggs hatch, the caterpillars cause damage to the emerging corn plants. Counties with high trap catches should be prepared to scout high risk fields. In addition to BCW and AMW, European corn borer (IA & NY) traps were set last week and numbers will be reported in next week’s newsletter. Go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2023-14/lep-monitoring-network-update-2-%E2%80%93-black-cutworm-true-armyworm to learn more about this effort.

 

Cressleaf Groundsel Identification – Alyssa Essman

Fields of yellow flowers can be found all over the state. Issues with cressleaf groundsel can bring about questions concerning toxicity to livestock. Previous C.O.R.N. articles have covered management and can be found at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2023-08/cressleaf-groundsel-scouting. Cressleaf groundsel may be confused with members of the mustard family, or other species with yellow flowers that bloom this time of year. Below are some key ID characteristics and pictures that can be helpful in differentiating cressleaf groundsel from other species. To continue with identifying this weed, go to https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2023-13/cressleaf-groundsel-identification.

 

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

Master Gardener Annual Plant Sale

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Hardin County – The 18th Annual Hardin County Master Gardener Plant Sale will be from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm on Saturday, May 20 rain or shine at the Friendship Gardens of Hardin County. The Friendship Gardens of Hardin County is located behind the old HARCO Workshop Building, 960 W Kohler Street in Kenton. Follow the signs to the parking that is available at the garden.

In addition to plants and garden items supplied by the Hardin County OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, there will also be the Hardin County Men’s Garden Club and vendor Star Farms Native Plants at this annual event with plants for sale. In the past, the public has been able to find a wide choice of their favorite flowers, bedding plants, roses, herbs, trees, and various other potted plants at this event.

Sharing from their own knowledge and experience, gardeners from the OSU Extension Hardin County Master Gardener Volunteers, Hardin County Men’s Garden Club and vendor Star Farms Native Plants will be on hand to answer questions and provide advice for a successful gardening year. In addition, free packets of Ohio Victory Gardens seeds provided by the Ohio Department of Agriculture will be available.

Make sure you put Saturday, May 20 on your calendar to attend. Hopefully the weather will cooperate, and conditions will be more suitable for planting by the date of this year’s plant sale. The OSU Extension Hardin County Master Gardener Volunteers look forward to seeing you at the Friendship Gardens once again this year. Come early as noted in the past, the event has been popular, and plants go fast. So, bring your boxes and wagons, and get your green thumb on for the new planting season!

Ohio Victory Gardens Offers Free Seeds

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Hardin County – It’s time once again to get your hands dirty and start growing! The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) and Ohio State University Extension offices are kicking off the fourth year of the Ohio Victory Gardens program. Due to high demand, the program has expanded to include 50 counties, up from 42 counties last year. Thousands of seed sample kits are available for free to the public to get people planting.

Specific days and times for each office are available on the Ohio Victory Gardens website, as well as planting resources and information. Hardin County OSU Extension will make available Ohio Victory Garden seed packets containing a combination of carrots, cucumber, lettuce, and sunflowers. Seeds are currently available at the Hardin County OSU Extension Office, 1021 W Lima Street in Kenton and will also be available at its annual Master Gardener Volunteers Plant Sale being held Saturday, May 20 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm in the Friendship Gardens of Hardin County located at 960 W Kohler Street in Kenton.

Victory Gardens originated during World War I, an answer to a severe food shortage at the time. People were encouraged to find any usable space, plop in some seeds, and contribute homegrown fruits, vegetables, and herbs to the effort. The idea was wildly successful, growing an army of amateur gardeners and serving to boost morale and patriotism.

While we’re not in wartime, we can all commiserate the past few months have been tough, mood-boosters are welcomed. So, the Ohio Department of Agriculture and Ohio State University are reviving the effort and once again inspiring people to get their hands dirty, realize the fruits of their labor and share with others if inspired. We believe a good day in the garden is good for the soul.

The Victory Gardens Program offers a full website with details on seed distribution, advice, and resources on every aspect of planting and harvesting produce at https://u.osu.edu/ohiovictorygardens/ online. All Victory Gardens participants will be eligible to win a free starter gardening toolkit by completing a short online survey to enter.

 

Article written by Ohio Department of Agriculture and edited by Mark Badertscher-OSU Extension, Hardin County

Pesticide & Fertilizer Recertification Training

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Hardin County – Some farmers have received a notice that informs them that their current pesticide and/or fertilizer applicator licenses will expire at the end of March 2023 and that they must complete their continuing education hours to renew before this date. Thirty dollars is sent to the Ohio Department of Agriculture in Reynoldsburg to renew the license and $35 to OSU Extension for the pesticide continuing education requirement. If fertilizer recertification is needed, the cost to OSU Extension is $10 for the fertilizer continuing education requirement.

Farmers must have a private applicator license to apply restricted use pesticides on their farm or for an employer’s crops. A commercial license is required for individuals who apply products on fields other than their own or as a business. The Environmental Protection Agency determines whether a product is designated restricted or general use. Restricted use products may be organic or traditional pesticides.

To obtain a private pesticide applicator license, farmers must pass a series of exams that test their competency in pesticide safety and application knowledge. They also must be certified in one or more of seven categories in addition to Core knowledge. These categories include Grain and Cereal Crops, Forage Crops and Livestock, Fruit and Vegetable Crops, Nursery and Forest Crops, Greenhouse Crops, Fumigation, and Specialty Uses.

Farmers must have a private fertilizer applicator license if they apply fertilizer on 50 or more acres of crops grown for sale. This does not include crops that are used on the farm for their livestock or fertilizer used through the planter. It does include fertilizer applied in the fall, pre-plant, or side dressing. If fertilizer is applied by a commercial applicator, the farmer does not need to have fertilizer certification. Like pesticide applications, there must be record keeping of fertilizer applied to the farmer’s crops that can be requested by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. If an applicator does not have a fertilizer license and needs one, they can attend a three-hour training to become certified or study the fertilizer manual and take a test on their own.

A license must be renewed every three years. A farmer can meet this requirement by completing three hours of approved pesticide continuing education anytime during the three year period and one hour of fertilizer continuing education during the same three year period. Recertification training emphasizes effective management strategies that enhance crop productivity, encourage responsible use of products, and promote safe practices for applicators, the public, and the environment. OSU Extension offices are currently offering recertification programs to fulfill the three hours of the pesticide continuing education requirement and additional one hour of the fertilizer continuing education requirement for license renewal. An applicator may also choose to retest every three years to renew a private pesticide or fertilizer license in place of recertification training.

Hardin County Pesticide and Fertilizer Recertification programs will be offered Monday, March 6 at the Plaza Inn Restaurant in Mt. Victory. The pesticide recertification session will begin at 9:00 am and end at 12:00 pm. This session is for private applicators and will consist of Core, Grain and Cereal Crops, Forage Crops and Livestock, and Fumigation. A lunch option will be made available at the Plaza Inn Restaurant for additional cost. The fertilizer recertification will start at 1:00 pm and end at 2:00 pm. Farmers need to call the Extension office at 419-674-2297, or stop by at 1021 W. Lima Street, Suite 103 in Kenton to pre-register. An option to pre-register online is available at https://go.osu.edu/HardinPAT-FACT. Further information regarding make-up or specialty recertification in other areas can be obtained by contacting the Extension office by March 24.

Both pesticide and fertilizer recertification for make-up and/or specialty categories will be offered on March 28, from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm at the Extension office in Kenton. Pre-registration is required by calling the Hardin County Extension office. Be sure to include pesticide categories needed and whether fertilizer recertification is needed. On March 28, pesticide recertification will begin at 9:00 am for three hours, followed by an hour of fertilizer recertification at 1:00 pm. Seating is limited to 25 people at the Extension office.

Training dates for commercial pesticide applicators can be found at http://pested.osu.edu/commercialapplicator. Training dates for Private Pesticide Applicators for other counties in Ohio may be found at http://pested.osu.edu/privateapplicator. The commercial and private applicator licenses are a way that commercial pesticide applicators and farmers show good stewardship in caring for our land and producing our food in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner.

Beef Quality Assurance Training

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Hardin County – Join Hardin County OSU Extension for a Beef Quality Assurance certification training scheduled for Tuesday, February 28 from 6:30-8:00 pm at the Extension office located at 1021 W Lima Street in Kenton. Beef Quality Assurance training is for beef cattle producers, needing to recertify or certify to sell cattle at auctions and other markets. Many of the major beef processors, auctions, and other markets began requiring producers to have a BQA certificate at the beginning of 2019. Beef Quality Assurance certification is for a period of three years and was previously held in Kenton in December 2018, February 2021 and May 2022. Several local producers need to recertify in addition to any cattle producers who need to gain BQA certification for the first time.

Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) does more than just help beef producers capture more value from their market cattle. BQA also reflects a positive public image and instills consumer confidence in the beef industry. When producers implement the best management practices of a BQA program, they assure their market steers, heifers, cows, and bulls are the best they can be. Today, the stakes are even higher because of increased public attention on animal welfare. BQA is valuable to all beef and dairy producers because it demonstrates commitment to food safety and quality; safeguards the public image of the beef industry; upholds consumer confidence in valuable beef products; and improves the sale value of marketed beef cattle.

Training enhances herd profitability through better management. Ohio State University Extension, in cooperation with the Ohio Beef Council, the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association, and Ohio’s cattle auction markets, is working to offer Ohio’s cattle producers several opportunities to become Beef Quality Assurance Certified. Certification can also take place online at https://www.bqa.org. Register for this Kenton training at https://go.osu.edu/HardinBQA or call 419-674-2297. Registration is required and space is limited for this local no cost in-person training that is good for both initial BQA certification or recertification.

Spring Garden Seminar

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Hardin County – This week’s warm weather has reminded us that work in the spring garden is coming. Believe it or not, spring is around the corner and so is the OSU Extension spring garden seminar. “Something Old, New, Tried & True in the Garden” is the planned seminar being offered by the Hardin County OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers this year. Get your seat reserved while you can. Plenty of topics are on the agenda for this event which will get your thoughts turned to gardening and away from the cold weather that has been with us for the past few months.

This year’s spring garden seminar will feature four expert speakers. Nora Hiland will speak on ‘Exotic Invasive Plants.’ What are they? Why are they a problem? Rapid growth, high productivity rates, and lack of natural controls have helped non-natives displace native species. Why are some of your favorite landscape plants a problem in natural areas? Nora Hiland earned a B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture from California State University in Fresno. She worked as a research assistant in horticulture then earned a teaching degree and taught biology and general science in grades 7-12. She has been a Master Gardener in Delaware County since 2009 and a member of Ohio Invasive Plants Council since 2005.

Timothy McDermott’s presentation will focus on ‘What is Compost.’ It is the soil amendment of choice to improve soils with organic matter. Learn about the composting process, what nutrients are present in compost, and how you can build your own compost pile to maximize your harvest. Timothy McDermott, DVM, is an OSU Assistant Professor and has been an Extension Educator in Agriculture and Natural Resources for the past seven years. He lectures locally as well as internationally on Local Food Systems and Veterinary Sciences where he spent 20 years in private practice.

‘Planting Container Gardens’ will be the topic discussed by Candi Scheiderer. Gardening in smaller spaces and with less time. Instant results to achieve plant color around your home and garden. Easily change containers for each season. What containers to use, what plants to choose, how to put together complementary color schemes, and what to use for filler and interest. Candi Scheiderer has always loved making someone’s day. From her career as a critical care nurse to her life as co-owner of Scheiderer Farms, Candi finds that nurturing, whether it’s people or plants, is the common thread to having a joyful life.

Bradley Allen will speak on ‘Growing Hydrangeas.’ Learn about all the different types of hydrangeas, including new varieties. How and when to prune, how to turn flowers blue, the planting, care, pests/diseases, folklore, and breeding of hydrangeas. Bradley Allen found a home in the world of plants in the last 5 years. He earned a degree in Landscape & Turf Management from Owens Community College. He got a job at North Branch Nursery as a laborer before being asked to be an assistant grower with a short-term goal of becoming head grower. Life took on a whole new meaning while battling cancer in 2022. Plants remain his major focus.

“Something Old, New, Tried & True in the Garden” will be held March 9 at the Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative Community Room, 1210 W Lima Street in Kenton. The seminar is open to the public, no matter how much gardening experience you have. The cost is $50, which includes a continental breakfast, lunch, handouts, and door prizes. For active OSU Master Gardener Volunteers, the fee is $40. Doors open on the day of the event at 8:15 am, the program starts at 9:00 am and ends at 4:00 pm. The registration deadline is February 23 with a limited class size. For more information about this event, call Kim Thomas 419-674-8012.

February 6, 2023

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Good afternoon,

There’s been a whirlwind of Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension programs happening in the area so I thought I better get out another email to let you know what is coming up in the near future so you don’t miss an opportunity. Allen County OSU Extension has a new AgNR Educator by the name of Nic Baumer and he has an Allen County Ag Outlook and Agronomy Day coming up tomorrow at the Allen County Fairgrounds starting at 9:00 am. See the attached flyer for more details if you plan to make the trip to Lima. This coming Thursday, February 9 is the next Conservation Tillage Club breakfast with Dr. Pierce Paul speaking on Corn Diseases. I asked him to address tar spot and ear rots since we have had issues locally with tar spot the past two years and vomitoxin the past few years. I have attached a flyer with more information about this breakfast series at the Plaza Inn Restaurant which will wrap up on February 23 with the topic of Farm Bill Programs.

Allen County Ag Outlook and Agronomy Day Flyer

Conservation Tillage Club Flyer

Next Friday, February 10 will be another busy day as we have a Cover Crop Management Seminar planned at the Plaza Inn Restaurant in Mt. Victory from 9:00 am-12:00 pm with a complimentary lunch. See the attached article and flyer for registration information.  Then starting at 1:00 pm the same day, we have an Agricultural Fertilizer Certification Class for anyone who needs to get their fertilizer certification for the first time. This will be held at the Extension office in Kenton. If you would like to register, see the attached news release and flyer. We have extended the registration period for both of these events.

Cover Crops Management Seminar News Release

Cover Crop Management Flyer

Fertilizer Certification News Release

Fertilizer Certification Flyer

We are offering a combined self-paced online and face-to-face Master Gardener Volunteer Training Course starting February 13 here at the Extension office in Kenton for anyone who might be interested in becoming an OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer. See the attached brochure to learn more about this Hardin County group of volunteers. We can still enroll people in this course if you know someone interested in gardening who would like to help out with horticulture programs in the community. It is also the beginning of the winter livestock banquet season with the February 18 Horse Banquet being the first of six livestock banquets planned in the county. This banquet will be at the Kenton Moose Family Center. See the attached news release for information about this event and how you can reserve a ticket.

ABOUT MGV PROGRAM_Hardin

Horse Banquet News Release

If you are interested in reading more OSU Extension newsletters, go to https://hardin.osu.edu/program-areas/agriculture-and-natural-resources/agnr-newsletters to find the Northwest Ohio ANR Newsletter 2023 along with several other good sources of information. Ohio Custom Rates and Machinery Costs can be found at https://farmoffice.osu.edu/farm-management/custom-rates-and-machinery-costs and upcoming Farm Office Live webinars can be found at https://farmoffice.osu.edu/farmofficelive. As before, I have provided additional Ag Crops articles below.

 

Mark

 

Sampling Corn Grain for Vomitoxin – Pierce Paul

Moldy grain and vomitoxin levels vary considerably within the grain lot. This is largely because the number of ears infected with Gibberella zeae, the fungus that causes Gibberella ear rot and produces vomitoxin in the grain, and number of infected kernels on a given ear within a field are highly variable. In addition, ears, and kernels with a similar appearance in terms of surface moldiness may have vastly different levels of internal fungal colonization, and consequently, different levels of vomitoxin contamination. Find additional information about sampling for vomitoxin in corn at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2023-03/sampling-corn-grain-vomitoxin.

 

Cover Crop Management Seminar – Mark Badertscher

Cody Beacom and Jim Hoorman are the headline speakers for a Cover Crop Management three-hour morning program presented by the Ohio No-Till Council, Hardin County OSU Extension, and The Nature Conservancy. The event will be held at the Plaza Inn Restaurant, 491 S Main Street, Mt. Victory, starting at 9:00 am on Friday, February 10. Coffee and cake will be provided by Wingfield Crop Insurance Service starting at 8:30 am. Cody Beacom, Bird Agronomics, will explain the basics of cover crops, from the selection of the best mix for summer or fall seeding to managing in the spring, whether using a burndown herbicide, “planting green”, or using a roller crimper. Find out more about this upcoming seminar at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2023-03/cover-crop-management-seminar.

 

Virtual Corn College and Soybean School – Laura Lindsey, Amanda Douridas, Taylor Dill

Due to popular demand, the AgCrops Team will host the 3rd annual virtual Corn College and Soybean School on February 10, 2023 from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM featuring your OSU Extension state specialists and soil fertility guest speaker, Dr. Kurt Steinke, from Michigan State University. CCA CEUs will be available during the live presentations. To register, please go to: go.osu.edu/cornsoy.  Please register by February 9 at noon. There is a $10 registration fee for this event, which goes directly to support OSU AgCrops Team activities. Read more at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2023-03/redminder-join-us-3rd-annual-virtual-corn-college-and-soybean.

 

Northwest Ohio Agronomy Day – Alan Leininger

Henry County will be hosting the 2023 Northwest Ohio Agronomy Crops Day on February 8th, 2023. This year’s event will feature Dr. Pierce Paul, Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Plant Pathology at the Ohio State University. He will be presenting on the topic of Development and Management of Ear Rots, Mycotoxins, and Tar Spot. Also featured is Dr. Laura Lindsay, Associate Professor in the Department of Horticulture & Crop Science at Ohio State University. She will be presenting the topic of Soybean Planting Date and Management Interactions. Aaron Wilson, Assistant Professor, Ag Weather and Climate Field Specialist for Ohio State University Extension & State Climatologist of Ohio will present an Agricultural Weather & Climate Update. Finish this article at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2023-03/northwest-ohio-agronomy-day.

 

Hot Topics in Grain Crops Series – Ed Lentz

The Ohio State University Extension – Hancock County office will be offering its Hot Topics in Grain Crops Series over three evenings in February and March at the Hancock County Agricultural Service Center, 7868 CR 140, Findlay, OH 45840. Each meeting will cover one specific crop – wheat, corn, and soybean. Local research results and a discussion on upcoming production issues will be presented at the meeting. There will also be a Question-and-Answer period to address any issue concerning that crop which was not part of the presentation. The programs will be led by Dr. Edwin Lentz, who has a doctorate in Crop Management and Physiology and has been providing agronomic expertise to Ohio farmers for over 30 years. Programs are free but please register by calling the Hancock County Extension office, 419-422-3851 or email lentz.38@osu.edu at least one day before the program. See more at https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2023-03/hot-topics-grain-crops-series.

 

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

Cover Crop Management Seminar

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Hardin County – Cody Beacom and Jim Hoorman are the headline speakers for a Cover Crop Management three-hour morning program presented by the Ohio No-Till Council, Hardin County OSU Extension, and The Nature Conservancy. The event will be held at the Plaza Inn Restaurant, 491 S Main Street, Mt. Victory, starting at 9:00 am on Friday, February 10. Coffee and cake will be provided by Wingfield Crop Insurance Service starting at 8:30 am.

Cody Beacom, Bird Agronomics, will explain the basics of cover crops, from the selection of the best mix for summer or fall seeding to managing in the spring, whether using a burndown herbicide, “planting green”, or using a roller crimper.

A cover crops expert panel consisting of Jan Layman, Hardin County farmer and president of the Ohio No-till Council; Cody Beacom, Bird Agronomics; and Matt Burkholder, Farmer Advocate for Conservation; will answer questions and concerns from the audience.

Jim Hoorman, Hoorman Soil Health Services, will present details regarding the nutrient and soil health benefits of cover crops.

Lunch will be provided at noon by The Nature Conservancy and the Farmer Advocate for Conservation program.

The program is free and limited to 50 participants. Pre-registration is required at http://go.osu.edu/covercrop2023 or by calling OSU Extension, Hardin County at 419-674-2297 by February 3.

Fertilizer Applicator Certification Training in Kenton

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Hardin County – A three-hour fertilizer certification program will be held in Kenton for any private or commercial applicator who needs to obtain fertilizer certification for the first time. This training will be held at the Hardin County OSU Extension office, 1021 W Lima Street, Kenton, Ohio on Friday, February 10. The class will begin at 1:00 pm and end at 4:00 pm. There is a $30 class fee payable to OSU Extension for this training.

Please arrive early so that materials can be distributed, and the program can start on time. This training will meet the fertilizer certification requirements for those with or without a pesticide license. Pre-registration is required by calling the Hardin County OSU Extension office at 419-674-2297 or register online at https://go.osu.edu/HardinPAT-FACT no later than a week before the training.

Agricultural fertilizer applicator certification is required in Ohio for farmers who apply fertilizer to more than 50 acres of agricultural production grown primarily for sale. This requirement was signed into law in June 2014, and also requires certification for commercial agricultural fertilizer applicators. Farmers who have their fertilizer applied by co-ops or custom applicators are not required to be certified if they do not side-dress their own corn.

Applicators who are a Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) or Certified Livestock Manager (CLM) are not required to attend the training. Fertilizer is defined for the regulation as any substance containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, or other plant nutrient in a dry or liquid formulation. All application types such as broadcast, side dress, sub-surface, knifing and other are included in the certification requirement. Lime and limestone are not included as fertilizer for the certification and farmers who only use starter fertilizer in their planter boxes are exempted.

The agriculture fertilizer certification is not required for manure applications as these are currently regulated, unless farmers are applying livestock or poultry manure from a Concentrated Animal Feeding Facility (CAFF). In this case, they would need to have either the CLM or Ohio Fertilizer Certification.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture is the agency issuing the certification for agriculture fertilizer applications. Once an applicator completes the fertilizer training, the ODA will bill them $30 for their fertilizer certificate unless the applicator currently holds a pesticide applicator license.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture website has information regarding the regulation at https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/plant-health/fertilizers. For more information about other training sessions or general materials for the agriculture fertilizer certification, visit https://nutrienteducation.osu.edu or contact Mark Badertscher, Hardin County OSU Extension at badertscher.4@osu.edu.