Agricultural Nutrients

How Ohio’s Proposed Pesticide Rules Could Affect Teens Working on Farms

By: Jeffrey K. Lewis, Esq., Legal Associate, Agricultural and Resource Law Program, Income Tax Schools
Posted Friday, May 16th, 2025 on https://farmoffice.osu.edu/blog/proposed-pesticide-rules-could-affect-teens
Help wanted sign in front of corn field.

On April 9, 2025, the Ohio House of Representatives passed its version of the state’s biennial budget, also known as House Bill 96, which introduces substantial revisions to Ohio’s pesticide application laws. These updates aim to bring the state into closer alignment with current federal regulations and carry significant implications, particularly for family farms that involve youth workers. As the school year ends and more minors begin working regularly on farms, the timing of these proposed changes raises concerns about how they may limit the roles young people can legally perform, especially when it comes to pesticide-related tasks.

Changes on the Horizon?
One of the most notable changes is the proposed restriction that only licensed commercial or private pesticide applicators may “use” Restricted Use Pesticides (“RUPs”). This would eliminate the previous allowance for trained service persons, immediate family members, or employees to apply RUPs under the direct supervision of a licensed applicator.

Additionally, House Bill 96 expands the definition of “use” of RUPs to include not only the act of application but also:

  1. Pre-application activities such as mixing and loading;
  2. The application itself, performed by a licensed commercial or private applicator;
  3. Other pesticide-related tasks include transporting or storing opened containers, cleaning equipment, and disposing of leftover pesticides, spray mixtures, rinse water, containers, or any materials containing pesticides.

The bill makes clear that no individual may use RUPs unless they are properly licensed under Ohio law, reinforcing the importance of formal certification for anyone involved in pesticide handling.

Continue reading How Ohio’s Proposed Pesticide Rules Could Affect Teens Working on Farms →

2025 Second Quarter Fertilizer Prices Across Ohio

For those of you tracking fertilizer pricing, here is the report for the Second Quarter in Ohio.

The second quarter results from a survey of Ohio fertilizer retailers showed prices in Ohio were generally lower compared to the national averages reported by Progressive Farmer – DTN (Quinn, April 2025). The survey was completed by nine retailers, representing nine counties, who do business in the state of Ohio. Respondents were asked to quote spot prices as of the first day of the quarter (April 1st) based on sale type.

The survey found the average prices of fertilizer were lower in Ohio compared to the national prices for all major fertilizers except DAP. However, only two were significantly lower (more than 5%): 28% UAN was 10% lower and 10-34-0 APP was 6% lower than the national average. The national average price for DAP was the same as in Ohio.

When compared to prices from the last quarter’s Ohio survey, three fertilizers were up significantly (more than 5%): 28% UAN, up to $341/ton from $292/ton; urea, up to $561/ton from $491/ton; and potash, up to $449/ton from $415/ton.

When compared to the April 2024 average Ohio prices, the April 2025 average Ohio prices were slightly lower for anhydrous, 28% UAN, MAP, DAP, and potash. Ammonium sulfate is the only product that saw a significant price increase (+20.2%) in the last year. Urea, ammonium thiosulfate, and poultry litter remained relatively unchanged (+/-1%) from one year ago.

The chart linked in the report (Table 1.) is the summary of the survey responses. The responses (n) are the number of survey responses for each product. The minimum and maximum values reflect the minimum and maximum values reported in the survey. The average is the simple average of all survey responses for each product rounded to the nearest dollar. We recognize that many factors influence a company’s spot price for fertilizer including but not limited to availability, geography, volume, cost of freight, competition, regulation, etc.

2025 Overholt Drainage School (March 10 – 14, The Ohio State University Lima Campus) Registration closes on Feb. 28th

The 5-day Overholt Drainage School will cover a wide range of topics including planning, design and installation, drainage economics, topographic mapping, drainage law, GPS surveying, drainage design software, and conservation practices to manage water quality. The program is open to anyone interested in subsurface drainage design and installation, including drainage contractors, professional engineers, district technicians, consultants, NRCS, and agency professionals. Landowners and producers who intend to install or repair drainage systems on their own can greatly benefit by learning the key principles of drainage design and installation. Training is provided by a team of experts from The Ohio State University, experienced professionals from federal and state agencies such as the Ohio Department of Agriculture, and industry partners like the Ohio chapter of Land Improvement Contractors of America (OLICA). Check out the official flyer and agenda.

Cost: The cost of registration is $600 with discounts available for OLICA members, former Overholt School attendees, and multiple attendees from the same family, company, or agency. Lunch is included in the registration.

Registration information: Visit www.go.osu.edu/ODS25 for print and online registration forms, detailed session information, and hotel information. Availability may be limited, so early registration is encouraged. The registration deadline is February 28. Please contact me (shedekar.1@osu.edu) with any questions.

Training Schedule: Please see the attached flyer for a detailed agenda. Note that Day 1 on March 10th is optional for advanced participants.

Join OSU Extension at the Small Farms Conference in Wooster, Ohio

Ohio State Extension announced plans to host a Small Farm Conference in Wooster, OH on March 8th. The theme for this year’s Small Farm Conference is “Sowing Seeds for Success.”

Conference session topics are geared to beginning and small farm owners as well as to farms looking to diversify their operations. There will be five different conference tracks including Horticulture and Crop Production, Business Management, Livestock, Natural Resources, and Diversifying Your Enterprise. Check out the official program guide here. Continue reading Join OSU Extension at the Small Farms Conference in Wooster, Ohio →

Register for Water Quality Wednesdays!

The Water Quality Team’s fifth annual webinar series, Water Quality Wednesdays, is back for 2025! Join OSU’s Water Quality Extension Associates for the series focusing on the interaction between agriculture and water quality. Each webinar will have a unique topic and speakers. We will be hosting three webinars, on the last Wednesday of the month, from January to March in 2025. Continuing education credits (CEUs) will be offered for Certified Crop Advisers (CCAs) for each webinar. Certified Livestock Manager (CLM) CEUs will be offered for relevant topics. All webinars will be recorded and posted to the OSU Agronomy Team YouTube channel (go.osu.edu/AgronomyYouTube) for later viewing. CEUs will not be available from the recordings.

The first webinar will be held on Wednesday, January 29 from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM. See the official flyer here 2025 WQW Series Flyer. Register at go.osu.edu/WQW25!

For more information, contact Rachel Cochran, Cochran.474@osu.edu, (567)344-5016 or visit waterqualityextension.osu.edu.

 

2024 Virtual Soil Health Tour

Ohio State University Extension’s fourth annual Soil Health Tour is live for 2024! This year’s virtual tour partnered with Michigan State University to showcase conservation practices in action through the Western Lake Erie Basin of Ohio and Michigan. Five tour stops showcase individual farmers who have implemented different conservation practices on their farms. Each producer’s video interview with an Extension staff member discusses the practice they are utilizing, why they chose to implement it, benefits they have seen thus far, and changes they would make, if any if they did it all over again. In addition to those sites, we are showcasing 8 regional locations of a study that members of OSU Extension have completed over the past few years, looking at soil health across the state. To view the interactive StoryMap, visit go.osu.edu/SHTour24.

If you enjoy learning about conservation practices in action, consider joining us for an event on February 20th, 2025, at Northwest State Community College. This event, Success Stories of Conservation, will be a place for farmers, landowners, and technical support staff to openly discuss how conservation has worked for them, as well as their challenges with these practices. More information can be found at our website, waterqualityextension.osu.edu.

Register for the Quarterly Grain Market Conversations in 2025

OSU Extension invites grain producers and industry personnel to save the dates for the quarterly grain market conversations with Dr. Seungki Lee, Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics (AEDE). These quarterly zooms will be held on February 14, May 16, August 15, and November 14.  Each Zoom will be held from 7:30 – 8:00 a.m.

During these Zoom webinars, Dr. Lee will provide his insights on the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) crop report. “These early morning webinars will be a great way for Ohio farmers to learn more about the factors impacting the corn, soybean, and wheat markets,” said David Marrison, Interim Director for OSU Extension’s Farm Financial Management and Policy Institute.  Producers are encouraged to bring their questions to this early morning conversation.

Official Flyer of Event

There is no fee to attend this quarterly webinar session. Pre-registration can be made at go.osu.edu/coffeewithDrLee

These webinars are sponsored by: OSU Extension, the Farm Financial Management & Policy Institute (FFMPI), and the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics (AEDE).

Register Now for the January 9-10 Ohio State Organic Grains Conference

Registration is open for the 3rd annual Ohio State Organic Grains Conference, January 9-10, 2025, at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Sandusky, Ohio. The conference offers programming for experienced organic growers, growers transitioning to or considering organic, and consultants or educators who support these growers.

“Attendance last year was encouraging,” says conference director Eric Richer. “There’s a growing interest in organic production and practices. We’re pleased to move to a larger venue that allows organic farm equipment to be displayed at our trade show and more room for concurrent sessions and networking.”

Featured speakers for 2025 include Erin Silva, University of Wisconsin-Madison State Extension Specialist in Organic and Sustainable Cropping Systems; Damon DeSutter of DeSutter Farms in Attica, Ind.; Osler Ortez, Ohio State Corn and Emerging Crops Specialist; and Sophie Rivest-Auger, Organic Field Crop Advisor for Quebec’s Centre for Expertise and Transfer in Organic and Local Agriculture.

Additional farmers, researchers, and educators from Ohio and beyond will round out two full days of agronomic and farm management sessions. Topics for this year include interseeding cover crops in organic corn, flame cultivation, the use of biological products in organic production, setting up weed control equipment for success, nitrogen credits from cover crops and manure, and a market end-users panel.

The conference is presented by Ohio State University Extension’s Farm Office and Ohio State’s Organic Food & Farming Education and Research (OFFER) program. The event also receives input from a planning committee of Ohio State staff and researchers, educators from organic non-profits, and organic farmers, including Bridget Burgess. Burgees is the current president of the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association’s Organic Grain Growers Chapter and head of seed cleaning, compost operations, and sales at Hirzel Farms in Luckey, Ohio. She especially encourages growers new to organic to attend the January event.

“Any entry-level organic or transitioning farmer would benefit from time spent listening and networking with the growers at this conference,” says Burgess. “These are growers who were doing organic before it was cool,” she adds.

Registration is $175 from now through January 3. Continuing education credits will be available for Certified Crop Advisors. For more information, visit go.osu.edu/OrganicGrains.

Don’t forget to sign up for Paulding County Fertilizer and Pesticide Recertification on January 23

Farmers and agribusiness professionals are reminded to renew their Ohio Department of Agriculture private pesticide applicator license and private or commercial fertilizer license by the March 31, 2025, deadline. To assist with this process, the Ohio State University Extension in Paulding County will host its annual Fertilizer and Pesticide Recertification class on Thursday, January 23, 2025.

Noggle is reminding all that they must register online by January 17.

  • Payment by debit or credit card is only available through online registration and cannot be processed in person at the office. If you choose to pay with a credit or debit card, the registration link will direct you to a separate site called “QuickPay” to complete the payment. You will need to provide an email address and also check your email for an access code to proceed with the transaction. Please note that the access code is valid for only 5 minutes.
  • Pre-registration and pre-payment are required to ensure smooth check-in and prompt session starts. Register online at http://go.osu.edu/pauldingpatfert25

Continue reading Don’t forget to sign up for Paulding County Fertilizer and Pesticide Recertification on January 23 →

Get Ready to Dig into Soil Health with the 2025 Ohio State Soil Health Webinar Series!

Are you ready to expand your knowledge of soil health? The 2025 Ohio State Soil Health Webinar Series is here, bringing expert insights on hot topics requested by viewers in recent years.

This free, virtual series offers a unique opportunity to learn from leading researchers, educators, and farmers who are shaping the future of soil health. Recordings will be available through the Ohio State Extension Agronomic Crops Team page, but event planners encourage live participation. Joining live sessions allows attendees to ask questions, share insights, and engage in meaningful conversations with experts.

Register now at go.osu.edu/SoilHealthWeb to receive meeting links and calendar reminders. Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) can earn continuing education credits by attending live sessions. Continue reading Get Ready to Dig into Soil Health with the 2025 Ohio State Soil Health Webinar Series! →

Paulding County Pesticide and Fertilizer Recertification is schedule for January 23, 2025

Paulding County Fertilizer & Pesticide Recertification Classes

Attention Paulding County farmers and applicators! Mark your calendars for the Fertilizer and Pesticide Recertification Workshop on Tuesday, January 23, 2025. This is an important opportunity to renew your certifications and stay compliant while learning about the latest in fertilizer and pesticide management.

Event Details:

📅 Date: Tuesday, January 23, 2025
📍 Location: Paulding County Extension Office
503 Fairground Drive, Paulding, OH 45879

⏰ Schedule:

  • Fertilizer Recertification: 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
  • Pesticide Recertification: 9:45 AM – 12:45 PM

💲 Cost:

  • Fertilizer Only: $10
  • Pesticide Only: $35
  • Combo (Fertilizer + Pesticide): $45

🍴 Light snacks will be provided with registration.

Important Information:

🚨 Pre-registration is mandatory.Spots are limited, and no walk-ins will be accepted.

🗓️ Registration Deadline: January 17, 2025

🔗 Register Here: go.osu.edu/PauldingPATFERT25
(Scan the QR Code below for quick access!)

Contact Information:

For questions or additional information, contact:
Sarah Noggle
📧 Email: noggle.17@osu.edu
📞 Phone: (419) 399-8225

Don’t miss this chance to recertify, connect with other producers, and gain valuable knowledge for the upcoming growing season. Reserve your spot today! 🌾

NW Ohio Newsletter 2025

📬 The 2025 Northwest Ohio Newsletter is Coming!

Exciting news! The 2025 Northwest Ohio Newsletter will be hitting mailboxes near the end of December! 🗓️

Packed with the latest updates on agriculture, Extension programming, and community opportunities, this newsletter is your go-to resource for staying informed and connected.

Prefer to read online? 📲 Check out the Virtual Version here.

Stay tuned—there’s a lot to look forward to as we kick off a new year together! 🌾

#Agriculture #Extension #NWOhio #StayConnected #LeanOnYourLandGrant #PauldingCountyStrong #OSUE

Join Us for Fall 2024 Weeds University on November 21 – Paulding County host location

OSU Extension invites crop producers, CCAs, and agribusinesses to attend a regional at the Fall 2024 Ohio State Weeds University on Thursday, November 21, 2024, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. The program will take place at locations across the state. Locations include Darke, Highland, Sandusky, Licking, Paulding, and Mahoning counties. This program is designed to keep agronomic crop producers on the cutting edge of weed control for their operations. Topics addressed will include preharvest weeds survey results, drone applications of herbicides, burcucumber control, new herbicides, and new technology in weed science. Hands-on exercises such as weed ID with live plants will also be part of the program and tailored to local needs. This is an in-person event with a portion of the presentations being broadcast virtually at each regional location.

Featured presentations and speakers include: Continue reading Join Us for Fall 2024 Weeds University on November 21 – Paulding County host location →

NW Ohio Corn Fields Needed for Research Projects

Are you a farmer in Northwest Ohio who planted corn this year? The Water Quality Extension Associates are looking for partners to participate in an “End-of-Season Soil Nitrogen After Corn” study to help understand nitrogen use and efficiency and potential adjustments to N programs. OSU Extension will pay lab costs for up to two samples per farm.

For more information, please visit go.osu.edu/eosnitrogen or reach out to Rachel Cochran at cochran.474@osu.edu or Heather at torlina.1@osu.edu.

Farm Office Live Scheduled for October 18

OSU Extension will be offering the October Farm Office Live webinar on Friday, October 18 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.  Farm Office Live is a monthly webinar of updates and outlooks on legal, economic, and farm management issues that affect Ohio agriculture. Some of the topics that will be addressed during this webinar include Fall Crop Insurance Update, USDA Drought Assistance Programs, Legal Update, Tribute to Paul Wright, Practical Out of Country Labor Resource for Farms, 4th Quarterly Fertilizer Price Summary, and  Winter Program Update. Featured speakers include guest Farm Office members Peggy Hall, Jeff Lewis, David Marrison, Robert Moore, Eric Richer, and Clint Schroeder. Register for this and future Farm Office Live webinars through this link on farmoffice.osu.edu.

Save the Date: CAP Field Day on August 28, 2024

CAP Field Day
Nutrient Management
August 28, 2024   5-8 pm
Location – Todd Hesterman Farm
R 802 Rt 109, Napoleon, Ohio 43545

No Cost to Attend,  Meal Included,   Registration needed by August 26
Contact Alansundermeier@gmail.com  or call 419-261-0625

CAP Field Day: Nutrient Management

Join OABA for the 4R Technology Review Field Day on August 28

Education of audience on wagon

Article is taken from https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2024-23/join-oaba-4r-technology-review-field-day-august-28 by Aaron Heilers

Ohio AgriBusiness Association invites you to attend the free 2024 4R Technology Review Field Day.

The OABA 4R Technology Review Field Day event will bring together experts in the field of agriculture technology and conservation to share their knowledge and best practices for implementing 4R nutrient management. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the latest technology and techniques in fertilizer management, precision agriculture, and soil health. This is a great opportunity to learn about the latest advances in agriculture and connect with industry experts.

Join OABA for a day of informative presentations, field demonstrations, and networking opportunities. This event is perfect for farmers, crop advisers, ag retailers, and anyone else interested in maximizing crop yield and improving the quality of Ohio’s waterways.

Six hours of Continuing Education Credits will be available for Certified Crop Advisers in attendance.

The event will take place August 28, 2024 at The Ohio State University Wooster Campus Secrest Aboretum, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691. Please register online by clicking here.

Educational demonstrations and sessions for the day include:

  • Suflur, phosphours, and nitrogen management
  • Manure sensing equipment
  • Drones in agriculture
  • Best soil sampling practices

2024 Third Quarter Fertilizer Prices Across Ohio

Loading of fertilizer applicator

Article is taken from https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2024-23/2024-third-quarter-fertilizer-prices-across-ohio by Clint Schroeder, Eric Richer, CCA, Amanda Bennett

Results from a quarterly survey of retail fertilizer prices in the state of Ohio revealed fertilizer prices were slightly lower than the July national averages reported by Progressive Farmer for the second consecutive quarter – DTN (Quinn, 2024). The survey was completed by 17 retailers, representing 11 counties, who do business in the state of Ohio. Respondents were asked to quote spot prices as of the first day of the quarter (July 1st) based on sale type indicated. This is part of a larger study conducted by OSU Extension to better understand local fertilizer prices, which began in December 2023.

In summary, survey participants reported the average price of all fertilizers was lower in Ohio compared to the national prices, with Potash ($456/ton in Ohio versus $506/ton nationally) and 28% UAN ($309/ton in Ohio compared to $345/ton nationally) offering the largest discounts (Quinn, 2024).

Continue reading 2024 Third Quarter Fertilizer Prices Across Ohio →

Risk of Corn Grain Contamination with Vomitoxin in Ohio in 2024: July 8 Projection

Article taken from https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2024-22/risk-corn-grain-contamination-vomitoxin-ohio-2024-july-8 by Jason Hartschuh, CCA, Pierce Paul, Stephanie Karhoff, CCA

Mycotoxins, specifically deoxynivalenol (DON), commonly referred to as vomitoxin, has become a significant problem for Ohio corn growers. What was once considered an every-ten-year problem, has now become a yearly challenge in some sections of the state. DON contamination of grain is often associated with Gibberella ear rot (GER), a disease caused by the fungus Fusarium graminearum. The Ohio State University Cereal Pathology Lab led by Dr. Pierce Paul has been researching and developing weather-based models to predict when weather conditions are favorable for DON contamination of corn grain. The current models have an 80% accuracy at predicting when conditions are favorable for grain to be contaminated with at least 1 ppm DON, meaning that based on data collected so far, the models are correct about 8 out of 10 times at predicting whether DON contamination will reach or exceed 1 ppm.

The fungus that produces DON infects corn ears during pollination while silks are wet (R1 growth stage). Each week, we will be updating the models and share estimates of the chance of grain in various parts of the state being contaminated with at least 1 ppm DON. This information will be made available through the C.O.R.N newsletter. Predictions generated by these models should only be applied to corn pollinating during the model’s prediction model’s prediction window, which is specific for each area of the state and field within that area. As a result, each week predictions will likely change for the corn that is pollinating based on changes in weather conditions. Similarly, during any given week, predictions will likely change from one field to another based on hybrid maturity, planting date, and weather condition, all of which affect the silking/pollination window.

Continue reading Risk of Corn Grain Contamination with Vomitoxin in Ohio in 2024: July 8 Projection →

Virtual Manure Monday Registration

Manure Monday webinars are back. Manure Mondays Registration Form is included in the link below. Join the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs starting Monday, March 4th, 2024 at 2 pm to continue conversations about a variety of aspects dealing with manure management.

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs invites you to the 2024 Manure Monday Series. Sessions will be delivered through Zoom.  The sessions are free. When you register, you will be registered for all sessions. Registration link click here. Session dates will be March 4, 11, 18, and 25 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET.

  • March 4 – Recycling Sand – Emerging Technologies for Sand-laden Manure
  • March 11th–Manure Application Logistics and Field Strategies –making the most of every minute of application
  • March 18th-Manure Additives –Overview of what’s available and how they work
  • March 25 –Composting Bedded Pack Barns -The Ontario Study.

If you have any questions please contact us at by phone at 1-877-424-1300 or by email at ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca.