Soil Testing Program

Autumn is one of the better times to collect a soil sample and get it sent to the lab.  The Extension Office is just one of many resources to help get this done.  We have soil test kits ready at the office available for $12 which will covers your lab fee.

Stop by to pick up test kits between 8:00am and 12:30 pm or 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm.  

 

 

Resources to help include:

Soil Testing for Ohio Lawns, Landscapes, Fruit Crops, and Vegetable Gardens

Interpreting a Soil Test Report

Fertility Management of Meadows

Soil Testing for Ohio Lawns, Landscapes, Fruit Crops, and Vegetable Gardens

Soil Acidity and Liming for Agronomic Production

Corn, Soybean, and Alfalfa Yield Responses to Micronutrient Fertilization in Ohio

2024 Ohio Farm Custom Rates Released

(This article originally posted at 2024 Ohio Farm Custom Rates Released | Ohio Ag Manager (osu.edu))

Farming is a complex business and many Ohio farmers utilize outside assistance for specific farm-related work. This option is appealing for tasks requiring specialized equipment or technical expertise. Often, having someone else with specialized tools perform tasks is more cost effective and saves time. Farm work completed by others is often referred to as “custom farm work” or more simply, “custom work”. A “custom rate” is the amount agreed upon by both parties to be paid by the custom work customer to the custom work provider.

Custom rates increased for the majority of field operations in 2024 as compared to surveyed rates in 2022 but the increases did vary by operation. Examples include an increase of 6% for Planting Corn (30 Inch Rows with Fertilizer Application), 5.6% for Harvesting Corn (Combine, Grain Cart, Haul Local to Farm), 21% for Spraying (Self-Propelled Sprayer, Crop Protection Chemicals) and 24% for Field Cultivator.

New field operations in this year’s survey and summary include drone/UAV application and cover crop seeding.

Ohio Farm Custom Rates

Click here for PDF of the 2024 Ohio Farm Custom Rates

The “Ohio Farm Custom Rates 2024” publication reports custom rates based on a statewide survey of 333 farmers, custom operators, farm managers, and landowners conducted in 2024. These rates, except where noted, include the implement and tractor if required, all variable machinery costs such as fuel, oil, lube, twine, etc., and labor for the operation.

Some custom rates published in this study vary widely, possibly influenced by:

  • Type or size of equipment used (e.g. 20-shank chisel plow versus a 9-shank)
  • Size and shape of fields
  • Condition of the crop (for harvesting operations)
  • Skill level of labor
  • Amount of labor needed in relation to the equipment capabilities
  • Cost margin differences for full-time custom operators compared to farmers supplementing current income

Some custom rates reflect discounted rates as the parties involved have family or community relationships. Discounted rates may also occur when the custom work provider is attempting to strengthen a relationship to help secure the custom farmed land in a future purchase, cash rental or other rental agreement. Some providers charge differently because they are simply attempting to spread their fixed costs over more acreage to decrease fixed costs per acre and are willing to forgo complete cost recovery.

Charges may be added if the custom provider considers a job abnormal such as distance from the operator’s base location, difficulty of terrain, amount of product or labor involved with the operation, or other special requirements of the custom work customer.

The data from this survey are intended to show a representative farming industry cost for specified machines and operations in Ohio. As a custom farm work provider, the average rates reported in this publication may not cover your total costs for performing the custom service. As a customer, you may not be able to hire a custom service for the average rate published in this factsheet.

It is recommended that you calculate your own costs carefully before determining the custom rate to charge or pay. It may be helpful to compare the custom rates reported in this fact sheet with machinery costs calculated by economic engineering models available online. The following resources are available to help you calculate and consider the total costs of performing a given machinery operation.

  • Farm Machinery Cost Estimates, available by searching University of Minnesota.
  • Illinois Farm Management Handbook, available by searching University of Illinois farmdoc.
  • Estimating Farm Machinery Costs, available by searching Iowa State University agriculture decision maker and machinery management.

Volatility in diesel price may sometimes cause concern for custom rate providers that seek to cover all or most of the costs associated with custom farm operations. The approximate price of diesel fuel during the survey period (January – April 2024) ranged from $3.20 – $3.50 per gallon for off-road (farm) usage. As a custom farm work provider, if you feel that your rate doesn’t capture your full costs due to fuel price increases you might consider a custom rate increase or fuel surcharge based on the increase in fuel costs.

The complete “Ohio Farm Custom Rates 2024” publication is available online at the Farm Office website: https://farmoffice.osu.edu/farm-management/custom-rates-and-machinery-cost

 

Author information:

Barry Ward (Leader, Production Business Management, Ohio State University Extension, Agriculture and Natural Resources), Eric Richer (Field Specialist, Farm Management, Ohio State University Extension, Agriculture and Natural Resources), John Barker (Extension Educator, Agriculture/Amos Program, Ohio State University Extension Knox County) and Amanda Bennett (Extension Educator, Agriculture & Natural Resources, Ohio State University Extension Miami County)

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Alexus Masterson Starts as Family and Consumer Sciences Educator in Muskingum County

The Muskingum County office of Ohio State University Extension is pleased to announce that Alexus Masterson has been hired as the Family and Consumer Science Educator. She will provide leadership to the Muskingum County Family and Consumer Science program, which consists of clientele at many stages of life, from birth to death.

Alexus is a native of Morgan County and has served as the Family and Consumer Science Program Assistant in the Washington County Extension office for the past 9 months. During that time, she coordinated Food Preservation classes, Healthy Living programs, and Real Money. Real World., while helping to deliver many other aspects of the county FCS program. She is a 4-H Alumni of 7 years from Morgan County as well.

Alexus obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Community and Public Health from Ohio University and a Master of Public Health from Ohio University.

Contact Alexus at 740-454-0144 or masterson.98@osu.edu

ODA Free Farm Pesticide Disposal Collection Event Will Be at the Morgan County Fairgrounds August 9

Link to ODA Press Release

August 9, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.: Morgan County, Morgan County Fairgrounds
2760 South Riverside Drive, McConnelsville, Ohio 43756

The pesticide collection and disposal services are free of charge, but only farm chemicals will be accepted. Paint, antifreeze, solvents and household or non-farm pesticides will not be accepted.

The pesticide collections are sponsored by ODA in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. To pre-register, or for more information, contact the Ohio Department of Agriculture at 614-728-6987.

Participating in statewide lepidopteran moth trapping network

I am participating in the statewide moth trapping network that monitors key pests in agronomic crops which are reported through the Crop Observation and Recommendation Network (CORN).  We are currently trapping for True Armyworm, Black Cutworm and have setup traps for European Corn Borer.

Updates and reports are here:

Lep Monitoring Network Update #2 – Black Cutworm & True Armyworm 

Lep Monitoring Network – Ohio Black Cutworm and True Armyworm Monitoring

Muskingum Youth Horticulture Education Project Application

The Muskingum County Master Gardener Volunteer Program is offering a spring project for teachers or youth leaders with an interest in horticulture.  This year (2023), teachers and youth leaders in Muskingum County may apply for a seed starting kit by completing the attached application. We expect that they will be used in conjunction with instruction about seed germination, pollination, and growing food as appropriate.

Twenty kits will be available. If more applications than that are received by the deadline of February 24, 2023, awards will be made in order of date submitted. Kits include labels, growing media, seeds, and three 24-cell self-watering seed starting tray systems.  We hope these can aid in in providing an enjoyable experience for you in your classroom.

The application is available here: go.osu.edu/mgvedgrant.

The application is very similar to last year, with an added question about the need for supplemental lighting.  We may have the opportunity to loan some light resources for some projects, but not all, so if you believe that would be helpful please indicate as appropriate in your application.