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Weather Outlook

Late Spring Dry Spell Underway

//  C.O.R.N. NEWSLETTER  //  2023-16  //

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. Along with this cooler spring, precipitation has been much below average (Figure 1). Precipitation over the last 30- and 60-days is running 50-75% of normal across most of Ohio, with areas in northwest, northeast, and southwest Ohio down to as much as 25% of normal (dark orange shading). Only parts of the northern Miami Valley (Shelby and Auglaize Counties) has seen above normal precipitation this month. Along with low dewpoints and relative humidity, surface conditions are drying rapidly. To submit observations and impacts that you are seeing at your location, visit the National Drought Mitigation Center’s Condition Monitoring Obsever Reports (https://go.osu.edu/drought_cmor). These reports will help us monitor the rapidly changing conditions and update the US Drought Monitor for Ohio.

Figure 1: Percent of normal precipitation left) over the last 30-days and right) 60-days. Figure courtesy of the Midwestern Regional Climate Center. Continue reading →

Licking County UTV Farm Tour

 

Join us Saturday June 10th for this year’s farm tour on your UTV!

The trip will include lunch and tours of 5 farms.  Each farm specializes in a different aspect of agriculture so there is something for everyone.

Please click here for the flyer with registration information: Licking County UTV Farm Tour (4)

Ohio Crop Returns Outlook for 2023 – Final Crop Enterprise Budgets for 2023

By:Barry Ward, Leader, Production Business Management Thursday, May 25th, 2023

Barry Ward, Leader, Production Business Management

Lower crop prices and a mix of higher and lower input costs have been the theme for the last several months. High production costs in 2022 gave way to a mix of higher and lower input  costs for the 2023 production year. Factors affecting both supply and demand have continued to drive commodity crop prices lower. The result of these changes is an outlook for limited positive margins for the 2023 corn, soybean and wheat crops.

Production costs for Ohio field crops are forecast to be slightly lower than last year with lower fertilizer and fuel prices leading the way. Higher rents, seed costs, machinery/equipment costs and interest rates mostly offset any benefit related to lower cost areas.

Variable costs for corn in Ohio for 2023 are projected to range from $514 to $628 per acre depending on land productivity. The trend line corn yield (181.8 bpa) scenario included in the corn enterprise budget shows a decrease in variable costs of 10% but a decrease in total costs of only 5% due to higher rents and machinery/equipment costs.

Continue reading →

Our upcoming webinar series on Solar Development in Ohio

By:Peggy Kirk Hall, Attorney and Director, Agricultural & Resource Law Program Wednesday, May 17th, 2023

Do you want to learn more about Ohio solar energy development?  If so, consider dropping in on our upcoming webinar series, where my colleague Eric Romich and I will discuss trends, procedures, and legal issues in Ohio solar development. The five-part webinar series covers solar development from start to finish and will take place May 23, 24, 25, 30, and 31 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. The series includes the following sessions: Continue reading →

Bad Looking Boxwoods?

We have been receiving many questions about boxwoods that are not looking good.  Many are suffering from more than one issue.  Click here for an article is from earlier this spring and shows lots of pictures of different problems.

 

A DAY in the WOODS celebrates its 100th educational event on June 9 at the Vinton Furnace State Forest

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A DAY in the WOODS began with a kickoff event on April 14, 2012, at the Vinton Furnace State Forest near McArthur.  June 9, 2023 will mark the 100th A DAY in the WOODS educational program for woodland owners and enthusiasts in Appalachia Ohio.  This event will begin at 11:30 AM with a brief ceremony hosted by Dan Balser, Chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources-Division of Forestry, and Dave Apsley, Natural Resources Specialist with Ohio State University Extension to celebrate the occasion and to recognize all of the partners support the effort.

The ceremony will be followed by lunch and an afternoon filled displays, demonstrations and activities for woodland owners and enthusiasts organized and conducted by A DAY in the WOODS partnering organizations. Some of the activities planned include:

  • Tree identification walk
  • Chainsaw safety demonstration
  • Birding activities
  • Tours of  demonstration sites
  • Tour of the new Ohio Hills -Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change Research site.
  • Conversations with representatives from many of our partners
  • Tree measuring excercise

The 100th A DAY in the WOODS event celebration be held at the Vinton Furnace State Forest near McArthur on May June 9, 2023, from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM.  Many of the afternoon educational programs will take place in the woods so be sure to bring your hiking boots and dress accordingly.

There is no charge to attend this event, but you must register by May 31 to receive lunch. Continue reading →

Federal court approves settlement agreement in Lake Erie litigation

By:Peggy Kirk Hall, Attorney and Director, Agricultural & Resource Law Program Thursday, May 18th, 2023
Sunset over Western Lake Erie

What is the key to resolving disagreements over water quality issues in Lake Erie?  Cooperation, according to the federal court judge overseeing a legal battle over Lake Erie. The judge, U.S. District Judge James G. Carr, recently approved a plan that is the result of cooperation between the U.S. EPA, State of Ohio, Lucas County Commissioners, and the Environmental Law & Policy Center.  For almost six years, the parties have been in a legal battle over how to deal with water quality in Western Lake Erie.  But at the encouragement of the court, the parties developed and agreed to a Consent Decree to settle the case.  Judge Carr approved the Consent Decree on May 4, 2023.  Time will soon tell if the cooperation approach will satisfy the parties holding interests in Lake Erie’s water quality.

What led to the Consent Decree? Continue reading →