Month: June 2020

Looking for soybean fields with late season waterhemp

By:  Mark Loux

OSU weed scientists and ag engineers are looking for soybean fields that have populations of waterhemp or Palmer amaranth surviving into July and August (after all control with herbicides has been attempted).  We have a project involving the use of a drone to identify these weeds in mid to late season when they are evident above the soybean canopy.  We need fields with more than just a few surviving plants.  Populations consisting of a few good patches up though a disaster are fine.  Contact Mark Loux – loux.1@osu.edu, 614-395-2440.  Thanks in advance for your help.

Ohio Department of Agriculture Partners with OSU Extension to Provide Online Pesticide Recertification Opportunities

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (June 29, 2020) – During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), is partnering with the Ohio State University Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) to temporarily provide online recertification for pesticide applicators and fertilizer certificate holders whose licenses expired in spring of 2020. The online recertification will be available Monday, July 6. For commercial applicators, it will be available August 10. For more information or to register for the online recertification, visit pested.osu.edu/onlinerecert. Continue reading Ohio Department of Agriculture Partners with OSU Extension to Provide Online Pesticide Recertification Opportunities →

Western Bean Cutworm Monitoring Begins in Williams County

By:  Stephanie Karhoff

Western Bean Cutworm Trap

Western Bean Cutworm (WBC) moth pheromone traps were placed at the edge of corn fields throughout the county last week. This year, there are a total of three traps in the county. For the first week of monitoring (6/17 – 6/24) there were 0.66 moths per trap. You can learn more about this pest by clicking here to access the OSU Extension Western Bean Cutworm Factsheet. Continue reading Western Bean Cutworm Monitoring Begins in Williams County →

Cover Crop Considerations After Wheat

By:  Jason Hartschuh, OSU Extension AgNR Educator, Crawford County (originally published in The Ohio Farmer)

Wheat provides many additional opportunities for your operation. These options include drainage improvements, weed-control timing, double-crop soybeans, double-crop forages, compaction mitigation, and soil building through cover crops. From the time wheat is harvested, there is about nine months for weeds to grow and soil to erode. If double-crop soybeans are not planted, the use of cover crops will protect the soil and assist with weed control. High populations of cover crops provide competition and soil cover to control weeds. Continue reading Cover Crop Considerations After Wheat →

The Nature Conservancy Seeks Cover Crop Farmers in the Maumee River Watershed

By:  Stephanie Singer, TNC Western Lake Erie Basin Outreach Education Specialist, Stephanie.Singer@tnc.org,

DEFIANCE, Ohio (June 9th, 2020) – The Nature Conservancy is looking for farmers who are currently utilizing cover crops on their farms in the Maumee River Watershed of the Western Lake Erie Basin.  We are looking for a diverse group of farmers; large acreage, small acreage, corn and soy, small grains, livestock, new and experienced, willing to reach out and share their knowledge and experiences with other farmers in their area.  Selected farmers will be compensated for their time.  If you are interested in being part of this exciting farmer led outreach project and would like to apply as a Farmer Advocate for Conservation please complete the online application form by using this Link.  Or by contacting Stephanie Singer, Stephanie.Singer@tnc.org, Phone: 419-782-0652. Continue reading The Nature Conservancy Seeks Cover Crop Farmers in the Maumee River Watershed →

Farm Office Live Returns June 25

OSU Extension Williams County is pleased to again partner with our statewide Farm Office Team to present Farm Office Live. For those of you who have not yet participated, this is a discussion among our agricultural economists, lawyers, and farm management specialists as we help Ohio farmers navigate through the COVID-19 stimulus packages and everyday economic challenges. Continue reading Farm Office Live Returns June 25 →

Ohio Department of Agriculture: dicamba use in Ohio ends June 30, 2020

By:  Peggy Hall

The dicamba roller coaster ride continues today, with a statement issued by the Ohio Department of Agriculture clarifying that the use of XtendiMax, Engenia, and FeXapan dicamba-based products in Ohio will end as of June 30, 2020.  Even though the US EPA has issued an order allowing continued use of the products until July 31, 2020, use in Ohio must end on June 30 because the Ohio registrations for the three dicamba-based products expire on that day. Continue reading Ohio Department of Agriculture: dicamba use in Ohio ends June 30, 2020 →

True Armyworm Infestations

By:  Andy Michel, Curtis Young, CCA, Kelley Tilmon

We received many reports of true armyworm infestations in wheat, barley, and corn. These are black or green caterpillars with stripes along the side and orange heads.  In the spring, true armyworm moths migrate from the south and lay eggs in grasses such as forage and weed grasses, winter wheat and barley, and rye cover crops.  When the eggs hatch, the larvae can significantly damage wheat and barley before then moving to young corn. Usually, moth flights occur in April, but we may have had a second peak the first or second week of May—it’s likely the caterpillars feeding now are from this later flight. Right now, wheat, barley, and corn should be inspected for true armyworm populations. Armyworms like to hide during the day and feed at night, so scouting should occur at dusk or dawn, and/or on cloudy days. Continue reading True Armyworm Infestations →