On-farm Biosecurity

ory Lewandowski, OSU Extension Educator, Wayne County (previously published in: A Guide to Katahdin Hair Sheep)

As we begin yet another season filled with selling and showing livestock, it is important to keep biosecurity in mind. Rory reminds us that most economically important diseases are purchased. All newly purchased animals should be quarantined before introducing them to your flock. Therefore, as you consider purchasing a new stud ram or plan on taking your flock to the county fair, proper biosecurity measures will pay off for you and your flock in the long run.

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Soil Temps Determine Planting Time

Originally posted on the Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine- May 21, 2018

By: Erik Draper

Soil Thermometer

One of the most often asked vegetable questions during this early season is “How soon can I plant my tomatoes and peppers in the garden?”  There are two reasons that the northeast Ohio gardener’s rule of thumb is “wait for Memorial Day” before planting out the tender annuals like tomatoes, peppers and green beans.  The first reason is the possibility of a frost is almost eliminated by waiting until Memorial Day.  Those tender annual plants like squash, tomatoes, green beans and peppers, cannot tolerate a frost event or even lower temperatures at all!

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Soybean Prices Focus on Trade and Weather

by: Todd Hubbs Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics University of Illinois

Soybean prices moved lower last week despite the positive outlook in the USDA’s May WASDE report. The report, released on May 9, projected that stocks of U.S. soybeans at the end of the current marketing year would total 530 million bushels, slightly less than generally expected. The recent choppy price pattern reflects uncertainty in trade negotiations, the large Brazilian soybean crop, and weakening South American currencies.

November soybean futures prices moved in a band between $10.20 and $10.50 after the release of the surprisingly low March Prospective Planting report placed soybean acreage at 89 million acres. Prices broke lower on May 7 and continued to show weakness through May 18. The July – November price spread moved into negative territory on May 7 and reflects near-term uncertainty regarding trade prospects and planting issues. An additional level of uncertainty is the recent strengthening of the U.S. dollar to the Brazilian real which saw Brazilian export prices move on par with U.S. Gulf export prices. Brazilian production estimates of 4.3 billion bushels are equal to last year’s record crop with some reports indicating the potential for even higher levels. The rapid drop in the Brazilian real last week brought increased sales by Brazilian farmers. Weekly exports of U.S. soybeans face increased competition from Brazil.

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Ohio Corn, Soybean and Wheat Enterprise Budgets Projected Returns for 2018

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

Production costs for Ohio field crops are forecast to be largely unchanged from last year with slightly higher fuel, fertilizer and interest expenses that will increase total costs for some growers. Variable costs for corn in Ohio for 2018 are projected to range from $359 to $452 per acre depending on land productivity.

Variable costs for 2018 Ohio soybeans are projected to range from $210 to $231 per acre. Wheat variable expenses for 2018 are projected to range from $179 to $219 per acre.

Returns will again be low to negative for many producers. Projected returns above variable costs (contribution margin) range from $175 to $348 per acre for corn and $192 to $371 per acre for soybeans. (This is assuming fall cash prices of $4 per bushel for corn and $10 per bushel for soybeans.) Projected returns above variable costs for wheat range from $135 to $249 per acre (assuming $5.20 per bushel summer cash price).

Returns to land for Ohio corn (Total receipts minus total costs except land cost) are projected to range from $23 to $182 per acre in 2018 depending on land production capabilities. Returns to land for Ohio soybeans are expected to range from $84 to $254 per acre depending on land production capabilities. Returns to land for wheat (not including straw or double-crop returns) are projected to range from $28 to $135 per acre.

Total costs projected for trend line corn production in Ohio are estimated to be $760 per acre. This includes all variable costs as well as fixed machinery, labor, management and land costs. Fixed machinery costs of $65 per acre include depreciation, interest, insurance and housing. A land charge of $192 per acre is based on data from the Western Ohio Cropland Values and Cash Rents Survey Summary. Labor and management costs combined are calculated at $71 per acre. Returns Above Total Costs for trend line corn production are negative at -$93 per acre.

Total costs projected for trend line soybean production in Ohio are estimated to be $525 per acre. (Fixed machinery costs – $50 per acre, land charge: $192 per acre, labor and management costs combined: $48 per acre.) Returns Above Total Costs for trend line soybean production are also negative at -$23 per acre.

Total costs projected for trend line wheat production in Ohio are estimated to be $501 per acre. (Fixed machinery costs: $55 per acre, land charge: $192 per acre, labor and management costs combined: $42 per acre.) Returns Above Total Costs for trend line wheat production are also negative at -$110 per acre.

These projections are based on OSU Extension Ohio Crop Enterprise Budgets. Newly updated Enterprise Budgets for 2018 have been completed and posted to the OSU Extension farmoffice website:

https://farmoffice.osu.edu/farm-management-tools/farm-budgets

Ohio Noxious Weed Identification – Week 14 Wild Parsnip

Wild Parsnip

FamilyParsley, Apiaceae.

Habitat: Wastelands, wet sites, roadsides and pastures, undisturbed ground.

Life cycle: Biennial, forming a rosette the first year and producing flowers and seed in the second.

First Year Growth Habit: Rosette of basal leaves. Large, three-lobed leaves resemble celery.

Second Year Growth Habit: 2-5 feet, branched, flowering plant.

Leaves: Alternate, pinnately compound with coarse saw-tooth edges; deeply lobed and not hairy. Up to 18 inches long.

Stem: Hairy and grooved.

Flower: May-August (second year). Many small flowers with five yellow or white petals borne in umbrella shaped terminals – gives rise to yellow seed clusters, 2-6 inches across.

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Hardy Succulents

Lori A. Reehorst, Penn State Master Gardener, Originally posted at Penn State Extension Master Gardener Programs

Hardy succulents are a delight to those who consider themselves to have a black thumb.The word succulent literally means “juicy plant.” Most are hardy to USDA zone 5 (-10 to -20) and some can survive in temperatures as low as (-30 to -40). They easily propagate and are low maintenance. They can be severely neglected and still thrive. In fact, the only growing requirement that cannot be deviated from is that hardy succulents must be planted in well-drained soil to ensure adequate drainage.

Do you live in an area where your soil has a lot of clay? No problem – just amend the soil with 50% or more of pumice, perlite, coarse grit or sand and you’ll be ready to plant hardy succulents. To reveal the fullest most robust colors of hardy succulents, full sun planting is recommended.

For optimal growth, a 5-10-10 fertilizer is recommended 1-2 times during spring. The numbers for the fertilizer stand for the nutrient components: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K). Bone meal (a mixture of ground animal bones, 4-12-0) can be applied to the soil anytime. Bone meal is basically a boost of Phosphorus which is promoting root and tissue growth.

Common hardy succulents that are often found in local greenhouses include SempervivumSedum, and Delosperma;rarer species includes Jovibarba heuffeliiRosularia and Orostachys. To find these plants you usually have to scour specialty greenhouses or rock garden suppliers.

Sempervivum (sem-per-VIV-um)

also called Hens and Chicks, are very popular hardy succulents and this word translates to mean “Live Forever.” There are over 3,000 cultivars and they have many different textures and forms. Most Sempervivum produce tight clumps that form mounds and their colors are not only shades of green, but can also include silver-blues, purple, red, orange, brown and delicate pinks. Sempervivum propagate by producing at least four “baby chicks” per growing season. Chicks can be left attached to the mother plant or removed to start new a new plant elsewhere.

Houseleek, Sempervivum, Stone Garden

Sedum (SEE-dum)

also called Stonecrop, has two primary shapes. It is shaped like low spreading ground cover or can be a two foot shrubby mound. They look great both in the landscape and in containers mixed with other plants. Colors range from smoky blue to rich burgundy. Provided it gets enough light, Sedum will produce flowers. Propagation occurs easily by removing and replanting the plant’s offsets, replanting cuttings, or by allowing the plant to self-seed.

Sedum Rubrotinctum, Sedum, Plant, Summer

Delosperma (delo-o-SPERM-a)

is the favored “Ice Plant.” It is often used as ground cover and is ideal for planting in rock gardens. This attractive succulent has fleshy green foliage, low spreading stems and bright shimmering flowers that add color and texture to gardens. You can reduce reflected heat and glare by planting them in areas covered with gravel mulch.

Ice Plant, Delosperma'S, Blossom, Bloom

Jovibarba heuffelii (yohv-ih-BAR-ba | heff-EL-ee-eye)

one of the lesser known hardy succulents, is also called Jupiter’s Beard. This succulent is commonly mistaken as Hens and Chicks. They offer a palate of rich colors that do not fade in the scorching sun. This unique succulent is multiplied by cutting the offsets (baby plants) which often grow between the leaves of the mother plant with a knife. If you choose to not multiply this plant, it will grow into a large beautiful mounding clump. Each plant produces five or more new rosettes each season. Propagation can also occur by seed however since these plants are hybrids, the new seedling will not be identical to the mother plant.

Two more rare and interesting hardy succulents are Rosularia (ros-uh-LAIR-ee-a) which resembles small Hen and Chicks growing in dense clusters and Orostachys (or-oh-STAK-ees), often called Dunce-Caps. Both look similar to Sempervivum, but are in fact closely related to sedum. These two interesting plants take a little more effort to grow, but are worth it.

If you choose to grow hardy succulents in containers more attention is needed for drainage. A typical succulent container mix is half peat moss or compost and half drainage material such as perlite, coarse sand, coarse vermiculite or pumice. Adding bone meal or a low nitrogen slow release fertilizer such as 2-10-10 is also recommended when planting in containers.

Although all of the above plants enjoy full sun and are drought tolerant, succulents are not cactus and to remain their healthiest, they should be watered weekly if there is no rain in the forecast. If your succulents are located in the shade, less watering is needed. Ideally, soil should dry thoroughly between waterings. The most common pest for succulents is aphids. Rinsing the plant with a strong stream of water is often enough to dislodge the aphids.

Another beautiful use of hardy succulents is in Living Art. This is the placement of succulent cuttings in a shadow box for vertical display. The cuttings take root after a few weeks and the shadow box is then hung or leaned against a wall outside. As long as a some shelter is provided in the winter, such as being placed in an unheated garage, the succulents in your Living Art will continue to thrive once spring arrives. If you start your succulent plantings this year – you’ll be well on your way to having enough cuttings to make your own Living Art next year! Hardy succulents really can be grown by anyone – even those who profess to have a black thumb.

 

**Photos not in original article. Photos added for this this blog. Photos from Pixabay.

When Should Pastures be Mowed?

Chris Penrose, OSU Extension Educator ANR, Morgan County (Previously published in Ohio Farmer: May 14, 2018)

The spring of 2018 was the latest I can remember feeding hay to my cattle, and many producers were searching at the last minute to find some extra hay. Pastures were very slow growing this spring until it finally warmed up in early May. On my farm, common orchardgrass typically starts heading out in late April, and it was two weeks later this year. The late-arriving spring brought many challenges around farms, and the rush to get crops in the ground and to make hay has put mowing pastures on the backburner. However, now may be a great time to mow pastures.

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