Top Headlines

October 28, 2022 -- Sunny, warm and dry to finish the week today, tomorrow and most of Sunday. Temps will be warmer today through the weekend and will be above normal...

By Jon Scheve, Superior Feed Ingredients, LLC

Throughout October, the corn market has traded within a tight 25-cent range. Lack of farmers selling has kept prices from declining much during harvest. However, world economy concerns are also keeping prices from increasing.

During the same time, soybeans traded within a 50-cent price range. Again, lack of farmers selling, plus lower than expected yields in the west, is keeping a floor under prices. Right now, the economy and the potential of Brazil’s next crop are keeping prices in check.

Last month I was on the farm helping with harvest. While fixing a broken sickle, I looked inside the toolbox at the many tools we carry on the combine to fix potential problems in the field. It reminded me of all the grain marketing tools we use to price the grain we are harvesting.

Just as most farmers know how to use their tools and would not go to the fields without them, farmers should be knowledgeable about the grain marketing tools available to them too.… Continue reading

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that distressed borrowers with qualifying USDA farm loans have already received nearly $800 million in assistance, as part of the $3.1 billion in assistance for distressed farm loan borrowers provided through Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA directed USDA to expedite assistance to distressed borrowers of direct or guaranteed loans administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) whose operations face financial risk.

The announcement kicks off a process to provide assistance to distressed farm loan borrowers using several complementary approaches, with the goal of keeping them farming, removing obstacles that currently prevent many of these borrowers from returning to farming, and improving the way that USDA approaches borrowing and servicing. Through this assistance, USDA is focused on generating long-term stability and success for distressed borrowers.

“Through no fault of their own, our nation’s farmers and ranchers have faced incredibly tough circumstances over the last few years,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.… Continue reading

By Horacio Lopez-Nicora, Adapted from C.O.R.N. 2022-37

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) remains the most economically damaging soybean pathogen in North America. If SCN levels are above damage threshold, significant yield reduction can often take place without visible symptoms. To know if the nematode is present in a field, soil sample for SCN testing must be properly collected. The presence of SCN in a field, but most importantly, the SCN numbers will determine the best management strategy. Therefore, you need to test your fields to know your SCN numbers.  

If you do not know you have SCN in your field, then fall is the best time to sample for SCN. If you know you have SCN but want to track its levels, then fall is the best time to sample for SCN. If you are planning to collect samples for soil fertility, a subsample can be used for SCN testing!… Continue reading

Agricultural producers can now change election and enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage programs for the 2023 crop year, two key safety net programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Producers have until March 15, 2023, to enroll in these two programs. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has started issuing payments totaling more than $255 million to producers with 2021 crops that have triggered payments through ARC or PLC.  

“It’s that time of year for produces to consider all of their risk management options, including safety-net coverage elections through Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage,” said Zach Ducheneaux, FSA Administrator. “We recognize that market prices have generally been very good, but if the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, frequent catastrophic weather events and the Ukraine war have taught us anything, it’s that we must prepare for the unexpected. It’s through programs like ARC and PLC that FSA can provide producers the economic support and security they need to manage market volatility and disasters.” … Continue reading

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is establishing cooperative agreements in six regions across the United States for the Organic Transition Initiative, Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). Organizations participating in the partnership network will work together to establish and administer a farmer-to-farmer mentorship program providing direct farmer training, education, and outreach activities. These activities will help transitioning and recently transitioned producers who face technical, cultural, and market shifts during the transition period and the first few years of organic certification.

The Organic Transition Initiative (OTI) was launched in August 2022 as part of USDA’s food system transformation effort to support local and regional food systems, expand access to markets to more producers and increase the affordable food supply for more Americans, while promoting climate-smart agriculture and ensuring equity for all producers. OTI provides comprehensive support for farmers transitioning to organic production and will deliver wrap-around technical assistance, including farmer-to-farmer mentoring; provide direct support through conservation financial assistance and additional crop insurance assistance; and support market development projects in targeted markets.… Continue reading

Matt Reese and Dusty Sonnenberg are joined by farmer and comedian Jay Hernden in this podcast, sponsored by AgriGold. The three discuss the endless fodder that agriculture provides a humorist. Along the way, we hear conversations with Chris Penrose, Morgan County extension, about a new, unsettling tick found in his area (Asian Longhorned Tick) keeping livestock professionals on high alert. Also, Jared Lute of RL Logging talks about life in Ohio forestry in 2022.

0:00:00 Intro and OCJ/OAN Staff Update with Comedian Jay Hernden

0:06:07 Jared Lute – RL Logging

0:15:46 Chris Penrose, Morgan Co. Extension on Asian Longhorned Tick

0:23:12 Jay Hernden Conversation Continued, Closing… Continue reading

Last week, soybean and corn harvest continued against a backdrop of cooler temperatures and minimal precipitation, according to Cheryl Turner, State Statistician, USDA NASS, Ohio Field Office. Dry conditions persisted in western counties and in a few counties in the northeast, with U.S. Drought Monitor ratings ranging from abnormal dryness to moderate drought across the State. Due to the drier-than-average conditions combined with high winds, red flag warnings were issued in some southwestern counties. Topsoil moisture conditions were rated 21% very short, 33% short, 44% adequate, and 2% surplus.
Statewide, the average temperature for the week ending October 23 was 47.9 degrees, 2.8 degrees below normal. Weather stations recorded an average of 0.28 inches of precipitation, 0.39 inches below average. There were 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Oct. 23.

Corn was 91% mature and 36% of corn was harvested for grain. The moisture content of corn grain at harvest was 20%.… Continue reading

Joe Everett

This weather has been great. I feel like the last couple of days have really helped with drying the corn down a little more. Hopefully today we’ll finish our beans and get back into corn.

Things are getting too dry. It is as dry as I’ve seen in a long time, but for us it’s really helped get our harvest done. It has been nice not fighting the weather conditions when getting the crop out.

Beans have been pretty good on moisture. A lot of them are running in the 9% range. They are dry but I’m not seeing much shattering. We don’t like to run them that dry but hate not to use the good weather to get them off. Overall, we’re pretty happy with the yield considering the year and just how wet we were after we got planted. These beans sat in water for a while.… Continue reading

By Dusty Sonnenberg, CCA, Ohio Field Leader, a project of the Ohio Soybean Council and soybean check-off

It is a weed’s dream come true, that is if weeds had dreams. After 35 years of service as the Ohio State University Extension State Weed Specialist, Mark Loux, (a.k.a. Dr. Death to weeds) is retiring.

Loux has been a farmers’ best friend and a weed’s worst nightmare. While a true statistical count has not been conducted, it could reasonably be estimated that Loux is responsible for the literal death of millions, possibly even billions of weeds in the State of Ohio and around the world. Add to that number the untold millions of weeds that were never able to germinate because of his persistent recommendation for the use of residual herbicides, and it is no wonder that the weed world is breathing, (or respirating in plant terms) a collective sigh of relief.

Loux’s career in weed science began, in part, due to his dad, who worked as a chemist for Dupont on the East Coast.… Continue reading

Completion of a new grain system this fall has provided J Adams Farms the opportunity to harvest corn more efficiently and market that grain more effectively. The new system was completed on the Mount Sterling, Ohio, farm in mid-October — just in time for harvest to begin. 

Farm owner Justin Adams previously sold most of his corn at harvest for ethanol production. 

“I was losing time hauling grain to the elevator and waiting in line for hours at a time,” he said. “Having my own grain system is much more efficient and will allow me to eliminate a truck or two during corn harvest.”

Besides improving efficiency, Adams said the new system also gives him much greater marketing flexibility. Previously, some of his corn was stored in two smaller bins on his farm site. But without a dryer, he was only able to hold that grain for a limited time. Those smaller bins are now used exclusively for storing soybeans.… Continue reading

By Laura Lindsey, Prabath Senanayaka Mudiyanselage, Ohio State University Extension

In general, the best time to plant wheat is the 10-day period starting the day after the fly-free safe date. When wheat is planted more than 10-days after the fly-free safe date, there is an increased chance of reduced fall growth and winterhardiness, but the same yield may be achieved as earlier planted wheat if freezing weather does not occur until late November or early December. However, a higher seeding rate is recommended. According to the Ohio Agronomy Guide, for wheat planted 3 to 4 weeks after the fly-free-safe date, a seeding rate of 1.6 to 2.0 million seeds per acre should be used. 

Our recent research trial in Wood County supports the wheat seeding rate recommendation found in the Ohio Agronomy Guide. In Wood County, there was no effect of seeding rate when wheat was planted 6 days prior to or six days after the county fly-safe date.… Continue reading

Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition announces their Feed Your Dreams Sweepstakes, an event celebrating the partnership between award-winning country music artist, Lainey Wilson, and Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition. One lucky grand prize winner will receive a personalized equine feeding plan (PEFP) for one horse, with the recommended product(s) provided free for one year. They will also score 2 VIP tickets to see Lainey Wilson in concert, along with a $1,000 travel voucher and fun Tribute swag. The total value of this prize package is estimated at $5,000.

Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition is excited to partner with Lainey Wilson for Tribute’s Feed Your DreamsTM campaign. The queen of bell bottom country and Tribute are a perfect match.

“Lainey’s passion for horses, persistent work ethic, and relentless pursuit of her dreams embodies the journey that so many of our customers are on and we at Tribute are proud to support,” said company president, Paul Kalmbach, Jr.… Continue reading

By Matt Reese 

In September, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) was confirmed in Ohio. The virus was detected in a backyard flock in Ashland County and a 3 million-bird commercial chicken flock in Defiance County. HPAI has since been found in backyard flocks in Allen, Williams, Portage, and Summit counties. 

The positive detections were confirmed by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS). The samples were first tested at the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and confirmed at the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa. HPAI is a highly contagious virus that spreads quickly and can be fatal to flocks and devastating to poultry owners, both commercial and non-commercial. HPAI can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) and is carried by free flying waterfowl such as ducks, geese, and shorebirds. The current cases have been introduced during the natural migration season. … Continue reading

By Garth Ruff, Beef Cattle Field Specialist, OSU Extension

Fall is my favorite time of the year, hay making is done, the feeder cattle are being marketed, college football is in full swing, and for some calving season is well underway.

This summer at our field day in Muskingum County we heard from a family who discussed incorporating a fall calving cow herd into their beef operation. While there are disadvantages to fall calving, there are several advantages that can be capitalized on if we can evaluate and adapt current production systems. Let’s look at how fall calving can be a viable and profitable system.

Cattle prices are seasonal 

As with most things in agriculture, supply and demand have a great impact on prices. Andrew Griffith from the University of Tennessee in 2017 analyzed several studies comparing spring and fall calving systems. After comparing the systems on a 205-day weaning age and two separate feed resource scenarios they concluded that even though spring-calving cows had heavier calves at weaning and lower feed costs than the fall-calving cows, the higher prices of steer and heifer calves captured by fall-born calves were able to cover the higher feed expenses and lighter weaning weights by the fall-born calves.… Continue reading