Nutrient Value of Wheat Straw

Before removing straw from the field, it is important for farmers to understand the nutrient value. Though we have seen some softening of the 2022 fertilizer prices, P and K fertilizer prices remain higher than normal.

Smoke from Wildfires Affecting Ohio Agriculture? Or Some Other Stressors?

Wildland fires in Canada this year have so far burned over 20 million acres with approximately 4 million of those acres in Quebec.

2023 Northwest Agronomic Field Day

Join us at the 2023 Agronomic Field Day, where we will be discussing new corn and soybean practices you can apply on your farm. Topics this year include the following:

Manure Science Review Coming Thursday August 3rd

The annual Manure Science Review will be held on Thursday August 3rd in Defiance County from 9:00am to 3:00pm at Innovative Ag, 10366 OH 249, Bryan, Ohio 43506.

Battle for the Belt: Episode 18

Episode 18 of Battle for the Belt is now available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1ht5SvBiRg

OSU Extension Weather Extremes Committee and the State Climate Office of Ohio to Host Climate Smart: Farming with Weather Extremes

Weather is almost always a challenge for agriculture, and  good management strategies for dealing with water, weeds, pests, diseases, and stress are all part of being climate-smart.

Weather Update: A Slow Drought Improvement

The last two weeks have brought a continued active pattern across Ohio, with numerous showers and storms hitting just about every corner of the state.

Defoliation in Soybean and Corn, and Japanese Beetle Watch

We have been receiving reports of higher-than-typical Japanese beetle activity in horticultural settings (e.g., ornamentals, home gardens) and this may be a warning sign to watch for them in field crops too.  Also, there are many weedy fields because of the difficult

Corn Yield Forecasts for 2023

Corn is progressing nicely across most of the state after well-needed rains (Figure 1). Starting in mid-July 2023, the Yield Forecasting Center plans to provide corn phenology (stages) and forecasts of corn yield potential every three weeks.

Herbicide Injury

The 2023 growing season has brought a range of stress inducing weather patterns, from drought to waterlogging. Stressful conditions can make crop plants more susceptible to injury from postemergence herbicides.

Lep Monitoring Network Update #10 – Trap Counts for CEW, WBC, and ECB (IA & NY)

The Ohio Lep Network is continuing to monitor moth pests across Ohio.

Battle for the Belt: Episode 16

Episode 16 of Battle for the Belt is now available:

Potassium in Corn

Much of our early planted corn has exhibited signs of potassium deficiency after going through the May to early June dry spell. This article is a basic reminder of how potassium works in the plant so you can make informed decisions on whether you need to apply more potassium.

LEP Monitoring Network Update #7 – Trap Counts for CEW and ECB (IA & NY)

Introduction

Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day returns!

This year’s Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day – The nation’s premier event for mechanical weeding tools – will take place on Wednesday, September 27, at The Ohio State University, CFAES Wooster campus.

Weather Update: Unsettled Weather Continues

Summary

Dates set for ODA Pesticide Collection across Ohio

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (May 3, 2023) – The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) will be sponsoring three collection events for farmers wishing to dispose of unwanted pesticides. This year, the collections are happening in Morgan, Putnam, and Miami counties on the following days and locations:

Drainage field day at Ohio State Lima campus farm scheduled for July 25

The Ohio State University at Lima will host a Drainage Installation Field Day on the campus farm on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.

What happened with crop yields during 1988 and 2012? A recap

Battle for the Belt: Episode 15

Episode 15 of Battle for the Belt is now available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTgin3qPtoU

Lep Monitoring Network Update #7 – Trap Counts for CEW and ECB (IA & NY)

Introduction

Dicamba Deadline Reminder

Crop progress is highly variable this year. Some early planted crops have emerged and have had decent growth following recent rains. Dry weather has delayed the emergence of some later planted crops.

Keep an Eye on the Horizon for Dry Weather Insect Pests

While nobody knows what the future holds regarding weather, recent dry conditions have made people think about the potential for drought this summer.  In field crops, certain insect pests tend to be worse under dry conditions – either because hot and/or dry weather favors their

Weather Update: The Skies Opened Up

May 21st through June 10th was quite the dry spell across Ohio, with moderate drought conditions declared across 62% of the state by the

Time to Start Scouting for Potato Leafhoppers in Alfalfa

Now is a good time to start scouting for potato leafhopper in alfalfa, as second-cut alfalfa grows.  Potato leafhoppers migrate up from the south in late spring to early summer.  While they may be present in first-cut alfalfa they’re seldom a problem.  But in the second-cut alfalfa nu

Battle for the Belt: Episode 14

Episode 14 of Battle for the Belt is now available:

Plot Twist: Time for a New Nozzle List

A few years ago, the Ohio State University Pesticide Safety Education Program put together a list of approved sprayer nozzles for applying pesticides.

Lep Monitoring Network Update #6 – Trap Counts for BCW, AMW, and ECB (IA & NY)

Introduction

OSU Extension Weather Extremes Committee and the State Climate Office of Ohio to Host Climate Smart: Farming with Weather Extremes

Weather is almost always a challenge for agriculture, from too little or too much rain, late season freeze conditions, and severe weather impacts.

West Central Ohio Hay Day 2023

Please join Ohio State University Extension and Channel Equipment on July 6th for the West Central Ohio Hay Day, sponsored by the Champaign and Clark County Farm Bureau, and Americas Trusted Insurance Group.

The 2023 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nematologists

The countdown is on!

2023 Weed Science Field Day July 12

The 2023 OSU Weed Science Field Day will be held on Wednesday, July 12th at the Western Ag Research Station in South Charleston, OH. Registration will start at 8:30 followed by a field tour.

Battle for the Belt: Episode 12

Episode 12 of Battle for the Belt is now available: https://youtu.be/BnSt0BxWKTE

Planting Soybean in June: What Agronomic Practices Should I Adopt?

According to USDA-NASS, 66% of soybean acreage was planted in the USA by May 21, 2023. In Ohio, that number is similar, with 63% planted, and it is expected that the acreage planted will increase by the end of May due to dry planting conditions.

2023 Western Ohio Wheat Field Day

Join us for the 2023 Western Ohio Wheat Field Day on June 13 at the Western Agricultural Research Station in South Charleston.

Meet Your New Weed Science Extension State Specialist- Dr. Alyssa Essman

Sidedressing Manure into Corn

Most of the corn planted this spring has emerged with good stands. With the dry weather, corn is growing slowly and the opportunity to use manure as a side-dress nitrogen source for corn has arrived.

Late Spring Dry Spell Underway

Memorial Day felt like the typical unofficial start to summer, with highs well into the 80s across the state. This has not been the case much this spring, as average temperatures since April 1st have been up to 2°F below average.

Lep Monitoring Network Update #4 – Trap Counts for BCW, AMW and ECB-IA

Introduction

Plot Twist: Time for a New Nozzle List

A few years ago, the Ohio State University Pesticide Safety Education Program put together a list of approved sprayer nozzles for applying pesticides.  This list was recently updated in May 2023 and can be viewed at

Spring Weather & Soil Conditions: Update 6

Soil Temperatures and Moisture

Changes Ahead with Potential El Niño

After a dry late summer and autumn of 2022, winter turned wetter to offset that dry period. However, in April 2023, we turned a bit drier again. The main thing we need to monitor closely now is a rapidly developing event in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.

Battle for the Belt: Episode 10

Episode 10 of Battle for the Belt is now available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbYtQZXc-lc

If You Planted and Heavy Rainfall Affected Your Fields…

According to the USDA-NASS report for the week ending 05/14/23, 26% of Ohio’s corn and 28% of Ohio’s soybean acr

Interested in Soil Health? Learn together with OSU Extension

Improving soil health (SH) 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.

Forage Maturity Across Ohio

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.

Lep Monitoring Network Update #2 – Black Cutworm & True Armyworm

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.

Spring Weather & Soil Conditions: Update 2

Soil Temperatures and Moisture

Battle for the Belt: Episode 6

Episode 6 of Battle for the Belt is now available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQq_7OePtNU

Two Rate Nitrogen Trial – MRTN vs. MRTN (+50)

Ohio’s corn nitrogen recommendation tool is the Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator (https://www.cornnratecalc.org/).

Drones for Spraying Pesticides- Part 2: Opportunities and Challenges

Currently, there is tremendous interest in using drones to spray crop-protection products.

Spring Weather & Soil Conditions: Update 1

Soil Temperatures and Moisture

Battle for the Belt: Episode 5

In Episode 5, learn about corn and soybean germination and emergence, imbibitional chilling, and cold injury… All are important considerations for early planting! Also, hear from an Allen County, Ohio farmer on what he plants first and why. Hint: He is Team Soybean.

Alfalfa Weevil – Add it to Your Radar Screen

Even though some parts of Ohio have had a slow, cold spring, it’s still time to start thinking about alfalfa weevil scouting.  Overwintered adults begin laying eggs when temperatures exceed 48°F.  Peak larval activity and feeding damage occur between 325 and 575 heat units (base

Enhanced Soil Carbon Farming as a Climate Solution: Pastures and Hayfields in Ohio

The Sustainable Agroecosystems Lab at The Ohio State University, Departments of Horticulture & Crop Science and Animals Sciences is seeking farmers to participate in an on-farm soil assessment to evaluate soil carbon sequestration under perennial pasture fields and annual cr

OSU’s Farm On financial management course released

A new online farm management course offered by The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) will help Ohio’s beginning farmers qualify for the requirements of the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Beginning Farmer T

Warmer Weather Ahead

APRIL

Battle for the Belt: Episode 4

Episode 4 of Battle for the Belt is now available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPPaWVMYmoQ

Cressleaf groundsel scouting

Much of the state is still wet and waiting for dry conditions to resume field activities. Scouting for weeds now can help spot any issues and plan for spring burndown programs.

Becoming a Certified Crop Adviser and OSU Extension Online Exam Prep Course

Why become a Certified Crop Adviser (CCA)? Being certified adds credibility and shows you are serious about the agronomic profession.

OSU Extension Seeks a Next Assistant Director for Agriculture and Natural Resources

Ohio State University Extension is seeking applicants for our next Assistant Director, Agriculture and Natural Resources. The Assistant Director is responsible for the leadership of Ohio State University Extension’s Agriculture and Natural Resources program area.