Top Headlines

Last week, warm and dry conditions dominated across the State, according to Ben Torrance, State Statistician, USDA NASS, Ohio Field Office. The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor report showed 18.5 percent of the State as abnormally dry or worse, a decrease from the previous week. Conditions matching the moderate drought rating were observed in 1.7 percent of the State. Topsoil moisture conditions were rated 2 percent very short, 23 short, 71 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Statewide, the average temperature for the week ending on August 6 was 71.3 degrees, 0.7 degrees below normal. Weather stations recorded an average of 0.17 inches of precipitation, 0.65 inches below average. There were 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 6. 

While crop condition ratings improved, crop progress for corn and soybeans remained near or behind the five-year average for the majority of the State. Southwestern counties experienced below-average moisture levels, leading some farmers to report crop stress.… Continue reading

It’s that time of the season for the Ohio Crop Tour with OSU Extension and Ohio Country Journal. In this podcast, Matt Reese and Dusty Sonnenberg are joined by Extension’s Greg LaBarge to discuss the major events of the growing season and what the travel crop sampling teams will be on the lookout for in the coming week. From yield estimates to season predictions, growers are getting into the fields and collecting data. 

Also in this week’s podcast:

Ohio State Fair Sale of Champions

Joel Penhorwood recaps the records and champions of the 2023 Ohio State Fair. 

Matt Bowers with Dye Real Estate

Matt Reese hears about current farmland prices, alternative energy sources, and evaluating your current land value. 

Between the Rows with Lawrence Onweller and Doug Miller 

Weekly farmer update from Fulton and Fayette counties discussing best practices with recent rain. 

GNG Ambassadors at the Fair 

Joel Penhorwood speaks with Grow Next Gen Ambassador, Shelbie Snoke, about new STEM-based activities they are bringing to county fairs and classrooms. … Continue reading

This summer, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) Director Anne Vogel announced that a comprehensive study of Ohio’s largest rivers shows tremendous improvements in water quality over the past several decades. 

During the 2020 and 2021 field seasons, Ohio EPA conducted a biological census of large rivers across the state. This census was accompanied by observations of water quality, sediment chemistry, and whole-body fish tissue for contaminant analysis. The census used 156 sites spaced at intervals of approximately 8.8 miles, according to the Ohio EPA. The goals of the census were twofold: 1) to obtain a complete picture of the status of Ohio’s large rivers to serve as baseline for future comparisons and to gauge progress in water quality improvements relative to prior surveys; and 2) to identify the major remaining stressors impacting water quality and biological condition.

According to the Ohio EPA, major findings from the census were:

• The biological condition of Ohio’s large rivers has improved dramatically since surveys were first conducted in the 1980s.… Continue reading

Doug Miller

Since the dry spring, we’ve had plenty of rain, but it’s been it’s been over a week since it rained and we’re ready for another shot. We missed the round this morning. We got a sprinkle out of it but it all went north of us. More rain is in the forecast for today, so hopefully we’ll grab one. If we can snag a couple of rains here in August, we’ll be in really good shape. Things are looking good. 

We’ve been spot spraying beans for weeds because of all the moisture coming and we wrapped up fungicide application on the beans. We also threw some insecticide in because we had some Japanese beetle issues. We just got that wrapped up and we’re trucking out wheat from harvest, we’re doing grain bin maintenance and when it gets real hot late in the afternoon, we call it a day.

From what I’ve seen, pollination was very good.… Continue reading

By Greg LaBarge

As the calendar turns to August, several regional and national crop tours lead up to the September NASS crop yield report. While crop tour reports are great conversation starters, yield estimates from your farm are the most meaningful to your decision-making. Yield estimate tools for corn and soybeans are widely published. An example is our Corn, Soybean, Wheat, and Forages Field Guide, Bulletin 827. So pick a representative corn and soybean field on your farm and join in on the crop tour fun. Here’s how to estimate corn and soybean yields.

Corn yield estimates are based on determining the number of kernels per acre and then using a standard kernel weight. A commonly used formula is found in the Corn, Soybean, Wheat, and Forages Field Guide, Bulletin 827, on page 14.

There are several techniques for estimating corn grain yield before harvest. The only equipment needed is a tape measure plus a pencil and paper.… Continue reading

By Stephanie Karhoff 

Ohio’s Country Journal and OSU Extension are again partnering to report crop conditions and projected yields from across the state, providing a virtual component 2023 Ohio Crop Tour held on Aug. 8 and 9. The virtual reports will complement the field stops made by the two teams covering northern and southern driving routes sponsored by Ohio Field Leader — a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and the soybean checkoff. 

OSU Extension Educators will estimate corn and soybean yields in their respective counties. Follow the OSU Agronomic Crops Team on Facebook (@OhioStateAgronomy) and Twitter (@OSUAgronomy) to see their reports and field observations. Look for summaries of the Virtual and In-Person Crop Tour shared by Ohio’s County Journal and Ohio Ag Net.  

We invite you to join in the fun by reporting estimates from your farm. It only takes 15-30 minutes per field. The accompanying article below describes how to estimate corn and soybean yields.… Continue reading

Growers interested in the National Corn Yield Contest must be entered by August 16. Entering the National contest automatically enters you in the Ohio contest.  

Find everything you need to enter here: 

https://www.ncga.com/get-involved/national-corn-yield-contest or go to www.ncga.com and click on “Get Involved.” 

National winners will be announced in December, quickly followed by the announcement of Ohio’s district and state champions. Ohio’s winners will receive their awards Feb. 8, 2024 at the “Celebration of Corn & Wheat” event to be held in Bucyrus.

Anyone needing assistance may contact Brad Moffitt: bmoffitt@ohiocornandwheat.org.  … Continue reading

This summer, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) Director Anne Vogel announced that a comprehensive study of Ohio’s largest rivers shows tremendous improvements in water quality over the past several decades. 

During the 2020 and 2021 field seasons, Ohio EPA conducted a biological census of large rivers across the state. This census was accompanied by observations of water quality, sediment chemistry, and whole-body fish tissue for contaminant analysis. The census used 156 sites spaced at intervals of approximately 8.8 miles, according to the Ohio EPA. The goals of the census were twofold: 1) to obtain a complete picture of the status of Ohio’s large rivers to serve as baseline for future comparisons and to gauge progress in water quality improvements relative to prior surveys; and 2) to identify the major remaining stressors impacting water quality and biological condition.

According to the Ohio EPA, major findings from the census were:

• The biological condition of Ohio’s large rivers has improved dramatically since surveys were first conducted in the 1980s.

By James Hoorman, Hoorman Soil Health Services

Wheat harvest is mostly complete, and many fields are being baled for straw.  Some farmers have planted double crop soybeans, but with the sporadic rains, many fields are lying bare.  Looking at the calendar, it’s too late to plant soybeans and bare fields just grow weeds! Another option is to plant a cover crop, depending upon your goals, and what crop will be planted next year. 

Cover crops planted in August have an advantage over fall planted cover crops.  First, they capture more sunlight.  Cover crops need 60-90 days of growth before winter to survive.  Second, if you spray the weeds first before you plant, there is less competition, so they produce better stands. Third, summer and fall rains allow cover crops to get better growth.  Generally, whatever growth you get above ground is going to be matched below ground.  For these reasons, planting cover crops after wheat has many advantages. … Continue reading

John Patterson, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director in Ohio, announced that landowners and operators in designated counties throughout Ohio will have the opportunity to offer cropland for enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) upland bird practice and pollinator practice titled State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE).

Upland Bird SAFE

The Upland Bird SAFE is available on a continuous (ongoing) basis in the following counties: Adams, Auglaize, Brown, Butler, Champaign, Clark, Clinton, Crawford, Darke, Defiance, Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Fulton, Gallia, Greene, Hancock, Hardin, Highland, Jackson, Knox, Lawrence, Logan, Madison, Marion, Miami, Morrow, Paulding, Pickaway, Pike, Preble, Ross, Seneca, Shelby, Union, Williams, and Wyandot. 

The Ohio Upland Bird SAFE utilizes a wildlife management practice specifically developed by conservation organizations and agencies located within Ohio to establish and restore habitat for ring-necked pheasant, bobwhite quail, and other upland birds on eligible cropland. The program specifically targets declining quail and pheasant populations in areas of greatest impact.… Continue reading

By Barb Lumley

The Ohio Holstein Association will hold a Summer Breeder Tour on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023 at Kiko Farms, Jim Jr., Evan and Harrison Kiko and Families, 813 Fox Avenue SE, Paris, Ohio. The events will begin at 10:30 a.m. with the cattle and facilities open for viewing. Lunch will be held at 12:00 p.m. RSVPs are strongly recommended by Monday, Aug. 7 and can be made by calling Paul Haskins at 419-618-4028 or Evan Kiko at 330-205-9354. At 1 p.m. Katie Esselburn, Lely Farm Management Support Advisor, will be the speaker. At 2 p.m. the cattle and facilities will be available for viewing.

Kiko Farms milk 170 Holsteins and recently completed some major facility updates. They include a new pack barn for special needs cows in 2021. In 2022 they installed 3 A5 Lely Robots. They have Robotic manure removal. Combined with a Lely Juno feed pusher already in place, there is a lot of new technology to check out.… Continue reading

By Dr. Kelley Tilmon and Dr. Andy Michel, OSU Extension Entomology, Adapted from C.O.R.N. 2023-23

You know how at the end of the horror movie there’s always some hint that the monster may come back?  We don’t know if this year will be “Soybean Aphid 11: The Return,” but there are some hints that you might want to pay attention to your beans and keep an eye out for this pest.  We have been hearing reports of unusually high numbers of various aphid species on various types of plants – fruits, vegetables, weeds.  This trend appears to be regional, and is being detected in other states as well.  Why?  It’s probably due to the unusual late spring/early summer weather which was very dry.  Wetness is the enemy of aphids because it creates conditions that favor the insect-killing fungi that help keep them in check.  We suspect that aphids got off to a great [great for them] start early this season because of the dry conditions, and now they’re unusually abundant in many settings.… Continue reading

Kalmbach Feeds is pleased to announce the acquisition of Ware Milling, an outstanding, family-owned feed business located in Houston, MS. This addition represents a strategic milestone in the growth of Kalmbach Feeds, fueled by amazing customers and growing demand for its top-quality nutrition products and services.

“We are excited about the opportunities for our customers and team members as they become part of the Kalmbach Feeds team,” said Richard Ware, President of Ware Milling. “We know that they will be treated well, with similar values and business principles to how we have operated for over 25 years. We as a family are excited to remain a part of the team for the foreseeable future and help ensure a smooth transition.”

Kalmbach Feeds and Ware Milling are a great fit, in large part due to the shared values and focus on meeting customer’s needs that have been a part of these two cultures for a combined 85 years.… Continue reading

By Matt Reese, Joel Penhorwood and Dusty Sonnenberg

Wheat growers in many parts of the state reported high yields and good quality in 2023.

In an Ohio Ag Net Cab Cam video this year from mid-July, Doug Dawson from Delaware County talked about his wheat crop as yield monitor numbers bounced back and forth between 140 and 150 bushels per acre. His wheat harvest got off to a slow start when Dawson got rained out in his first couple attempts, but it worked out in the end.

“The moisture was higher than we wanted it to be at 16%, 18% and one field was actually 21% and we thought, ‘Are we ever going get done this year?’ with the moisture we’ve had recently,” Dawson said. “But all in all, it’s been a good year. I’ve heard a lot of guys say it’s the best wheat they’ve ever harvested. I’d have to say the field I’m sitting in is obviously the best field I’ve ever harvested in 40 years.… Continue reading

 Despite the decrease in drought conditions, several hot days left many growers throughout the State hoping for more rain, according to Ben Torrance, State Statistician, USDA NASS, Ohio Field Office. The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor report showed 33.6 percent of the State as abnormally dry or worse, indicating a continued decrease in excessively dry conditions. Conditions matching the moderate drought rating were observed in 7.8 percent of the State. Topsoil moisture conditions were rated 1 percent very short, 16 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Statewide, the average temperature for the week ending on July 30 was 75.3 degrees, 2.6 degrees above normal. Weather stations recorded an average of 1.50 inches of precipitation, 0.65 inches above average. There were 4.0 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 30. 

Reporters across western counties described high temperatures causing heat stress in crops. On the east side of the State, it was reported that some intense short storms caused some isolated damage to crops.… Continue reading

The 310th episode of the Ohio Ag Net Podcast comes to you from the 2023 Ohio State Fair. Joel and Matt sit down with famed auctioneer Johnny Regula as they discuss county fair auctions, the Sale of Champions, memories from years past, and much more as the second week of the State Fair gets underway.

Also in this week’s podcast:

Terry Mescher, ODA, on H2Ohio

Dusty Sonnenberg gets an update on the growing H2Ohio program from Terry Mescher of Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Farm Credit Mid-America Growing Forward

Dale Minyo talks with Farm Credit Mid-America’s Scott LaGuire and Hilary Poulson about the unique opportunities offered by the Growing Forward program.

Congressman Max Miller on Farm Bill

U.S. Representative Max Miller of Ohio’s seventh congressional district talks with Joel Penhorwood about his work on the House Ag Committee and work being done on the 2023 Farm Bill.

By Stephanie Pflaum, Rebecca DiScipio, Amy Raudenbush, Suranga Basnagala, Mark Badertscher, Nic Baumer, Frank Becker, Lee Beers, CCA, Trevor Corboy, Tom Dehaas, Nick Eckel, Allen Gahler, Don Hammersmith, Jamie Hampton, Mary Jo Hassen, Alan Leininger, Ed Lentz, CCA, Kendall Lovejoy, Clifton Martin, CCA, Sarah Noggle, Les Ober, CCA, Jordan Penrose, Beth Scheckelhoff, Mike Sunderman, Frank Thayer, Kyle Verhoff, Brooks Warner, Kayla Wyse, Curtis Young, CCA, Chris Zoller, Andy Michel, Kelley Tilmon, Ohio State University Extension

The Ohio Lep Network is continuing to monitor moth pests across Ohio. As we have begun our 12^th week of monitoring, we are continuing population reports for Western bean cutworm (WBC), corn earworm (CEW), and both variations of European corn borer (ECB – IA & NY).… Continue reading

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