Top Headlines

Heavy rainfall and flood conditions across the Midwest have caused crop damage and slowed planting this spring. Brian Frieden, Director of the Springfield Regional Office of the Risk Management Agency, reminds producers faced with questions on prevented planting, replant or crop losses this spring, to contact their agent for more information.

Producers who are unable to plant an insured crop by the final planting date due to an insurable cause, such as excess moisture and flooding have a number of options. Producers may plant the insured crop during the 25 day late planting period with a reduction in the production guarantee of 1 percent a day for each day planting is delayed after the final planting date. Producers may leave the acreage idle and receive a full prevented planting payment or the insured may be able to plant the acreage to another crop after the late planting period and receive a reduced prevented planting payment.… Continue reading

With drier weather at the end of last week, Ohio farmers took advantage of the sunshine and heat and worked for hours on end spraying fields and planting corn. Typically most farmers would like to be done planting or nearly done planting by now, but they’ve adapted to changing weather patterns.

The wheat crop in Ohio seems to have suffered a little damaged in waterlogged areas. Some farmers are spraying fungicide in case the weather, which is now cold and wet, becomes hot and wet as the wheat is flowering, making it susceptible to diseases such as head scab and vomitoxin. Here are some updates from around the state.

Northeast Ohio: John Wallbrown, Deerfield, Ohio (Portage County)

We’re have planted about 20% corn and 20% beans. We don’t know if that 20% will make it or not. The weekend was very wet; we’re fully saturated since it rained all weekend. The wheat looks much worse than average — we’re waiting to put a nitrogen fertilizer on it — it’s very soggy.… Continue reading

Cool, wet weather in the past few weeks and warmer weather expected in the next few days may spell trouble for wheat growers in some parts of Ohio, as conditions become favorable for head scab and vomitoxin as well as a host of foliar diseases such as powdery mildew, Ohio State agronomic crops experts reported.



Pierce Paul, wheat disease specialist with Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), said that despite a relatively slow start due to cool, wet conditions, the wheat crop in Ohio has developed well and is now between the jointing (in the north) and boot (in the south) growth stages.



“At this rate of development, and with warmer weather in the forecast, flowering should begin within the next 10 to 20 days,” Paul reported in this week’s issue of Ohio State’s C.O.R.N. Newsletter (http://corn.osu.edu). “More rain is also forecasted for later this week and early next week (May 13-18).… Continue reading

The 2011 Scarlet & Gray Ag Day was held on Friday on the campus of The Ohio State University – specifically, The College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center.

Ty Higgins covered Scarlet and Gray Ag Day for The Ohio Ag Net and he talked to the namesake of the event, Micki Zartman.

Hannah Thompson is one of the ag students that put together this year’s Scarlet and Gray Ag Day.

One of the Scarlet and Ag Day Advisors is Leslie Risch.… Continue reading

Visit Yebo Li’s Ohio State University lab and you will find an array of glass tubes filled with a light-green substance, endlessly bubbling inside a growth chamber. It’s algae. The same algae that later this summer will be growing in ponds at a Wooster farm, generating thousands of gallons of oil that will be turned into renewable fuel. Down the road, this green stuff may just be the building block of a new green industry in Ohio.

Li, a biosystems engineer with the university’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), is working with West Virginia-based Touchstone Research Laboratory in the development of innovative technology for efficiently and profitably growing algae in open ponds for production of fuels and other high-value, bio-based products. Also partnering in this unique research and business-incubation venture is Cedar Lanes Farms, a nursery and greenhouse operation located just a few miles from OARDC’s Wooster campus. Other project participants include engineering firm GZA GeoEnvironmental of Cincinnati and SRS Energy of Dexter, Mich.… Continue reading

Learn what to plant and how to do it in Secrest Arboretum’s Spring Planting Workshop. It’s a hands-on, rain-or-shine, get-your-hands-dirty practice session. Trees, shrubs and perennials are the focus. It’s next Wednesday, May 18.

“We’ll work with woody and herbaceous plants,” said Ken Cochran, the arboretum’s program coordinator and one of the workshop’s instructors. “We’ll look at plant selection ideas for different sites, and techniques for improving the survivability and sustainability of the plants. That’s something we’ll emphasize.”

There’s a $50 fee to participate. Participation is limited to 12. Pre-registration is required. Call 330-464-2148 to register. Call the same number for more information.

Secrest Arboretum is part of Ohio State University’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), 1680 Madison Ave., in Wooster.

Meet at the arboretum’s Seaman Orientation Plaza on Williams Road. It’s about 1.7 miles from OARDC’s main entrance. Follow the signs to the arboretum.

Bring a shovel and hand pruners if you have them.… Continue reading

Crop farmers need to take precautions to reduce off-target drift when applying herbicides this spring, said Purdue Extension weed scientist Bill Johnson.

“Drift reduces product efficacy on the intended target and can result in damage to sensitive plants” he said. “It also can deposit illegal residues on edible crops, especially organic or processed crops that are checked for contaminants.”

There are two types of herbicide drift — vapor and particle. With vapor drift, the application reaches its target but at some point moves off-target after application. With particle drift, the portion that moves off-target never reaches is target.

Particle drift can occur with any pesticide application, regardless of product formulation, and is directly associated with droplet size, sprayer boom height and wind speed.

“Injury symptoms from drift will depend on the product used, environmental conditions and sensitivity of the plants in the path of air flow,” Johnson said. “Low concentrations of glyphosate may or may not show injury symptoms, while low concentrations of 2,4-D or dicamba may show major symptoms on sensitive plants such as tomatoes, grapes, and roses.”… Continue reading

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the following statement on data released showing that U.S. farm exports reached an all-time high of $75 billion during the first half of fiscal year 2011:

“Today’s trade data demonstrate that, once again, America’s farmers and ranchers are helping lead the way to recovery from the worst economic recession in decades. The gains in U.S. agricultural exports are particularly encouraging news for those who live in rural America or earn a living in farming, ranching and agriculture-related industries, because exports are creating jobs here at home. Farm exports alone will support more than one million jobs in America this year. Strong U.S. farm exports will be a key contributor to building an economy that continues to grow, innovate and out-compete the rest of the world.

“At $75 billion, U.S. agricultural exports for FY 2011 are 27% higher than the same period in last year. This puts us on track to reach the current USDA export forecast of $135.5 billion by the end of the year.… Continue reading

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack released an independently produced report that provides a Civil Rights Assessment of USDA’s field-based program delivery and makes recommendations intended to ensure that all Americans have fair and equal access to USDA programs.

“From the day I took office as Secretary, I made it a department-wide priority to ensure that all eligible Americans receive equal access to USDA programs, and this report provides a roadmap that will help us continue moving forward in this effort,” Vilsack said. “USDA employees and our partners throughout the country are to be commended for the commitment being made to diversity, inclusion, and accessibility and that they realize our work must continue.”

The Civil Rights Assessment report released today was promised in Secretary Vilsack’s April 2009 memorandum to employees that detailed an aggressive plan to promote equal access and opportunity at the department. The report makes department-wide recommendations that will help USDA improve service delivery to minority and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, and also suggests agency-specific changes to enhance program delivery and outreach to promote diversity, inclusion and accessibility.… Continue reading

National Corn Growers Association CEO Rick Tolman released the following statement in support of the pending free trade agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama.  Tolman testified before the House Agriculture Committee.

“Increased production and a consistent product make the United States a reliable supplier of corn in the world market. NCGA strongly supports passage of the three-pending Free Trade Agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama. Beyond increasing domestic and international demand for corn, passing these FTAs also benefits our customers in the livestock and poultry industries. Developing new markets for our country’s agricultural products will help our sector lead the nation in economic growth and international competitiveness.

“The United States is the largest corn producer and exporter in the world, and exports of corn and corn co-products are essential to producer income. During the 2009-10 marketing year, the United States exported 50.4 million metric tons of corn worldwide. Corn co-products such as distiller’s dried grains (DDGS) represent a growing export market for domestic producers.… Continue reading

The Ohio Soybean Association (OSA) is announcing the launch of the state’s second annual Soybean Yield and Quality Contest for the 2011 growing season. An overall state yield winner will be awarded along with category prizes for the top-placing entrants, including winners of the quality contest based on percentages of oil and protein. The fee is $100 per entry.

The six different yield categories available include:

conventional tillage

no-till

low-linolenic soybeans – conventional tillage

low-linolenic soybeans – no-till

non-GMO soybeans – conventional tillage

non-GMO soybeans – no-till

Developed to promote the importance of oil and protein, the quality contest is optional to enter. However, a farmer must enter the soybean yield contest to enter the soybean-quality contest. This contest is based on the overall greatest percentage of oil and percentage of protein content in the state. Entrants in the quality contest must submit a two-pound sample of soybeans for testing.

All entry forms and entry fees for the 2011 Soybean Yield and Quality Contest must be postmarked by August 31, 2011. … Continue reading

Steve Maurer, the Ohio Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director, would like to remind Ohio producers who have not contacted their local FSA Office about DCP or ACRE enrollment to do so before the sign-up deadline ends.  “It is important producers contact their local FSA office to set up appointments well before the June 1, 2010, deadline,” stated Maurer.

All signatures of producers receiving a share in DCP/ACRE payments are required by the June 1, 2010, deadline.  USDA may accept late-filed applications through September 30.

For more information about the DCP/ACRE programs please visit your local FSA office.

By Rory Lewandowski, OSU Extension Educator Athens County, Buckeye Hills EERA

Plenty of moisture and favorable temperatures is a combination for rapid grass growth. May is generally the month when graziers struggle to manage the spring flush and stay ahead of the growth and seed head development. Here are some management reminders and thoughts related to this early season period.

* Manage beginning and ending grass height. In beginning level grazing schools we say to start grazing when plants are around 8 inches in height. Follow the take half, leave half principle and remove livestock from a pasture paddock when grass height is about 4 inches.

* When grass is growing fast, rotate fast. Under the good growing conditions experienced in the spring of the year, a healthy grass plant will begin to re-grow within a couple of days of being grazed or cut off. This new growth should not be grazed again until the plant has recovered back to the target beginning grazing height.… Continue reading

By John F. Grimes, OSU Extension Beef Coordinator

The title of this article could apply to many things in our everyday life if you think about it. Nobody likes a long wait at our favorite restaurant, a long visit at the doctor’s office, long lines while attending an amusement park, or the long number of days waiting on a potential tax-refund from the IRS. You get the idea. Something else that should fall in the “shorter the better” category for beef producers is the breeding season. Regardless of the size and scope of your operation or your preferred time of year to calve, there is little economic justification for a lengthy calving season. This topic has been addressed through countless articles in popular press and Extension meetings. The arrival of breeding season for many herds seems like an appropriate time to revisit this issue.

Regardless of whether you use a natural service sire or artificial insemination in your breeding program, there is little justification for a lengthy breeding season.… Continue reading

The Ohio Livestock Coalition announced the winners of a statewide essay contest for third graders in response to the question, “How do Ohio farmers make sure we have good, safe food to eat?”

Mary Gray from Big Walnut Elementary in Sunbury and Alice Yang and Kerim Pintol from Granby Elementary in Columbus won the contest. They were selected from more than 20 essays submitted in the contest’s second year.

In addition, the following third graders received honorable mention awards:

* Alexa Cooper, Scioto Elementary (Pickaway County)

* Joel Krebehenne, North Union Elementary (Union County)

* Cara Sheets, East Elementary (Athens County)

The winners’ entire third-grade classes will be taking a free, all-expenses-paid field trip to an Ohio livestock farm, courtesy of the Ohio Livestock Coalition. Price Farms Organics, Ltd., a hog farm in Delaware, Ohio, will host the two third-grade classes.

The essay contest is part of the Ohio Livestock Coalition’s ongoing For Your InFARMation program.… Continue reading

By Chris Bruynis, Assistant Professor & Extension Educator; Greg Schiefer, Scheifer Farm and Family Insurance; and Marlene McCreary, Farmers Mutual Insurance

With the weather forecasters calling for more wet weather, farmers are starting to think about the preventative planting provisions in their crop insurance policies. Although most crop insurance policies have some preventative plant provision, neither GRP nor GRIP policies have preventative plant coverage, so check with your agent. One good thing is that farmers have choices and do not have to rush into any decisions but need to be aware of their options before getting to busy in the field. The target date for corn to be planted is June 5 and farmers can either take preventative planting, switch to another crop, or still plant corn with a reduction in coverage.

Claiming preventative planting probably will not be the first choice in 2011 because many farmers have already locked in favorable contract prices for their corn and will need to plant some corn to fulfill those obligations.… Continue reading

The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) has announced its 2011 series of free public tours of some of Ohio’s finest sustainable and organic farms. OEFFA has offered this series for the past 29 years, providing unique opportunities for Ohioans to see, taste, feel, and learn what sustainable food and fiber production is all about from the real experts—the farmers themselves.
 


Consumers interested in local foods, farmers and market gardeners wanting to learn more and network with other farmers, aspiring and beginning farmers, and anyone interested in learning more about the production and marketing techniques of sustainable farmers in Ohio, are encouraged to attend. 
 


“The food production system is a mystery for many consumers. This series of free tours shows that some farmers are eager to open their doors to share their experiences with other farmers and with the general public,” said Michelle Gregg-Skinner, Organic Education Program Coordinator at OEFFA.… Continue reading

In the past week, corn growers nationwide hit their fields in earnest and planted more than a quarter of their 2011 crop, finally enjoying a break from cold, wet weather. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that, as of May 8, 40% of the 2011 corn crop has been planted, compared to 13% May 1.

“It’s great to see our farmers get the chance to get out and plant,” said NCGA First Vice President Garry Niemeyer, a grower in Auburn, Ill., who reports that he is virtually finished with his corn planting. “We have several key corn states where our growers were able to take advantage of good weather to start catching up. It’s amazing to see how much they were able to accomplish in one week, something that would have been unheard of not too many years ago.”

The prime example, Niemeyer said, was Iowa, where 61% of the corn crop was planted last week, followed by Nebraska, where 42% of the crop was put in the ground.

OHIO CROP WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

The average temperature for the State was 52.2 degrees, 3.7 degrees below normal for the week ending Sunday, May 8, 2011. Precipitation averaged 1.80 inches, 0.92 inches above normal. There were 43 modified growing degree days, 23 days below normal.

Reporters rated 0.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the seven-day period ending Friday, May 6, 2011. Topsoil moisture was rated 0 percent very short, 0 percent short, 9 percent adequate, and 91 percent surplus.

FIELD ACTIVITIES AND CROP PROGRESS WEEK ENDING SUNDAY MAY 8, 2011

Temperatures were below normal throughout the state, but the state received above normal rainfall for the week. Field activities were very limited because of wet field conditions. Planting has stopped until fields dry up.

As of Sunday May 8, corn was 2 percent planted, which was 72 percent behind last year and 52 percent behind the five-year average. Corn emerged was 1 percent, compared to 35 percent last year and 17 percent for the five-year average.… Continue reading

AccuWeather.com reports that, despite the recent trend toward less rainfall, there is no way to reverse the wave of flooding moving southward from Ohio through the lower Mississippi Valley.

As far as looking for a magic bullet to stop the surge of water flowing slowly downstream in the lower Mississippi Valley, there is none. The damage from two feet of rain in recent weeks in the region where the Mississippi and Ohio rivers come together has already been done.

A break of dry weather was not enough to stop rising waters along the lower Mississippi River and many of its tributaries. The practice of opening floodways took some of the pressure off the levees and will lower the height of the rivers in some cases, but it did not completely stop the slow-moving natural disaster from affecting areas downstream.

Levees or higher ground will allow some communities to be spared the worst of the flooding.… Continue reading