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Persistently high temperatures and low precipitation continue to stress crops and livestock.  Even in corn fields that appear normal, kernel count is low.  Spider mites have been reported in soybean fields, and as a result, operators began spraying fields with insecticide.  Herbicide application has also been necessary, as weed pressure is high.  Hay conditions are extremely poor.  Livestock producers have already begun feeding with their existing hay inventories. … Continue reading

Persistently high temperatures and low precipitation continue to stress crops and livestock.  Even in corn fields that appear normal, kernel count is low.  Spider mites have been reported in soybean fields, and as a result, operators began spraying fields with insecticide.  Herbicide application has also been necessary, as weed pressure is high.  Hay conditions are extremely poor.  Livestock producers have already begun feeding with their existing hay inventories. … Continue reading

The Ohio Departments of Agriculture (ODA) and Health (ODH), along with local health officials and representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), continue to monitor influenza-like illness in animals and humans throughout the county fair season in Ohio, and reminded Ohioans to exercise common sense health practices while around animals.

State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Forshey has veterinarians monitoring hogs weighing-in for exhibition at the Ohio State Fair and taking the temperatures of any that look ill. ODA is also contacting county fair boards and 4-H clubs with information that can be displayed in livestock barns while urging the installation of additional hand sanitizers.

ODH continues to partner with local health departments and health care providers across the state on any reports of human illness. Individuals who have reported close contact with swine and are exhibiting flu-like systems will undergo testing. Samples will be sent to the ODH laboratory for preliminary testing and then to CDC for confirmation.… Continue reading

By Matt Reese

As farmers across the many parts of the Corn Belt are wondering about the results of their harvest this year, there are also questions about the availability of seed for 2013 after the tough growing season.

“As we look upon the rest of the year we do anticipate that we will have a good supply of high quality seed,” said Jerry Harrington, with Pioneer. “We grow seed from the eastern part to the western part of the Corn Belt. There is a broad array of growing conditions there. Some are good and some are really challenging conditions. We also irrigate about two-thirds of our seed supply. And, at the end of the season, we’ll make an evaluation about whether we need to grow an additional crop in South America, which we have done in years past. That is what we did in 1988. We hope to have it under control, but if you’re a grower in Ohio, I would get in contact with your seed supplier to get your order in early and get it on the books.”… Continue reading

Corn and soybean supplies and prices are usually the crops most affected by drought because they are the least irrigated. As discussed two weeks ago, the price increases from these commodities will likely increase food prices some, but probably not significantly. The livestock sector will be hit hardest by this and there could be increases in prices due to a reduction in supply as farms cull herds because of high feed costs. These potential increases are yet to be determined and will not be realized for a while.

Typically, fruit and vegetable crops are not as affected by droughts because, in most cases, these crops are irrigated. An exception, though, could be Indiana this year, that is experiencing some of the most severe drought conditions in the country. In general, though, the prices of fruits and vegetables will probably not be affected much unless there is a significant reduction in supply.… Continue reading

Farm production expenditures reached a record-high $318.7 billion in 2011, a 10.2% increase over 2010, according to the Farm Production Expenditures 2011 summary released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

Average production expenditures per farm were $146,653 in 2011, an increase of 11.3% over the previous year. The largest expenditure category was feed, on which farmers spent an average of $25,129 in 2011, followed by farm services ($17,075); livestock, poultry and related expenses ($13,163) and farm labor ($12,334). Together, these four categories accounted for nearly half of all production expenditures on U.S. farms in 2011.

Nearly a third of all 2011 farm production expenditures occurred in the Midwest region, where farmers reported spending a total of $98.7 billion. Expenditures in the other regions were as follows:  $73.8 billion in the Plains region, $69.8 billion in the West region, $39.1 billion in the Atlantic region, and $38.2 billion in the South region.… Continue reading

The 2012 drought has been one of the worst on record in Ohio, and many livestock producers will need adjust plans and reshuffle resources to minimize economic losses, two Ohio State University Extension educators say.

To help, OSU Extension is sponsoring a free workshop, “Livestock Management – After the Drought,” Aug. 13, 7-9:30 p.m. at the Mill Creek MetroParks Farm on State Route 46, across from the Canfield Fairgrounds in Canfield.

The lack of substantial rainfall, extreme heat and dryness have left many producers short on hay and silage supplies and looking for any alternative forages they can plant to make up for the shortages, said Rory Lewandowski, an agriculture and natural resources educator for OSU Extension.

“I’ve gotten calls from producers wondering what kind of tradeoffs they should be looking for in forages and the impact on pricing and economics they could be facing,” he said. “Growers want to know what they can do to set themselves up in a better place next year for forages.”… Continue reading

Weather conditions have made the fungus aflatoxin a threat to this year’s corn crop. Brian D. Frieden, Director of USDA’s Risk Management Agency’s Springfield Regional Office, offers reminders for producers with crop insurance.

If corn has aflatoxin, notify a crop insurance agent before you harvest the grain, put the grain in storage; or deliver it for sale. An insurance provider will take samples for testing and submit them to an approved testing facility. Depending on the aflatoxin level present, the corn price may be discounted or, in rare cases, the grain will need to be destroyed.

Aflatoxin levels can increase in storage. Therefore, losses are only insurable if the grain is tested at an approved testing facility before being moved into commercial or on-farm storage. A producer may also make arrangements with their insurance provider to leave representative sample areas of the unharvested crop. The adjuster will take samples from these areas for aflatoxin testing.… Continue reading

Compiled by Heather Hetterick and Hannah Thompson

County: Clark
Type of Operation: Grain and cow/calf operation
What is your current hay supply? We should be ok because we had some hay carryover from last year.
Do you have plans to downsize due to feed shortages? We’re actually having a dispersal sale this fall.

County: Wayne
Type of Operation: Dairy
What is your current hay supply? Not very good. We had to bring heifers home from our heifer grower that we hadn’t planned on and it used up all our extra supply of hay. We have no hay at this time for our milk cows from this next year.
What is hay going for in your area? $300-$500/ton
Do you have plans to downsize due to feed shortages? We looked at selling heifers, but have basically been told there is no market for them at this time. We’re running numbers and scenario’s right now to see what would be the best option for us.… Continue reading

Following confirmation of variant influenza in exhibitors from the Butler County Fair, the Ohio Department of Agriculture today ordered two pigs to be sent home from the Ohio State Fair after both tested positive for H3N2 variant influenza. Increased monitoring of hog health will continue through the end of the Ohio State Fair on Sunday.

In response to the illnesses in Butler County, State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Forshey had veterinarians monitoring hogs at the Ohio State Fair and taking the temperatures of any that looked ill. Both hogs that tested positive were running a fever at the time they were swabbed by the ODA veterinarian.

“We will continue to have veterinarians in the barns to closely monitor the hogs at the Ohio State Fair and to take temperatures and samples of any that do not look 100 percent healthy,” said Ohio Agriculture Director David Daniels. “We’re also going to keep reminding exhibitors and visitors to keep washing their hands often, to refrain from eating and drinking in the barns, and to limit direct contact with the pigs.… Continue reading

Ohio’s edition of Barns for Obama kicked off in Morgan County, near McConnelsville, last

weekend. The campaign combines Ohio’s rich history of painted barns — from the old Mail Pouch barns to the Bicentennial Barns in every county— with the enthusiasm for President Obama.… Continue reading

More than $24 million is available to agricultural producers and landowners to improve and protect the waters and resources in the Great Lakes Basin. Terry J. Cosby, Ohio State Conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), announced a second sign-up period for agricultural producers to install specific conservation practices through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).

Agricultural producers located in select watersheds within the Maumee River (Upper Blanchard) watershed, which includes portions of Hancock, Hardin, Putnam, Seneca, Allen, and Wyandot Counties, have until August 17, 2012, to submit an application to be considered for priority ranking.

“The GLRI is a multi-agency partnership working together to improve and protect the waters of the Great Lakes Basin,” Cosby said. “By extending the sign-up deadline, we are providing agricultural producers in the Maumee River watershed with an opportunity to still utilize these funds as they work to improve their natural resources.… Continue reading

Served on a stick or between buns, your fair-tastic favorites are a little healthier this year at the Ohio State Fair. As part of a promotion for high-oleic soybeans, select state fair food vendors are using high-oleic soy oil when frying your favorite fair foods during the 12-day event.

This promotion, sponsored by the Ohio Soybean Council (OSC), the soy checkoff and seed companies Monsanto and DuPont Pioneer, looks to showcase the oil made from Ohio-grown soybeans throughout the fairgrounds. Fairgoers can look for the “Proud to Serve High-Oleic” emblem displayed on select food vendor locations.

“Soybean farmers in Ohio just started growing these new soybean varieties during the last two years,” said John Motter, a soybean farmer from Jenera, Ohio, and OSC chairman. “These varieties help farmers meet the demand of their primary oil customer, the food industry, and help us showcase our product at the Ohio State Fair.”

High-oleic soy oil contains no trans fats and lower saturated fats than traditional vegetable oils, making it attractive to frying and baking customers.… Continue reading

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced the purchase of 396,000 pounds of lamb leg roast and lamb shoulder chops at a cost of approximately $1.64 million. This product will be distributed in federal food and nutrition programs.

“American lamb producers and the entire market will benefit from the purchase of this lamb,” commented Margaret Soulen Hinson (Idaho), president of the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI). “The intent of the program is to strengthen lamb prices to the farm and ranch level and we are very appreciative of the department taking this very much needed action.”

Both companies that submitted bids — Mountain States Rosen LLC and Transhumance Inc. — were awarded contracts from this invitation. The lamb is scheduled for delivery in September.

“With deliveries in September, the winning companies can begin processing to fill the orders promptly,” said Peter Orwick, ASI executive director. “By my count, this bid accounts for the movement of more than a dozen semi loads of lamb.”… Continue reading

In a battle of differing opinions over the potential impacts of the Renewable Fuels Standard moving forward in light of the drought conditions, livestock groups are aligning against corn growers and the ethanol industry.

With the worst drought drought conditions in 50 years, corn yields are expected to drop significantly, a coalition of meat and poultry organizations asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to waive the federal mandate for the production of corn ethanol. In a petition delivered to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, the coalition asked for a waiver “in whole or in substantial part” of the amount of renewable fuel that must be produced under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) for the remainder of this year and for the portion of 2013 that is one year from the time the waiver becomes effective.

The RFS requires 13.2 billion gallons of corn-based ethanol to be produced in 2012 and 13.8 billion gallons in 2013, amounts that will use about 4.7 billion and 4.9 billion bushels, respectively, of the nation’s corn.… Continue reading

Savory smoke filled the air as 10 teams from across Ohio, gathered in Columbus for the 16th annual Ohio Pork Rib-Off. This event invites teams to prepare both ribs and pulled pork that are evaluated by a judging panel for taste, tenderness and appearance.

This year, those challenged with selecting Ohio’s top teams were Tristan Navera, Another Food Critic (blog); Matt Reese, Editor, Ohio’s Country Journal; Bethia Woolf, Columbus Food Adventures (blog); Virgil Strickler, General Manager, Ohio Expo Center and State Fair; and Paul Boyer, Columbus Foodie (blog).

Bob Nunnally of NBC 4 served as the competition emcee and announced the following award winners:

Grand Champion Ribs: Wally’s Great American BBQ, Tiffin, OH
Reserve Champion Ribs: Hickory River Smokehouse, Tipp City, OH
Grand Champion Pulled Pork: Wally’s Great American BBQ, Tiffin, OH Reserve Pulled Pork: Velvet Smoke BBQ, Hilliard, OH
People’s Choice Award Winner: Tony’s Restaurant, Findlay, OH
Best BBQ Sauce containing Soy: Wally’s Great American BBQ, Tiffin, OH

In addition to $3,000 in prizes, top teams received commemorative banners and silver serving trays.… Continue reading

Steve Maurer, State Executive Director for Ohio’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), announced that continuous sign-up for the Highly Erodible Land (HEL) Initiative under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) started on July 23, 2012.  Ohio received a total allocation of 24,300 acres to enroll in the HEL CRP program.  Offers will be accepted until either the state acreage allocation limit is reached or September 30, 2012, whichever occurs first.

“CRP is a voluntary program that has protected environmentally sensitive land for more than 25 years,” Maurer said. “This initiative will accept offers with an erosion rate of at least 20 tons per acre per year for new cropland or CRP acres that expire on September 30, 2012; however, existing grass stands that are not expiring CRP will not be considered eligible.”

Producers can stop by their local FSA office to determine if their land qualifies for the Highly Erodible Land Initiative and to receive additional location-specific details.… Continue reading

By Amanda Meddles, Steve Prochaska and Glen Arnold, OSU Extension

This year Farm Science Review is celebrating its 50^th show. It is amazing how far agriculture has come in 50 years. One thing we have learned in those 50 years is how important nutrient placement is for crop production and environmental sustainability. Ohio lakes have been suffering the past few years from excess nutrient loading that has resulted in Hazardous Algal Blooms. Fertilizer and manure used in crop production are sources of nutrients transported to Ohio lakes and rivers via sedimentation, runoff and tile discharge.

In July, Directors of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) announced the Ohio Clean Lakes Initiative. This initiative will start the following specific farm level recommendations: 1) Take soil tests and follow fertilization rates as found in the Tri-State Recommendations and/or OSU Recommendations; 2) No spreading of phosphorus on frozen or snow covered ground; 3) Maintain good nutrient application records; 4) As much as possible, incorporate nutrients into the soil layer or on a growing crop at the appropriate time; 5) Follow the 4R Nutrient Steward guidelines found at: nutrientstewardship.com.… Continue reading

The American Farm Bureau Federation said that a House proposal to extend the current farm bill for one year fails to move the nation any closer to securing a comprehensive, long-term farm bill and the organization would stand in opposition.

“A one-year extension offers our farm and ranch families nothing in the way of long-term policy certainty,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “Farmers and ranchers always face decisions that carry very serious financial ramifications, such as planting a crop, buying land or building a herd, and we need clear and confident signals from our lawmakers.”

Late last Friday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) announced that the House “may consider a farm bill extension” this week. The legislation would provide for a one-year extension of current law governing farm programs, including commodity programs, crop insurance, conservation programs and federal nutrition programs, as well as reauthorize supplemental agricultural disaster assistance for the 2012 fiscal year, retroactively, and for the 2013 fiscal year.… Continue reading