Month: January 2019

From Across the Field – Winter Has Arrived

Well we got a good shot of winter weather over the last week. In typical Midwesterner fashion, I don’t think the below freezing temperatures aren’t all that bad, if the wind isn’t howling. The wind on the other hand is another beast, as there was a waist high snow drift in my driveway on Sunday morning. With drifting snow and frigid cold, it sure makes one appreciate the road crews that are out and about making sure we can travel safely. Back in southern Ohio a similar snow event would have resulted in a week off of school as the roads are a bit more treacherous, due to the winding hilly topography of the area. Continue reading From Across the Field – Winter Has Arrived →

Ohio Fall Weed Survey Follow-Up

By: Harold Watters, Ohio State University Extension Agronomic Systems Field Specialist

So I got some calls after our Extension Fall Weed Survey — if these are the problem weeds, then how do you deal with them?

It is becoming apparent that with the move to herbicide tolerant crops, we aren’t necessarily getting rid of all of our weeds — only 30% of our fields are weed free. Giant ragweed moved back into first place for worst weed, seen in 34% of fields overtaking marestail seen in 30% of fields. And then there is the pigweed problem — waterhemp appeared frequently, so did redroot pigweed and then there are the concerns about Palmer amaranth and its escape across Ohio.

 

Weed 2018 Ohio rank % of fields
Giant Ragweed 1 34
Marestail 2 30
Waterhemp 6 10
Redroot pigweed 10 5

Continue reading Ohio Fall Weed Survey Follow-Up →

Tips for Speaking with Your Lender

By: Chris Zoller, ANR Extension Educator, Tuscarawas County

2019 is upon us and you may be meeting soon with your lender to discuss financial needs for the year. We all know agriculture is suffering from poor economic conditions – and the outlook for many sectors of the industry doesn’t look real promising. A variety of factors are forcing lenders to be more critical of loan applications. Let’s review a few things you can do to assist your lender as they review your loan application. Continue reading Tips for Speaking with Your Lender →

Is AI Worth the Effort?

By: John Grimes, OSU Extension Beef Program Coordinator
Buckeye Beef Brief: Misconceptions still exist about the value of this useful tool. Previously published by the Ohio Farmer.

Artificial insemination (AI) in beef cattle is not a new technology as it has been available to producers for several decades. Nearly every cow-calf producer in this country has some degree of awareness of this management practice. While there is a relatively high degree of awareness among producers of AI, misconceptions still exist about the value of this useful tool. Continue reading Is AI Worth the Effort? →

Only 1-In-5 Consumers Think Plant-Based Products Should Be Called Milk

Previously published by Ohio Ag Net

With only days to go before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) comment period on fake milks ends, new consumer research shows Americans widely disapprove of dairy terms being appropriated by fake-milk producers, as well as confusion on the nutritional content of milk versus plant-based imitators, offering further evidence that FDA must enforce long-existing standards of identity on dairy imposters. Continue reading Only 1-In-5 Consumers Think Plant-Based Products Should Be Called Milk →

From Across the Field – Winter is Here

Just as I wrote last week about the weather being fairly warm, Mother Nature decided to drop some snow across the state this past weekend. On Saturday I attended the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association annual meeting and banquet held just north of Columbus. The banquet adjourned around 8:00 p.m. and then it was like an episode of Ice Road Truckers coming back to Napoleon. It’s not that the roads we too poor of shape, I was more concerned about the lack of driving skill in the snow demonstrated by other drivers on the road (tends to be a recurring theme the more I have to drive to Columbus).

As part of the OCA annual meeting, faculty from the Department of Animal Sciences presented a nice update on beef research happening across the state at the research stations. Their topics focused on fixed time artificial insemination and embryo transfer, feedlot nutrition, and weaning strategies that minimize calf stress. Some of these topics will be covered here in Napoleon during our 2019 Beef School in late March and into April on Monday evenings. Continue reading From Across the Field – Winter is Here →

New ODA Director Changes Course of Watersheds in Distress Rulemaking

By: Evin Bachelor, Law Fellow, Agricultural and Resource Law Program, Ohio State University

Less than a week into the administration of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a new approach to watersheds in distress has emerged. Director Dorothy Pelanda assumed the helm of the Ohio Department of Agriculture in days ODA had changed the status of the proposed watersheds in distress rules in the Register of Ohio to “To Be Refiled.” Continue reading New ODA Director Changes Course of Watersheds in Distress Rulemaking →

Be Informed About 2019 Dicamba Requirements

By: Ohio Ag Net Staff, previously published by Ohio Ag Net

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is reminding farmers of revised labels and new training requirements for applicators who intend to use dicamba herbicide products this year. In October 2018, U.S. EPA approved revised labels for the three dicamba products that are labeled for use on soybeans: Engenia (BASF), XtendiMax (Monsanto) and FeXapan (DuPont).

“Like any other product, we want to ensure licensed applicators are properly following label directions as they get ready for this growing season,” said Matt Beal, chief of the ODA Division of Plant Health. “This not only helps ensure the safe use of pesticides, it also helps prevent misuse and mishandling.” Continue reading Be Informed About 2019 Dicamba Requirements →

New Year Resolutions for Cow-Calf Operations

By: Taylor Grussing, South Dakota State University Extension
Previously published by Drovers online

Happy New Year! Now is a good time to evaluate the year past and make new resolutions and goals for 2019. This usually begins by finding records from the last 12 months, whether that’s in the Red Book or on a scratch pad in the tractor. Wherever it is, find it and sit down on a cold winter night and start studying what was good and what areas might need to be changed going forward. Here are some areas that might be worth more attention this New Year.

Feed Testing

With feed costs making up 60 – 70% of the expenses on ranches, it is not only important to pay attention to the quantity of feed on hand, but more so the quality of feed. Continue reading New Year Resolutions for Cow-Calf Operations →