The Ohio Soybean Association (OSA) and Ohio Ag Equipment recently announced that Chris Pugh of Richland County has won 50 hours with an MT600 Series Challenger tractor. This promotion allowed all OSA new members who signed up by March 1 to be entered in a drawing to win free hours with the tractor. Chris’s name was selected last week during the 2014 Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas.
“I would like to thank OSA and Ohio Ag Equipment for offering this exciting promotion to new members,” said Pugh. “I believe being a member of OSA offers many advantages to the current and future generations of Ohio soybean farmers.”
Taking this and other opportunities to promote the work it does on behalf of its members is extremely important to OSA.
“I want to congratulate Chris on winning the tractor, which was only possible thanks to the great partnership we have with Ohio Ag Equipment,” said Jerry Bambauer, OSA president and soybean farmer from Auglaize County.… Continue reading
Each year producers ask the question when is the best time to apply nitrogen (N) to wheat? Also, is it OK to apply N on frozen ground?
For any N application the question to ask is when does the crop need N. Wheat does not require large amounts of N until stem elongation (Feekes Growth Stage 6), which is the middle or the end of April depending on the location in state. Ohio research has shown no yield benefit from applications made prior to this time period. Soil organic matter or N applied at planting generally provides sufficient N for early growth until stem elongation.
Nitrogen applied prior to rapid utilization has the potential to be lost and unavailable for the crop. Nitrogen source will also affect the potential for loss. Urea-ammonium nitrate (28%) has the greatest potential for loss, ammonium sulfate the least, and urea would be somewhere between the two other sources.… Continue reading
Earlier today, a train derailed north of Delaware. There were no injuries or spilled chemicals, but 68,000 bushels of corn were spilled from the tipped over rail cars. A total of 34 cars derailed from the train that was headed from Clarksfield, Ohio to Tennessee. The sheriff’s office hoped to have the track cleared in 48 hours.… Continue reading
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have signed an agreement giving USDA authority to certify animal feed and pet food products for export to foreign countries.
As a first step in the implementation of this agreement, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service is operating a program to facilitate the export of processed plant-based feed products from the United States to China in accordance with the requirements established by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China. This is in direct support of implementation of AQSIQ’s regulation on imported feed, known as Decree 118. Implementation of this decree has been broken down into eight product groups that are implemented separately, one of which is processed plant-based feed products.
China defines processed plant-based feed products as feed derived from grain and oil crops, such as wheat bran, bran coat, soybean cake/meal, peanut cake/meal, rapeseed cake/meal, cottonseed cake/meal, sunflower cake/meal, safflower seed cake/meal, linseed cake/meal, coconut cake/meal, palm cake/meal, DDGS from maize or cassava and beet pulp.… Continue reading
Senate lawmakers are calling on Japan to eliminate tariff and non-tariff trade barriers for U.S. agricultural products as part of the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade talks.
The TPP is a regional negotiation that includes the United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam, which account for nearly 40% of global gross domestic product. Lead negotiators met in Singapore to discuss outstanding issues, including Japan’s recalcitrance on market access.
In a letter sent to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, 17 senators, led by Michael Bennett (Colo.) and Charles Grassley (Iowa), asked for assurances that the TPP negotiations will not be concluded until Japan agrees to eliminate tariff and non-tariff trade barriers for agricultural products. In addition to Bennett and Grassley, signing the letter were Sens. Roy Blunt (Mo.), Richard Burr (N.C.), John Cornyn (Texas), Joe Donnelly (Ind.), Deb Fisher (Neb.), Kay Hagan (N.C.),… Continue reading
The Agricultural Retailers Association and The Fertilizer Institute are joining forces to create ResponsibleAg, an independent, not-for-profit organization designed to support fertilizer retailers’ compliance with federal safety and security regulations.
Under ResponsibleAg, retail fertilizer dealerships will have access to comprehensive inspections based on federal regulatory requirements. The inspections will be carried out by trained auditors who will have successfully completed an intensive training course.
“ResponsibleAg will verify compliance at more facilities and with greater speed than is currently being done by the multitude of federal agencies that regulate the nation’s fertilizer retailers, so we are choosing to act now rather than waiting for the next government inspection,” said TFI President Chris Jahn.
ResponsibleAg will credential auditors who will inspect and verify individual facilities’ level of compliance with applicable federal regulations. Facilities that successfully complete assessments will be recognized for having done so. Any site that does not successfully complete an assessment will be provided a list of recommended corrective actions.… Continue reading
Taking on an adult grizzly bear or a pack of wolves is a lot to ask of a livestock protection dog, but it’s a task they willingly take to protect their flocks from predation. For centuries, livestock protection dogs have helped ranchers protect livestock from coyotes, feral dogs, foxes and mountain lions. Without them, thousands of sheep, lambs and calves would be killed or injured each year.
Livestock protection dogs grow up and live with their flock, patrolling the perimeters of grazing areas to ward off potential predators. Now, with the recovery and expansion of populations of grizzly bears and wolves, current breeds of livestock protection dogs — like the Great Pyrenees, Komondors and Akbash — are losing many of the fights. They are no match for these larger predators.
To help producers in western states cope with the rising number of large carnivores on the landscape, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services (WS) program and its research arm, the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC), are leading an effort to identify more suitable breeds of livestock protection dogs.… Continue reading
May Wes Expands product offerings for row crop tractors
In response to a growing demand for no till and strip till stalk leveling solutions, May Wes is pleased to announce the release of their latest Tractor Stalk Stomper design for Case IH Magnum tractor models 235, 260, 290, 315, 340 and 370. This addition joins May Wes’s existing Tractor Stalk Stomper line- up that includes:
• Case IH Steiger Series (2012 and later, all models) • Case IH Quadtrac Series (2012 and later, all models) • Case IH Steiger Quadtrac Series (2011 and earlier, models 485 and 535) • Challenger 700 & 800 Series (all track models) • John Deere 8000/8R/8RT Series (all models) • John Deere 9020 and 9030 Series (all models) • New Holland T9 Series (with SmartTrax, models T9.615 and T9.670)
Why May Wes Tractor Stalk Stomper? May Wes’s Tractor Stalk Stomper product works off existing tractor hydraulics and is more robust and versatile as compared to other product alternatives.… Continue reading
We will be discussing the proven methods you can use to boost corn yields this year. I am sure you are already using most of these ideas. I challenge you to pick at least one idea that fits your farming practices and try to improve it.
• Use minimum or no-till — especially on erodible land. It helps in conserving moisture loss reduces soil erosion and minimizes compaction.
• Set a realistic yield goal — It should be based on your soil type, organic matter and historical data. Goals based on 2012 or 2013 alone will be unrealistic. So you may want to use last five-year average as a guide.
• Study yield maps — Analyze your yield data field by field with your Seed Consultant and try to Match hybrids with soil types.
• Do soil tissue tests — These tests should be conducted at the right time and the advice of the consultant followed.… Continue reading
Farmers who plant cover crops and vegetative systems will find that it can tie up phosphorus in a stable form that remains in the soil, which can increase phosphorus use efficiency, says a soil researcher from Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
That, and the question of whether agriculture can significantly reduce off-site movement of other soluble nutrients, will be discussed by Ohio State University Extension, the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center and industry experts in agriculture, climatology and environmental economics during a workshop hosted by the Soil and Water Conservation Society March 17.
The daylong workshop will focus on discussing technologies and techniques to reduce off-site movement of nutrients and the barriers to their adoption and implementation, said Jim Hoorman, an OSU Extension educator and an assistant professor studying cover crops and water quality issues.
“Recently collected Ohio soil test data using phosphorus speciation is showing that phosphorus is tied up by calcium/magnesium, iron oxides, and aluminum oxides,” said Hoorman, who will discuss “New Ohio Data on Cover Crops and Phosphorus” during the event.… Continue reading
City Barbeque, headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, was one of four restaurants across the United States to receive the Turkey on the Menu (T.O.M.) Award recently during the National Turkey Federation Convention held in Orlando, Florida. The Ohio Poultry Association (OPA) nominated City Barbeque for the prestigious award, which recognizes food service providers in the categories of fast casual, mid-scale, full service dining, and non-traditional. City Barbeque won in the fast casual category.
“We are honored to nominate City Barbeque in recognition of their innovative techniques to showcase a variety of Ohio turkey offerings on their menu,” said Jim Chakeres, OPA executive vice president. “City Barbeque hits the mark when it comes to understanding and appreciating their customers’ affinity for a fresh, wholesome turkey sandwich or delicious turkey entrée.”
Founded in 1999, City Barbeque offers an authentic barbeque experience with high-quality meats, signature sauces, and closely-guarded recipes. City Barbeque offers a variety of turkey menu options, including Bowman & Landes premium, free-range, prepared fresh, never frozen turkey served hot off the smoker.… Continue reading
The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association has initiated a referendum that is currently ongoing to increase Ohio’s Beef Checkoff from $1 to $2 per head. Voting by mail ballot is underway with in-person voting set for March 18, 19, and 20 at the Ohio Department of Agriculture and county Extension offices. Below are are two position statements on the vote for increasing the Ohio Beef Checkoff.
Vote Yes
By Frank Phelps, Ohio Cattlemen’s Association president and Logan County beef producer
There are many reasons the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) board of directors initiated the referendum. Most importantly OCA supports the work of the beef checkoff to build demand for beef and believes increasing those shrinking resources is the right thing to do for the future of Ohio’s beef industry. And there is no better time to increase the checkoff. Based on today’s markets, finished steers are worth nearly $2,000. An additional dollar is only 5/100ths of the total value of that steer.… Continue reading
Proper subsurface drainage is one part of a winning formula for farmers who want to see increased yields for rotation corn, according to an agricultural engineer with Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
Proper subsurface drainage can also help growers increase overall yields for corn and soybeans with controlled drainage, according to research from Ohio State University’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center conducted at the Northwest Agricultural Research Station in Hoytville.
Improved drainage is quite beneficial on Ohio’s poorly drained soils for increased and sustained crop yields, said Larry Brown, an agricultural engineer with joint appointments with Ohio State University Extension and OARDC.
“Subirrigation has even greater potential yield increases (than improved drainage alone),” Brown said. “Crop yield improvements are important, but it is equally important to reduce agriculture’s impacts on our water resources.
“Controlled drainage and subirrigation when properly managed can reduce the losses of soluble nutrients, especially nitrate-nitrogen.”… Continue reading
Editor’s note: This originally appeared in Equine Veterinary Education, American Edition, Vol. 22, Numbers 1 & 2. Reprinted with permission of the American Association of Equine Practitioners.
For the past decade the practice of equine dentistry in North America, as well as other veterinary services such as reproductive services, chiropractics, physical therapy/rehabilitation, acupuncture, prescription drug sales and complementary medicine, has been the subject of increasingly heated political debates and legal actions. Unlicensed dental care providers are demanding the right to autonomously provide veterinary services without professional education and accountability.
Most equine veterinarians are aware of the recent legal cases involving the practice of equine dentistry in Minnesota and Oklahoma as well as an ongoing case in Texas. However, the January 2009 decision of the Appellate Division of New York State Supreme Court to reject the state Racing and Wagering Board’s appeal to keep an unlicensed tooth-floater from working on horses demonstrated the ultimate consequence of the deregulation of equine dentistry.… Continue reading
From the arctic air and heavy snows in the northern half of the U.S., to the areas of the country begging for rain, the weather is more than a conversation starter at this year’s Commodity Classic. The Ohio Ag Net’s Ty Higgins talked with Texas native and Agro-Culture Liquid Sales Account Manager Reed Abbott about his part of the country, along with others, that could use a big shot of moisture.
Wheat and barley producers in 17 states are being asked in a survey to tell the U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative how well the latest Fusarium head blight management practices are understood and applied.
Fusariumhead blight, or head scab, is a fungal disease that infects the heads of small grain crops, such as wheat and barley. It lowers grain yield and produces mycotoxins, or compounds that are toxic to livestock when consumed at certain levels. Head scab is most likely to cause severe damage in areas with wet, mild weather as wheat and barley start to flower.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service is working with the U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative to distribute the survey to more than 16,500 wheat and barley growers nationwide.
According to Purdue Extension plant pathologist Kiersten Wise, the university participates in head scab research and works with the initiative, and will use the survey results to help focus research and Extension efforts.… Continue reading
The average protein and oil levels in the 2013 U.S. soybean crop ticked upward, according to the soy-checkoff-funded Crop Quality Survey. Average oil levels jumped to 19%, a 0.5- point increase from 2012 levels, while average protein levels grew by 0.4 percentage points to 34.7%.
U.S. soy’s biggest customer, the global animal agriculture sector, takes note of the protein content in the soybeans it uses, said Laura Foell, chair of the United Soybean Board’s Meal Action Team.
“Our customers buy our soybeans for the components: protein and oil,” said Foell, who farms in Schaller, Iowa. “The animal agriculture sector uses protein to feed animals, and the food industry uses the majority of soybean oil for human consumption and the rest for industrial-like biodiesel. The more protein and oil we have in our soybeans, the more product we have for our end-customers. And more demand could lead to a better price for our crop.”… Continue reading
The grants help groups that often find the larger-scale, public and private grant solicitation process daunting. The competitively awarded grants support programs and projects focusing on agricultural education and ecological and/or economic development.
This year’s $3,000 grant recipients and projects include the Ohio Energy Project – Energy Sources Tour and Blitz for Educators; Preble County Development Partnership, Inc. – Preble County Food Co-op/Facility and Concept Study Initiative; Parma Area Historical Society – Bringing the Farm to the City; Collegiate Young Farmers at Ohio State University – Farm to Fork Food Dialogues; Shelby County Farm Bureau – The Life of a COW; Sycamore Run Farms, LLC – A View from the Driver’s Seat; Friends of Sunrock Farm – Farm Tour Subsidies for Children; and teacher Nicki Gordon-Coy – Google Hangouts: Bringing Natural Resources, Agriculture and Science to Primary and Secondary Classrooms.… Continue reading
John Schoenhals of Archbold and Caroline Weihl of Perrysburg recently represented Ohio in the national Collegiate Discussion Meet, a contest promoted by the Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) program of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF).
Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) sponsored their participation in the contest at the recent YF&R Leadership Conference in Virginia Beach, Va. Schoenhals finished among the top 16 contestants. Both he and Weihl were awarded $250 scholarships from AFBF.
The Collegiate Discussion Meet simulates a committee meeting and requires contestants to demonstrate leadership skills and knowledge of issues.
Schoenhals is a senior at Ohio State University where he is studying plant pathology and agronomy. He is vice president of the Ohio State Collegiate Young Farmers organization. His family has a farm in Fulton County.
Weihl is also an Ohio State University senior and is studying agricultural communications. She has been active in Farm Bureau. Her family farms in Wood County.… Continue reading
The Ohio Department of Agriculture has started an Ohio Sensitive Crop Registry, which allows producers to register the locations of apiaries and pesticide-sensitive and organic crops to protect them from pesticide drift.
Registered users can create maps and provide details of their sensitive locations, which can then be searched by pesticide applicators. The voluntary registry is for organic crops, livestock and forage, as well as for pesticide-sensitive locations including but not limited to: apiaries, fish farms, nurseries, orchards, greenhouses and high tunnels, vegetables and fruit such as brambles, grapes and tomatoes.
Registry data is protected and not available to the general public; only applicators, apiarists and those involved in the commercial production of sensitive crops will be allowed to submit locations and search the registry. Users will need to create an account through the website and will receive log-in details if approved.
Those who wish to create an account must follow several guidelines.… Continue reading
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