Month: October 2017

OSU Extension Sheep Team creates blog

Ohio’s shepherds now have a place to find all the latest information on sheep production, industry research conducted at Ohio State, and daily management tips. The recently rebuilt The Ohio State University Extension Sheep Team blog page can be found at http://u.osu.edu/sheep/.

The site is managed by the Sheep Team Program Coordinator, Brady Campbell, and includes contributions from the more than 25 Ohio State faculty and staff who each have unique interests in sustaining Ohio’s sheep industry. Continue reading OSU Extension Sheep Team creates blog →

From Across the Field 10/11/2017

October is one of my favorite months of the year. It finally feels like fall, harvest is trucking along, there is apple cider aplenty, Buckeye football, and last but not least October is National Pork Month. October received this distinction as it was traditionally the month when most pigs went to market. Therefore, take some time and celebrate by having a pork chop or two in the coming weeks. Continue reading From Across the Field 10/11/2017 →

Dairy feed bunk management

By Rory Lewandowski, Extension Educator Wayne County, Ohio State University Extension

The current state of the dairy economy has dairy farm managers looking for ways to improve cow productivity and reduce expenses. One management area that may offer some of these returns is the feed bunk. It is important to work with the herd nutritionist to provide a ration that will allow the dairy cow to produce a high level of milk, but beyond the nutrient composition of the ration, the manager must understand and work with cow feeding behavior to promote maximum dry matter intake (DMI). Continue reading Dairy feed bunk management →

New Dicamba Rules

By Emily Unglesbee
DTN Staff Reporter

ROCKVILLE, Md. (DTN) — Growers will have access to dicamba to spray on dicamba-tolerant crops in 2018, but the herbicides will come with new label restrictions and will be categorized as restricted use pesticides.

EPA announced Friday that the dicamba “registrants voluntarily agreed to registration and labeling changes including making these products restricted-use, record keeping requirements, and certain additional spray drift mitigation measures.” Continue reading New Dicamba Rules →

Dodder in Western Ohio

By Mark Loux, Ohio State University Extension herbicide specialist

We have had reports of dodder in some red clover fields. Dodder is a parasitic plant without any leaves or chlorophyll to produce its own energy. It lives by attaching to a host with small appendages (called ‘haustoria”), and extracting the host plant’s carbohydrates. The stems are yellow-orange, stringlike, twining, smooth and branching to form dense masses in infested fields. Although neither toxic nor unpalatable to some livestock, dodder can weaken host plants enough to reduce yield, quality, and stand. If infestations are severe enough, dodder may kill host plants. Continue reading Dodder in Western Ohio →

Conservation efforts working in Lake Erie

Ohio farmers are making positive impacts to water quality in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB), according to a new report from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). This new report shows applied conservation practices reduce sediment losses from fields by an estimated 80% and reduce the amount of sediment being delivered to Lake Erie by an estimated 40%. Continue reading Conservation efforts working in Lake Erie →

From Across the Field 10/5/2017

From Across the Field

With another dry week, it looks like harvest is moving along nicely across Henry County. Most of the harvest action thus far has occurred in soybean fields, however I have seen some corn being shelled in the central part of the county. While we need some moisture across the state, this current dry spell does bode well in speeding along what otherwise would be a lengthy harvest period.

Continue reading From Across the Field 10/5/2017 →

Ohio Corn, Soybean and Wheat Enterprise Budgets Project Low Returns for 2018

by: Barry Ward- Leader, Production Business Management, Ohio State University Extension

Production costs for Ohio field crops are forecast to be flat to slightly lower in 2018 depending on the crop and the profit picture remains poor, much the same as in 2017. Variable costs for corn for 2018 are projected to be $322 to $397 per acre depending on land productivity. Lower nitrogen fertilizer costs will likely be offset by somewhat higher fuel, chemical and interest costs.

Variable costs for 2018 Ohio soybeans are projected to range from $195 to $211 per acre. Wheat variable expenses for 2018 are projected to range from $161 to $189 per acre. Continue reading Ohio Corn, Soybean and Wheat Enterprise Budgets Project Low Returns for 2018 →

Fall Home Invaders are Poised to Enter

Authors: Joe Boggs

Published on
September 30, 2017

Now that fall is officially in the air, a number of insects and spiders are poised to make their way into Ohio homes.  Indeed, with the recent spate of cool temperatures, I’ve already gotten a few reports of gnat-like Hackberry Psyllids (Pachypsylla spp.) buzzing around homes and various spiders marching across floors.

Continue reading Fall Home Invaders are Poised to Enter →