Springtime is Spray Time — Here are Some Tips for Better Spraying

Applying pesticides requires a high level of skill and knowledge. Increases in the size and complexity of sprayers over the years require even more attention to efficiency, efficacy, and safety.

Wet Weather then a Planting Window

April was a challenging month. It was a cold month with most of Ohio -1F to -3F below normal for temperatures. We saw late freezes and snow events. Because of the cold, precipitation was generally around or slightly below normal in the 60-120% of normal range.

Alfalfa Weevil: Ready, Set, Scout!

Finally we’ve accumulated enough heat units that significant parts of Ohio are now or very soon will be in prime time for alfalfa weevil.  Peak larval activity and feeding damage occur between 325 and 575 GDD.

CFAES Ag Weather System 2022 Near-Surface Air and Soil Temperatures/Moisture (Update 5)

After last weekend’s summer preview, temperatures were much cooler over Ohio for much of the past week. Central and northern Ohio locations saw air temperatures drop below freezing mid-week, before a return to normal conditions over the weekend.

Lep Monitoring Network Update

Eleven counties in Ohio will be monitoring for various agronomic Lepidopteran (moth/caterpillar) pests during the 2022 field season. These counties include Adams, Brown, Clark, Fulton, Hardin, Madison, Muskingum, Trumbull, Van Wert, Wayne and Wood.

Making On-Farm Trials Easy

Planting season is upon us and is a little behind in comparison to last year. Many producers are planning on evaluating input costs and management practices on their farm this season to improve economic efficiency and stay profitable.

It’s Time to Start Monitoring your Alfalfa Fields for %NDF

Ohio has seen on average a cooler spring than in previous years even though there were record and near-record highs last month. Fluctuations in temperature and varying rainfall make it extremely difficult to determine the exact date every year when to harvest alfalfa stands.

Weather Update: Warm Up Already!

Summary

Plant Forage Stands as Soon as Feasible

Early spring provides one of the two preferred times to seed perennial cool-season forages, the other being late summer.

Dealing With Winter Injured Forage Stands

I’ve been hearing reports from around the state of forage stands that look poor, especially where flooded soil conditions developed over the past few months.

Ohio Farmers Invited to Participate in Multi-State On-Farm Research Survey

Weather Update: A Warmer but Wetter Week Ahead

Although the region has seen a few warm days, winter has certainly not given up entirely. This past weekend, Ohio dealt with snow showers and even a little graupel. What is graupel? The word originates from the German word “graúpe” or “barley”.

Set-Up Soybeans for Success in 2022

For soybean, pre-planting decisions are extremely important to set-up the crop for success. Soybean Extension Specialists from across the U.S.

CFAES Ag Weather System 2022 Near-Surface Air and Soil Temperatures/Moisture (Update 2)

Wheat Yield Contest-Early Entry Deadline April 15th

The National Wheat Yield Contest was created in 2015 by the National Wheat Foundation to promote new ideas and experimentation for wheat production, enable knowledge transfer between growers and identify top wheat producers in each state.  Since its short inception, Ohio has had good

Why Should You Calibrate Your Sprayer Even If it has a Rate Controller?

Whenever I give a presentation about the need to calibrate a sprayer and how to do it, there is always someone asking me this same question: “I have a rate controller in the cab that regulates the flow rate of the sprayer regardless of the changes in sprayer gr