Agronomy

2023 eFields Booklet Now Available!

The 2023 eFields Book is now available in local Extension Offices. The eFields booklet is a free publication that highlights on-farm research from around the state. The topics in this year’s copy are Corn, Soybean, Small Grain, Forages, Water Quality, Tech, and Other. Each of these sections highlights research conducted during the 2023 growing season. This booklet hosts a lot of exciting information that can assist agriculturists in their management decisions. Stop into the Extension Office to pick up your copy today!

The companion copy of this book for livestock is eBarns. The 2022 copy of this report is available at this link. This publication also covers on-farm research from across the state in the areas of Forages, Dairy, Beef, Small Ruminant, Manure Nutrients, Swine, and Poultry.

Williams County Crop Update – October 16, 2023

All information is representative of the Williams County Area. Based on the Bryan Zip Code, over last week and this weekend, the accumulated rainfall hovered around 1.2 inches. Temperatures have not dipped below freezing yet, the average date for the first has passed, so freezing temperatures should be expected at any point.

Corn harvest is just getting started, and not a lot of acres have been harvested yet. The acres that have been harvested have been coming off with high moisture, 18-25%. There has been vomitoxin reported; however, the levels are below concern. Soybeans are around 60% harvested. At the beginning of harvest, the soybeans were coming in dry around 12-13% moisture; however, with the recent rainfall and cloud cover, soybeans are coming in on the wetter side with 15-17% moisture. The current average has hovered around 60 bushels per acre, with the range being 50-70 bushels per acre. Wheat is beginning to be planted and fields are also being tilled as the crops come off the field.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is currently monitoring Box Tree Moth (BTM) (Cydalima perspectalis, family Crambidae). It is currently being found in southwest Ohio. It is the first time this nonnative boxwood defoliator has been found in Ohio. For more information, visit the ODA website or the article published on Buckeye Yard & Garden online (Boxwood Tree Moth Article).

Pesticide Applicator Licensing Information

Who needs a Private Pesticide license?

A Private Pesticide Applicator license is required for individuals who desire to use a RESTRICTED USE pesticide on their crops or plants.  No license is required for the use of GENERAL USE pesticides. All holders of a Private Pesticide Applicator license must carry the CORE category, as well as any other categories that are relevant.

Category 1: Grain and Cereal Crops
Category 2: Forage Crops and Livestock
Category 3: Fruit and Vegetable Crops
Category 4: Nursery and Forest Crops
Category 5: Greenhouse Crops
Category 6: Fumigation
Category 7: Specialty Uses

How do I get a Private Pesticide Applicator license?

1. Review study materials for the CORE category and any other categories you will need

2. Sign up for an exam on the Ohio Department of Agriculture site by selecting the date and location where you would like to test.

3. After you have successfully passed all exams, the ODA will send you an invoice for $30.  If there are exams you did not pass, you may retake the exam.  Only the exams not passed need to be retaken.

4. Once you return the invoice and payment, ODA will send you your Pesticide License

How do I renew my Private Pesticide Applicator license?

Renewals of the Private Pesticide Applicator license must take place every 3 years, prior to expiration on March 31.  To recertify, a total of 3 credit-hours of approved training must be documented, or you will have to retest.  Of this 3 hours, at least 1 hour must be in CORE, and at least 0.5 hours must be in each category that is on your license.  The balance of the 3 hours can be in any category.

3 hours = 1 hour CORE + 0.5 hours (each category) + [remaining hours in any category]

A list of trainings around Ohio can be found here.

How can I check the status of my obtained recertification credits?

The ODA will send a renewal notice several months before your license is set to expire.  This notice will include a record of any accumulated credits since your last license renewal.  You can also get information about accumulated credits by using the ODA webpage and clicking “Recert Information” on the left side.  You will need your License ID and last name.  You can also call the ODA at 614-728-6987.

Who needs a Commercial Pesticide Applicator license?

A Commercial Pesticide Applicator license is required for use of any pesticide (both GENERAL USE and RESTRICTED USE) in the following settings:

  • Custom agriculture applicator
  • Lawncare of landscape company
  • Highway/utility/railroad maintenance
  • Township/city/village owned areas (including parks)
  • Schools/colleges/universities/daycares
  • Apartment complexes (if 4 or more units)
  • Restaurants/food service business
  • Golf courses
  • Hospitals/medical centers

How do I get a Commercial Pesticide Applicator license?

1. Complete the application form and send to ODA with a $35 fee.

2. ODA will send you a set of study materials.  Review these materials and consider attending a New Applicator School.

3. Sign up for an exam on the Ohio Department of Agriculture site by selecting the date and location where you would like to test.

4. After you have successfully passed all exams, the ODA will send you a Commercial Pesticide Applicator license.  If there are exams you did not pass, you may retake the exam.  Only the exams not passed need to be retaken.

How do I renew my Commercial Pesticide Applicator license?

In order to maintain a Commercial Pesticide Applicator license, a $35 fee must be paid annually.

In addition, a Commercial Pesticide Applicator must be re-certified every 3 years, prior to expiration on March 31.  To recertify, a total of 5 credit-hours of approved training must be documented.  Of this 5 hours, at least 1 hour must be in CORE, and at least 0.5 hours must be in each category that is on your license.  The balance of the 5 hours can be in any category.

5 hours = 1 hour CORE + 0.5 hours (each category) + [remaining hours in any category]

Please note that Private Pesticide Re-certification credits do not apply toward the Commercial Pesticide Applicator re-certification requirement.

Information about upcoming recertification opportunities can be found here.

How can I check the status of my obtained recertification credits?

You can find information about accumulated credits by using the ODA webpage.  You will need your License ID and last name.  You can also call the ODA at 614-728-6987.

For additional information about a Pesticide Business license, Pesticide Dealer license, Wood-Destroying Insect Inspection category, or to become a Trained Serviceperson, please visit the Ohio State Pest Ed Department website.

Battle for the Belt: Corn vs. Soybean

Have you ever wondered or debated with others on which crop should be planted first – corn or soybean?

  • Which crop has the smallest yield penalty for delayed planting?
  • Can you adjust your management practices to mitigate losses due to late planting?
  • How are insects, diseases, weeds, and other factors affected by planting date?

For soybean and corn, earlier planting is promoted to maximize yield; however, the planting date window is often short and disconnected due to bad weather. As a result farmers often ‘debate’ which crop should be planted first – corn or soybean.

Follow along with Dr. Laura Lindsey and Dr. Osler Ortez as they ‘Battle for the Belt’. Videos and updates will be posted on the CORN newsletter and the AgCrops Team Youtube channel. Click here to access the YouTube playlist.

Research: the plan is to conduct field experiments at three locations in 2023: Western, Northwest, and Wooster. Five planting date windows:

  1. Ultra-early (first two weeks of April)
  2. Early (second two weeks of April)
  3. Normal (first two weeks of May)
  4. Late (last two weeks of May)
  5. Very late (first two weeks of June)

Corn and soybean will be planted side by side on each planting date. The plan is to repeat the study in 2024.

Extension: on the extension side, we plan on having short, bi-weekly video updates from the field that will be advertised through the CORN newsletter, YouTube, and Twitter. Video updates will include agronomists (OSU and others), other specialists (e.g., plant pathology, weed science, entomology), and farmers. Each will ‘weigh’ the benefits/drawbacks of planting each crop too early or too late. In addition, the research outcomes will be presented as extension articles and talks at extension programming events and field days across the state.

 

Farmers: Share Your Thoughts on Cover Crops in the National Cover Crop Survey

Farmers are invited to share their thoughts on cover crops in an online survey at bit.ly/CoverCrop23. Why do you plant cover crops…or why don’t you? What do you want to know? Your insight will help guide research, communications, seed development, and more.

This National Cover Crop Survey is the seventh since 2012 conducted by the USDA-NIFA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), with the help of Informa/Farm Progress.

“Since 2012, the National Cover Crop Survey has been extremely valuable in helping guide research priorities, direct communications and education efforts, provide data to researchers, and illustrate the effects of policy on cover crop use and adoption,” says Dr. Rob Myers, regional director of extension programs for North Central SARE and director of the University of Missouri Center for Regenerative Agriculture. “Data from previous surveys have been used in scientific papers, business planning, extension efforts, media coverage of cover crops, and even included in testimony to Congress.”

Please take a few minutes to contribute your voice at bit.ly/CoverCrop23. After completing the questionnaire, you may enter a drawing for one of three $100 Visa gift cards.

H2Ohio

Updates and Reminders from the Soil & Water Conservation District:

If you CURRENTLY have a 2021/2022/2023 H2Ohio Program Contract, the following are Important Details:

  • The following items need to be turned in to the Williams SWCD office by JANUARY 31, 2023, if they apply to you:
    • 2022 Crop Year Paperwork for manure, cover crop practices, and wheat for 2023 needs to be turned in by January 31, 2023
    • Subsurface placement fertilizer bills and fields that are applied to with maps
    • VRT AS Applied Maps if any fall application
    • Manure fields applied to AND As Applied Records for those fields (Manure Tool)
    • Cover crop seed tags, field maps, and date planted
  • VRT & Subsurface Payments have been made for 2022 if the producer has turned in the correct paperwork.
  • If you have not been paid for 2022 VNMP Implementation or other practices like 2022 VRT Phosphorus Application and/or Subsurface Phosphorus Placement, please contact Steve as soon as possible.

Contact Steve Slattman, Williams Soil & Water Conservation District, H2Ohio District Technician, at (419) 636-9395, with your questions.

Replanting Decisions in Corn and Soybeans… What to Consider

By:  Osler Ortez, Laura Lindsey, and Alexander Lindsey

Early plantings, cold air and soil temperatures, precipitation, wind, and warmer temperatures during or after planting may lead to reduced stands in planted fields due to factors such as imbibitional chilling, frost damage, soil crusting, and standing water. These factors (or combinations of them) can negatively affect seedling vigor, plant growth, crop establishment, and plant stands. Reduced stands may result in lower yields. If reduced stands are a concern, a potential solution is to replant fields. However, before replanting, here is a list of steps to consider: Continue reading →

Making On-Farm Trials Easy

By:  Taylor Dill and Elizabeth Hawkins

Planting season is upon us and is a little behind in comparison to last year. Many producers are planning on evaluating input costs and management practices on their farm this season to improve economic efficiency and stay profitable. However, there are some ways to plan on-farm research to get the most accurate data, and therefore make the best decision for your farm. Continue reading →

2022 Northwest Ohio Agronomic Crops Day

The Northwest Ohio Agronomic Crops Day will be held February 9 from 8 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. at Bavarian Haus, 3814 OH-18 Deshler, Ohio 43516.

Registration before February 4th is $45.  After February 4th, the cost increases to $55.

RSVP Details:  RSVP by February 4th, 2022. Registration is mandatory, no walk-ins. A meal is included with registration.

Contact:  Alan Leininger, 419-592-0806, leininger.17@osu.edu Continue reading →

June 24th CORN Live Webinar Focuses on Weeds in Soybeans and Wheat Harvest

By:  Mary Griffith, Amanda Douridas, Mike Estadt, Will Hamman

The next session of CORN Live is this Thursday, June 24th from 8:00 – 9:00 am. This week’s webinar will touch on a variety of issues, starting with a crop progress report and field updates from Jason Hartschuh, Extension Educator in Crawford County, and a review of weed management in soybeans with Mark Loux, Professor and Extension Specialist in Weed Science at OSU. Continue reading →