Month: June 2025

New Sprayer Technologies and Best Practices for Vineyards and Orchards – Workshop

DATE: August 12, 2025

TIME: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

LOCATION: Quarry Hill Winery & Orchard, 8403 Mason Rd #2, Berlin Heights, OH 44814

REGISTRATION COST (includes lunch and refreshments): Early Registration: $45 per person until July 1; Late Registration: $60 per person, July 2 until August 1

REGISTER at GO.OSU.EDU/SPRAY2025

This workshop provides you with the opportunity to learn best spraying practices using conventional sprayers as well as the new technology available to growers to make the pesticide application more precise and cost-effective. For example, you will see an “intelligent sprayer” with AI application (developed here in Ohio several years ago) that detects the existence of targets to be sprayed and varies the application rate on the go depending on the canopy characteristics (size, canopy leaf density).  Another new technology gaining popularity is using drones to spray pesticides. These new technologies, as well as several types of conventional orchard/vineyard sprayers will be demonstrated in the afternoon part of the workshop. There will be plenty of time to talk with the presenters of talks, as well as with the vendors who will bring their sprayers to the site for demonstrations.

2024 Farm Commodity Program Payment Estimates for Ohio Counties as of June 2025

By: Carl Zulauf, Seungki Lee, and David Marrison, Ohio State University, June 2025

Click here for PDF version of the article

Estimates of payments by ARC-CO (Agriculture Risk Coverage – County version) for the 2024 crop year use county yield estimates from USDA, RMA (US Department of Agriculture, Risk Management Agency) (https://webapp.rma.usda.gov/apps/RIRS/SCOYieldsRevenuesPaymentIndicators.aspx).  Legislation requires FSA (Farm Service Agency) to give primacy to RMA yields when determining ARC-CO payment, but other factors can be considered.  Thus, these ARC-CO payment estimates are likely to be closer to the FSA payment rate than the payment estimates made in May 2025 using county yield estimates from USDA, NASS (National Agricultural Statistics Service) (https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov/).  Other data used to makes these payment estimates are 2024 crop year program parameters and market year price estimates from USDA, FSA (https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/arc-plc/program-data).

FSA is expected to release official payment rates in October 2025.  They can differ notably from estimates.  Market year prices and county yields are not final.  They are also currently in a range where small changes can cause large changes in ARC-CO payment rates.  Use the estimates with caution. Continue reading 2024 Farm Commodity Program Payment Estimates for Ohio Counties as of June 2025 →

BEEF Cattle Letter: June 18

Five new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1452 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

This week we focus on cow comfort including fly control and the consequences of cows dealing with heat!

Articles this week include:

  • Fly Control in Livestock for Summer
  • When You’re Hot, You’re Hot!
  • The Impact of Heat Stress and Fescue Toxicosis on Beef Cattle Reproduction
  • Rethinking Basis Behavior in a High-Price Cattle Market
  • Weekly Livestock Comments for June 13, 2025

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

Tick Info – Recordings

As we head into summer make sure that you are keeping you, your family, and your animals tick safe.  Tim McDermott DVM, Assistant Professor and Extension Educator Agriculture and Natural Resources for Franklin County, recently recorded two webinars that can be viewed using the links listed below.  One is a shorter one focused on human safety done in collaboration with American Electric Power for their field staff, the other is a full hour presentation done in collaboration with EABU (Purdue, MSU, and USDA).

Also, don’t forget that OSU now has tick testing capabilites. You can find more info on that here: buckeyeticktest.osu.edu

C.O.R.N. Newsletter: June 16-22

In this edition of the C.O.R.N. Newsletter:

  • Battle for the Belt: Season 3, Episode 12 – Economic Considerations for Replanting – Diego Miranda, Taylor Dill, Maria Kessler, Laura Lindsey, Osler Ortez, Eric Richer, CCA
  • Statewide Slug Monitoring Project – Update # 4 – Trevor Mullen, Rosalind Holt-Frank, Evan Hodkinson, Amy Raudenbush, Dean Kreager, Alan Leininger, Dean Kreager, John Barker, Nic Baumer, Amanda Barnum, Amanda Bennett, Ken Ford, Seth Kannberg, Dean Kreager, Alan Leininger, Clifton Martin, CCA, Kendra Rose, Jocelyn Ruble, Clint Schroeder, Ryan Slaughter, Jacob Winters, Tracy Winters, Ted Wiseman, Kelley Tilmon
  • Lep Monitoring Network – Corn Earworm and Western Bean Cutworm # 8 – Trevor Mullen, Rosalind Holt-Frank, Evan Hodkinson, Amy Raudenbush, Nic Baumer, Lee Beers, CCA, JD Bethel, Trevor Corboy, Mary Jo Hassen, Seth Kannberg, Alan Leininger, Clifton Martin, CCA, Garth McDorman, Jordan Penrose, Beth Scheckelhoff, Mike Sunderman, Kyle Verhoff, Jacob Winters, Curtis Young, CCA, Andy Michel, Kelley Tilmon’

C.O.R.N. Newsletter is a summary of crop observations, related information, and appropriate recommendations for Ohio crop producers and industry. C.O.R.N. Newsletter is produced by the Ohio State University Extension Agronomy Team, state specialists at The Ohio State University and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC). C.O.R.N. Newsletter questions are directed to Extension and OARDC state specialists and associates at Ohio State.

New Ohio law incentivizes energy generation on former brownfields and coal mines

Written by Ellen Essman, Senior Research Associate

Governor DeWine recently signed H.B. 15, which repeals parts of the controversial energy bill passed in 2019,  H.B. 6.  Introduced by Roy Klopfenstein (R, Haviland), H.B. 15 specifically repeals subsidies for coal-fired power plants introduced in H.B. 6, but it also does much more to promote energy production within the state of Ohio.

H.B. 15 is wide-ranging, but certain provisions may be of particular interest to Ohio agriculture and those living in rural areas of the state.  The bill allows county commissioners, municipal corporations, or townships to adopt legislation requesting that the director of the Ohio Department of Development “designate the site of a brownfield or former coal mine within the subdivision’s territory as a priority investment area.” When considering the designation of a priority investment area (PIA), the director of the Ohio Department of Development is required to “prioritize the designation of areas negatively impacted by the decline the coal industry.”  Under the law, the property becomes a PIA when the Director of Development notifies the local legislative authority, or within ninety days if no notification is sent.  Once designated as a priority investment area (PIA), a property will be exempt from taxation for five years, which encourages public utilities to use the property for energy development. The law also requires the Power Siting Board to adopt rules for the accelerated review of energy projects located in an approved PIA.

Agricultural commodity groups like Ohio Corn & Wheat, as well as environmental groups like the Nature Conservancy, have praised the bill, noting that generating power on brownfields and former coal mines will have the added benefit of protecting farmland and native habitats. The thinking is that with more PIAs available for energy generation and accelerated approval from the Power Siting Board of PIAs, the need to use farmland and other areas for renewable energy projects would diminish. Instead, under the new law, political subdivisions and energy generators would be incentivized to use brownfield and former coal mine land that has already been developed, helping Ohio to both protect farmland and meet the demand for more energy generation.  H.B. 15 will go into effect on August 14, 2025.  The bill is available in its entirety here.

BEEF Cattle Letter: June 11

Five new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1451 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

Not only has first cutting hay been a challenge to get made this year in Ohio, but it matured a week or more early throughout much of the state. Does that mean quality is even worse than might be expected for late cut hay in what we used to know as a ‘normal’ year? We can’t mange what we don’t measure, and we won’t know the quality of our forages without first testing them. That said, find announcement of a reduced cost forage testing program in this week’s postings. (PS: This is hot off the press so give your local Extension office a minute to get up to speed on this new program!)

Articles this week include:

  • Cover Crop ‘Forage’ an Option for Prevented Planting Acres
  • OSU Extension Offering Hay Testing Program
  • Pregnancy evaluation = good return on the investment
  • Record High Cattle Prices
  • Imports and Exports in April

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County

“Let the buyer beware” doctrine applies to real estate sales in Ohio

Written by Peggy Kirk Hall, Attorney and Director, Agricultural & Resource Law Program

“Do your due diligence” is the lesson learned from a recent Ohio appeals court decision in a case alleging that a seller fraudulently induced a buyer in a real estate transaction. The Seventh District Court of Appeals rejected the buyer’s claim, stating that the doctrine of caveat emptor or “let the buyer beware” negated the fraudulent inducement argument because it placed a duty on the buyer to examine all “conditions open to observation.”  The court reasoned that the buyer could not blame the seller for fraud because the buyer had the duty to examine public records that provided accurate information about the property.

The case

The conflict arose from the purchase of 143 acres of land in Belmont County, negotiated by two attorneys representing the parties.  The buyer was present throughout the negotiations and read all of the e-mail correspondences between the two attorneys.  The parties agreed to a purchase agreement, the buyer ordered a title search for the property, and the purchase took place.  The buyer later learned, however, that a third party held an easement and right-of-way on the property.  The easement allowed surface activities such as locating pipelines and well pads and restricted some development activities by the buyer. Continue reading “Let the buyer beware” doctrine applies to real estate sales in Ohio →

C.O.R.N. Newsletter: June 9-15

In this edition of the C.O.R.N. Newsletter:

  • Battle for the Belt: Season 3, Episode 11: June Weather Update – Maria Kessler, Laura Lindsey, Osler Ortez, Aaron Wilson, Taylor Dill, Diego Miranda
  • Lep Monitoring Network Update #7 – Corn earworm and Western Bean Cutworm – Trevor Mullen, Rosalind Holt-Frank, Evan Hodkinson, Amy Raudenbush, Nic Baumer, JD Bethel, Trevor Corboy, Mary Jo Hassen, Seth Kannberg, Garth McDorman, Jordan Penrose, Beth Scheckelhoff, Mike Sunderman, Kyle Verhoff, Jacob Winters, Andy Michel, Kelley Tilmon
  • Statewide Slug Monitoring Project – Update # 4 – Trevor Mullen, Rosalind Holt-Frank, Evan Hodkinson, Amy Raudenbush, John Barker, Nic Baumer, Amanda Barnum, Amanda Bennett, Pressley Buurma, Ken Ford, Seth Kannberg, Dean Kreager, Alan Leininger, Clifton Martin, CCA, Kendra Rose, Jocelyn Ruble, Clint Schroeder, Ryan Slaughter, Jacob Winters, Tracy Winters, Ted Wiseman, Kelley Tilmon
  • June Considerations When Using the Prevented Planting Option – Eric Richer, CCA, Dr. Carl Zulauf, Aaron Wilson

C.O.R.N. Newsletter is a summary of crop observations, related information, and appropriate recommendations for Ohio crop producers and industry. C.O.R.N. Newsletter is produced by the Ohio State University Extension Agronomy Team, state specialists at The Ohio State University and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC). C.O.R.N. Newsletter questions are directed to Extension and OARDC state specialists and associates at Ohio State.

BEEF Cattle Letter: June 4

Six new articles have been posted in this week’s issue number 1450 of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter: http://u.osu.edu/beef/

This week its all about managing weather, and pasture!

Articles this week include:

  • Weather Damage
  • You can’t manage what you don’t measure . . . including pasture!
  • Plentiful Pastures, a summer pasture walk
  • North American Manure Expo comes to Wauseon, Ohio
  • Help shape the future of Extension communication!
  • Beef Cow Slaughter on Pace for Ten Year Low

Newsletter release by Stan Smith, OSU Extension ANR Program Assistant, Fairfield County