Month: May 2021

Corn Replant Decisions

By:  Alexander Lindsey

As the weather has turned warm this past week, many of our fields planted in April/early May should be emerged or be in the process of emerging. Cool temperatures paired with rain over the last few weeks may have resulted in seeds sitting in the ground longer than expected, or some fields experiencing imbibitional chilling or surface crusting as the soil dried. These conditions could result in stand reductions by preventing seeds from successfully germinating and emerging (Fig. 1). Concerns about stand have been raised with these earlier planted fields and this article discusses some considerations when making the replant decisions. Continue reading →

One Question Could Save Someone’s Life

By:  Bridget Britton, Extension Field Specialist, Behavioral Health

The month of May helps us to be aware that warm weather is inching toward Ohio, it is also Mental Health Awareness month. May is a time to help us gain awareness and understanding of persons with mental or behavioral health problems or difficulties. Mental health professionals, such as counselors, are trained and educated to help those struggling with mental or behavioral health challenges. However, did you know that even if you are not a trained professional this may be helpful to those silently struggling? Read on to learn more about a training anyone in the community can take to gain knowledge on how to help those struggling in a potential mental health crisis. Continue reading →

GDD Accumulation Rebounds in May

By:  Stephanie Karhoff

Growing degree day (GDD) accumulation for the month of May rebounded after a week of above normal temperatures. In Williams County, 278 GDD were accumulated from May 1 to May 25, compared to 189 GDD in 2020. The 30-year average is 266 GDD.  (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Comparison of Total GDD Accumulation from May 1 to May 25 in Williams County

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Management Considerations for Beef x Dairy Calves

This article originally appeared in the Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter at https://u.osu.edu/beef/2021/05/12/management-considerations-for-beef-x-dairy-calves/

Regardless the genetics of cattle you’re feeding, you will find value in listening to this three part webinar series.

While dairy steers have been an important part of the beef supply chain for some time, feeding half blood dairy steers sired by beef bulls has become a popular and more common practice in recent years. During the spring of 2021, Garth Ruff, Ohio State University Extension Beef Field Specialist, and Jerad Jaborek, Feedlot Systems Extension Educator at Michigan State University, hosted a three part webinar series on management considerations for beef sired calves from dairy cows that covered a variety of topics related to marketing, genetics, and management of crossbred beef x dairy cattle. Continue reading →

Soybean Stand Evaluation and Re-Plant Decisions

By:  Laura Lindsey

Last week I checked-out our ultra-early soybean planting trials in South Charleston and Wooster (funded by Ohio Soybean Council). Both locations had soybeans planted on April 5/6 and April 28. At the Wooster location (northeastern OH), the soybeans planted on April 6 were emerging with the most advanced plants between the VE (cotyledons above the soil surface) and VC growth stage (unifoliate leaves unrolled and not touching). Soybeans planted on April 28 had not yet emerged at the Wooster location. In South Charleston (western OH), soybeans planted on April 6 were at the VC stage. The soybeans planted on April 28 were beginning to emerge. Continue reading →

How many Growing Degree Days have we Accumulated?

By:  Stephanie Karhoff

Spring began with spurts of unseasonable warmth in April followed by a cool, wet period this past week.

In April, 188 growing degree days (GDD) were accumulated in Bryan. The 30-year average of GDD accumulated for  April is 167. Mother Nature, however, turned off the heat. We gained only 60 GDD from May 1-10, compared to the 30-year average of 111 GDD.

Continue reading →

Adapting Burndown Programs to Late-Planted Situations

By:  Mark Loux

It’s déjà vu all over again.  We have run this article every few years, and it seems like maybe the frequency is increasing as we deal with wet and cold weather that delays planting.  The questions about this have not changed much, and neither have the suggestions we provide here.  One of the most common questions, predictably, is how to kill glyphosate-resistant marestail and giant ragweed and generally big weeds in soybeans when it’s not possible to delay planting long enough to use 2,4-D ester (Enlist soybeans excluded since there is no wait to plant).  Overwintered marestail plants become tougher to kill in May, so this is an issue primarily in fields not treated last fall.  The good news is that we have more effective herbicide/trait options for help with burndown compared with a few years ago.  The bad news is that nothing we suggest here is going to be infallible on large marestail. Continue reading →

What’s Going on with Lumber Prices?

By: Brent Sohngen, Professor Environmental and Natural Resource Economics.

This article was originally published at: https://u.osu.edu/aede/2021/05/08/whats-going-on-with-lumber-prices/

In case you haven’t noticed, lumber prices have increased a lot over the last year.  Based on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Lumber Price Index, which you can find here, lumber prices have increased 180% since April, 2020.  This increase started last fall, and has continued ever since. So, why have they risen, and how high will they go?

Let’s start with the first question, why have they risen?  The economic explanation is relatively straightforward: Demand rose rapidly due to pandemic related building, and supply is really inelastic, as we say in economics.  Thus, while the demand of wood has increased dramatically, the supply of wood hasn’t been able to keep up.  Let’s break this down. Continue reading →