Varying weather forecasts have farmers wondering whether Tuesdays’ USDA Crop Progress numbers are the start of a downward trend or just a seasonal dip in conditions.
Tuesday’s weekly report from USDA — delayed a day by the Independence Day holiday earlier this week — shows both corn and soybean conditions dipped slightly from the previous week. At 71% and 66% good to excellent respectively, the corn and soybean crops both slipped, but the corn number is just 2% lower than a week ago, and the soybean number’s just 1% below last week.
Much of the slight decline can be blamed on excess moisture, some farmers say. But, a look into the forecast beyond the next week is causing others to worry that the opposite problem — one some weather-watchers have foreshadowed for months — will become the biggest crop threat through the end of this month.
“Starting about the 14th of July, temps are showing a high of 95-97 degrees.… Continue reading
Ag Leader’s SMS™ Basic or SMS™ Advanced desktop software helps achieve this process by facilitating variety map integration from an array of collection devices. This new feature allows more growers to see variety maps on the INTEGRA display while harvesting, seeing hybrid/variety yield results in real time. “For a long time growers have used our yield monitor to compare varieties at harvest. However, the field had to be harvested with the same display that planted the field to see the variety map in real time,” says New Business Development Manager, Roger Zielke. “I’m happy to say this added feature gives our customers a solution, regardless of their planting display. SMS-compatible data can be read into the software to create a reference file. That file is then loaded on to the INTEGRA display to show the variety map at harvest.” Using SMS software to generate variety maps helps farming operations with multiple precision ag displays or mixed fleets of precision ag equipment in the operation.… Continue reading
Anyone interested in starting an aquaculture business, or perhaps expanding an existing one, has the opportunity to participate in a tour of fish farms throughout northeast Ohio on July 16.
Ohio State University’s South Centers at Piketon and Ohio Soybean Council will sponsor the event, which runs from 7:45 a.m. until 6 p.m. The cost is $20 per person.
The Northeast Ohio Fish Farm Tour will feature stops at Scales to Tails, Laurel Creek Fin Farm, Raber’s Fish Farm, Fender’s Fish Hatchery, and Blue Ribbon Fish Farm. Participants will meet at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center’s Fisher Auditorium at 7:45 a.m. before departing on the tour. The tour is schedule to arrive back at OARDC around 6 p.m. OARDC is located at 1680 Madison Avenue, Wooster, Ohio.
Scales to Tails Seafood Shoppe sells live fish and fresh filets. The shop also boasts a large processing facility. Owners Dave and Wendy Lemke also raise tilapia, yellow perch, bluegill and largemouth bass.… Continue reading
Planning for the National Pork Board’s 2011 budget begins in earnest next week when board members meet July 13 to review revenue projections from the Pork Checkoff and to set a spending target for the new budget year. The board is meeting during the three-day National Pork Industry Conference at Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
The board, under the leadership of newly elected president Gene Nemechek, will welcome four new pork producer members recently appointed to three-years terms by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack: Julie Maschoff from Carlyle, Ill.; Derrick Sleezer from Cherokee, Iowa; Wathina Luthi from Gage, Okla.; and Steve Wuergler from Drain, Ore. The board also will pay tribute to four retiring board members: Tim Bierman, a Larrabee, Iowa, producer who as the immediate past president remains on the board for one year as a non-voting member; Steve Weaver of Elk Grove, Calif.; Bruce Samson of Three Forks, Mont.; and Henry Moore of Clinton, N.C.… Continue reading
So there I was, sitting back in the seat of my tractor in the middle of a hayfield. I’d just shut off the PTO to the haybine and felt sick to my stomach. No, my hay mower had not just broken down (although that has happened plenty in the past month), and I was not suffering from heat stroke related to the 90-plus degree heat. Instead, I was on my cell phone, and my publisher, Bart Johnson, had just told me that a press conference was underway at that exact moment and Ohio’s agricultural leaders had struck a deal with the Humane Society of the United States. “I feel like I could puke off the side of my tractor, but the only reason I’m not is because I’d be baling it up and feeding it to my cows,” I said to Bart. He shared my disbelief over what was transpiring, although perhaps in not quite such a blunt fashion … OK, maybe it was equally or more so, but I can’t in good conscience put it in print.… Continue reading
In a year when overly wet conditions and a head scab outbreak are significantly impacting Ohio’s wheat crop, there is no room for assumptions that grain is toxin-free and safe to feed to livestock.
To avoid any health problems in cattle, swine, poultry and other animals, growers are highly encouraged to test the grain for vomitoxin levels before any of the feed or grain byproduct is destined for consumption.
“Farmers shouldn’t think that it’s OK to handle or feed scabby grain without actually testing and knowing how much toxin is in it,” said Pierce Paul, an Ohio State University Extension small grains specialist and plant pathologist. “I always emphasize testing.”
Wheat in some portions of Ohio is experiencing upwards of 60 percent incidence of head scab — a disease that attacks the wheat during flowering under wet, humid conditions. The disease can impact yields. The fungal pathogen that causes head scab also produces mycotoxins (most notably vomitoxin) in the grain that can be unsafe for livestock if consumed in high levels.… Continue reading
Throughout its 48-year history, Ohio State University’s Farm Science Review has been at the forefront of showcasing the future of agriculture.
From the first no-till demonstrations to the introduction of big farm equipment to breakthrough research on crop diseases, Farm Science Review has always been the place for visitors to see the “newest” in agriculture, as well as conservation, home improvement, health, safety, money management, gardening and education.
“Farm Science Review embraces change. It’s just amazing to look at how far we’ve come and where we’ll be going,” said Farm Science Review manager Chuck Gamble. “We are constantly looking at new technologies, and new products and services, and their representation at the show is an asset to our visitors.”
Farm Science Review, Ohio’s premiere agricultural event, will take place Sept. 21-23 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio. Sponsored by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, the event attracts upwards of 140,000 visitors from all over the country and Canada.… Continue reading
Throughout its 48-year history, Ohio State University’s Farm Science Review has been at the forefront of showcasing the future of agriculture.
From the first no-till demonstrations to the introduction of big farm equipment to breakthrough research on crop diseases, Farm Science Review has always been the place for visitors to see the “newest” in agriculture, as well as conservation, home improvement, health, safety, money management, gardening and education.
“Farm Science Review embraces change. It’s just amazing to look at how far we’ve come and where we’ll be going,” said Farm Science Review manager Chuck Gamble. “We are constantly looking at new technologies, and new products and services, and their representation at the show is an asset to our visitors.”
Farm Science Review, Ohio’s premiere agricultural event, will take place Sept. 21-23 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio. Sponsored by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, the event attracts upwards of 140,000 visitors from all over the country and Canada.… Continue reading
By John Brien, CCA, AgriGold agronomist A corn grower does not have to look very far to find the beginnings of leaf diseases in a corn field. The disease is beginning to appear on the lower leaves of the corn plants and will slowly move up onto the top of the canopy. Corn leaf diseases are not new and are always present at some level. The reason for concern this year is the timing and severity. Normally corn leaf diseases do not begin appearing until at least two weeks after pollination. In 2010, the leaf diseases are showing up one to two weeks BEFORE pollination. The early timing provides the diseases more opportunity to spread and cause economic damage. Corn leaf diseases alone cause little economic damage, although their indirect problems can lead to serious issues. Generally, leaf diseases will go without notice. Few growers scout fields solely to determine the leaf disease pressure and therefore are unaware of the problems the diseases are causing.… Continue reading
Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Robert Boggs today announces that preliminary tests performed by the department’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory revealed a positive result for bovine tuberculosis in a Paulding County dairy herd. There is no known human illness associated with this occurrence.
The herd was found positive after routine tuberculosis testing by the department. The herd was depopulated, and the department is currently conducting a trace-in and trace-out investigation to determine if other livestock may be affected.
“We are currently working with our state and federal partners on this matter to take the necessary steps to identify the origin of the affected cattle,” said Boggs. “This is yet another example of how the Ohio Department of Agriculture works daily to assure the safety of Ohio consumers and livestock.”
Tuberculosis is a disease caused by bacteria which affects the respiratory system. Bovine tuberculosis, also known as Cattle TB, is an infectious form of tuberculosis as it infects most warm-blooded animals, including humans.… Continue reading
A recently released research summary shows that Headline fungicide effectively controls a broad spectrum of corn and soybean diseases, provides Plant Health benefits and maximizes crop yields. The Headline Fungicide Yield Research Summary demonstrates that the BASF fungicide provides corn growers approximately a 3 bu/A yield advantage over other available fungicides. “Growers are constantly weighing the practices and inputs they use for successfully growing a crop and maintaining their business,” said Nick Fassler, BASF Technical Market Manager. “BASF conducts this exhaustive research so growers can be assured that selecting Headline will help them meet their operational goals.” The results of the report are based on a summary of university small plot trials, seed company hybrid evaluations and large scale, on-farm side-by-side comparisons of Headline from 2004 to 2009. Headline was applied with a 6 oz/A use rate in all tests. Compared to untreated checks, research shows a 13.5 bu/A average yield increase and 12.2, 16.9 and 19.4 bu/A yield improvements under conditions of low, moderate and high disease pressure, respectively, in corn.… Continue reading
A working farm just west of The Ohio State University campus and nestled in the heart of metro Columbus is being transformed into a learning laboratory of best management practices for water quality protection and whole farm sustainability.
A $194,324 grant from Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and local matching dollars totaling $132,456 will enable the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District to demonstrate several progressive projects on OSU’s Waterman Agriculture and Natural Resources Laboratory (2433 Carmack Rd.). The projects will serve as application tools for current and future farmers and showcase environmental stewardship for students, faculty and urban residents.
“The educational project will provide on-the-ground examples of how to improve operations and the sustainability of production, reduce maintenance costs and protect water resources both on the farm and downstream,” said Russ Gibson, Ohio EPA’s Division of Surface Water Nonpoint Source Section manager. The Franklin Soil and Water grant is one of eight federal Section 319 Clean Water Act grants awarded by Ohio EPA this year.… Continue reading
Released July 6, 2010, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Soybean cyst nematode (SCN), a destructive pest of soybeans, can be found in nearly every county in Ohio. A farmer may have it and not know it, and for those who know their fields are infested, proper management is crucial. In either situation, producers can look to the Soybean Cyst Nematode Management Guide for assistance.
The 5th edition publication, produced by the North Central Soybean Research Program and the Plant Health Initiative, is a comprehensive guide to SCN and how to manage it. The 16-page color publication covers the importance of SCN, what the pest is, how it affects soybeans, how it interacts with other diseases, what damage looks like, how to send in soil samples, a description of SCN biotypes, and recommendations for managing SCN.
Deemed the “silent robber of yields,” SCN is the No. 2 soybean pest in Ohio, behind Phytophthora sojae, which causes Phytophthora root rot. Soybean cyst nematodes feed on the roots of young plants, which prevents the roots from taking up vital nutrients.… Continue reading
The temperatures are up and the crops are coming along in this week’s report from Between the Rows. Here is the report from the farmers after the holiday weekend.
– Matt Reese
Kevin Miller
Williams County
“What a difference two weeks made. We had a gorgeous week of weather last week with low humidity and temperatures. We had some really nice second cutting hay and the quality was excellent. I would say we’re around half way done with second cutting in this area.
“Most guys got started last Wednesday and Thursday last week with wheat. I have today yet and I should be finished. My yields have been 85 to 90 bushels yields and my test weight has been 56 to 58 test weight. In our area, I do not think the vomitoxin is going to be a huge issue. I’ve heard 1 to 3 parts per million vomitoxin from elevators.… Continue reading
A blue moon — when there are 2 full moons in the same calendar month) has come around 15 times in the last 40 years. In that same time period, live hog prices have passed the $60-per-hundredweight mark 13 times.
So, $60-plus live hogs are rarer than a blue moon. But, that magic number was surpassed in May when live hogs hit $63/cwt. Though he expects the rarity of this occurrence to continue, Purdue University livestock economist Chris Hurt says it’s definitely not a sign that the hog market’s softening, at least for a while.
“The outlook is for strong and profitable prices to continue for some time, although with prices generally below the rare $60 mark,” says Purdue University livestock economist Chris Hurt.”
It’s an optimistic projection for market conditions that have been good to hog farmers since spring. But, one thing that has changed in the outlook, Hurt says, is the expectation for expansion.… Continue reading
Head scab has been showing up around the state in what may be the worst year for the disease in Ohio in the last decade. The vomitoxin in the grain resulting from the disease is creating a number of problems in the marketing and handling of the wheat.
“It does not seem like a major problem right here in my neighborhood in northern Wood County, but we have heard a lot of horror stories from the southern part of the state,” said Jay Griffith, vice president of the Ohio Wheat Growers Association.
In parts of northwest Ohio, there are reports of vomitoxin ranging from 5 to 10 parts per million. Further south in Morrow County, there are reports of vomitoxin levels of 3.3 up to 8.1 parts per million in the same variety from same field planted the same day. Even higher levels have been reported further south.… Continue reading
1) Recommendations will be made to The Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board (OLCSB) to take action on issues related to downer cattle and humane euthanasia using language consistent with the proposed ballot initiative.
2) The Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will coordinate and take action on wild and dangerous animals including the prohibition of the sale and/or possession of big cats, bears, primates, large constricting and venomous snakes and alligators and crocodiles. Existing owners will be grandfathered in, but they could not breed or obtain new animals.
3) Recommendations will be made to the legislature to support and pass SB 95 largely in the current form, which regulates dog breeding kennels.
4) Recommendations will be made to the legislature to support and pass HB 108, which will increase penalties on individuals who engage in cockfighting.
5) Recommendations will be made to the OLCSB to adopt the American Veal Association 2007 agreement to transition to group housing for veal calves by 2017.… Continue reading
1) Recommendations will be made to The Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board (OLCSB) to take action on issues related to downer cattle and humane euthanasia using language consistent with the proposed ballot initiative.
2) The Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will coordinate and take action on wild and dangerous animals including the prohibition of the sale and/or possession of big cats, bears, primates, large constricting and venomous snakes and alligators and crocodiles. Existing owners will be grandfathered in, but they could not breed or obtain new animals.
3) Recommendations will be made to the legislature to support and pass SB 95 largely in the current form, which regulates dog breeding kennels.
4) Recommendations will be made to the legislature to support and pass HB 108, which will increase penalties on individuals who engage in cockfighting.
5) Recommendations will be made to the OLCSB to adopt the American Veal Association 2007 agreement to transition to group housing for veal calves by 2017.… Continue reading
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