Agronomy And Farm Management

In our last podcast we discussed how 2019 has led to a lot of high moisture corn going into grain bins across the country and the safety concerns that has caused. It also has caused a lot of concern with grain quality as farmers hold grain in the bin waiting to fill contracts. Dr. Kenneth Hellevang, Extension Engineer and Professor with North Dakota State University discusses good management practices and technology available to reduce grain spoilage. The webinar mentioned in the podcast with Dr. Hellevang can be viewed at go.osu.edu/storedgrain. Dr. Hellevang’s website can be found at: www.ndsu.edu/aben/fs/faculty/hellevang.

2019 has led to a lot of high moisture corn going into grain bins across the country. Bin entrapment is always a serious concern, but is heightened this year due to excess moisture. Lisa Pfeifer with the Ohio State University's Agriculture Safety team, discusses why there is more cause for concern and how farmers can avoid entrapments scenarios. To register for the webinar on managing stored grained mentioned in the podcast visit: go.osu.edu/StoredGrain. To view “In an Instant Buried Alive” visit: youtu.be/Ea4By9vFyVQ. To find more resources and book the grain cart, visit agsafety.osu.edu and find them on social media.

There were not a lot of changes to the commodity programs in the 2018 Farm Bill but the farm economy is certainly different than in 2014 making for some potentially different decision at the FSA office this year. Ben Brown, Assistant Professor with the OSU Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics Department, and Mary Griffith, OSU Extension Educator in Madison County, join us to talk about considerations for farmers when deciding in which program to enroll.

Our favorite climate expert, Dr. Aaron Wilson, joins us again to provide a forecast on winter and spring based on current weather patterns. We discuss the end of the growing season, what temperatures and precipitation look like for this winter and what we can expect going into next spring’s planting season.

This may be an unusual year for taxes with prevented plant, market facilitation and cost-share payments. Barry Ward, Director of the Income Tax Schools at Ohio State, shares some strategies on these topics along with how farmers can defer income and use the qualified business income deduction. Visit farmoffice.osu.edu for more information and find the details on the Income Tax Schools and webinars.

Compaction can greatly reduce yield and soil quality and is difficult to reverse. During this wettest decade in history, it has been difficult to avoid wet soil conditions. Dr. Scott Shearer, Chair of the Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department at The Ohio State University explains what compaction is, different types of compaction, and how the evolution of equipment has and continues to play a role in compaction.

Extension Educators Jason Hartschuh and Will Hammond discuss ways to maximize combine performance for corn and soybean harvest in an especially difficult year. We also talk about crop quality considerations and ensure quality yield data is collected.

We talk to Farm Science Review Manager, Nick Zachrich, and the Farm Manager, Nate Douridas, about what you can see at the 37th Annual Farm Science Review. We also share all there is to see and learn from the Ohio State University Extension Areas across the show grounds. Stop by and see us!

The Ohio State University Extension Educator Jason Hartschuh has been conducting on-farm research trials to fine tune nitrogen application. He compares different nitrogen rates and application timing to determine what is the most economical approach to growing corn. We ask him about current technology and equipment that helps implement the split application approach.

The Ohio State University Extension’s Field Specialist Glen Arnold and Extension Educator Sam Custer talk about the progress they have made from topdressing wheat in the spring with manure to sidedressing standing corn with a drag hose. Their goal is to expand the manure application window and apply nutrients to growing crops. There may be some entertaining stories shared at the end! Follow their work on Facebook at facebook.com/OSUnutrients/ or in the CORN Newsletter.

Dr. Aaron Wilson, research scientist with the OSU Byrd Polar and Climate Center, pulls together a summary of each season starting back to spring of 2018. We discuss weather patterns and records set through this time and how it all has led up to what farmers are experiencing during the growing season of 2019. To review presentations from Climate Smart 2019, please visit u.osu.edu/climatesmart.

Rory Lewandowski, OSU Extension Educator in Wayne County, discusses three species of cover crops that provide the opportunity to increase forage production, particularly on prevented plant acres. Cover crops also offer nutrient and soil retention benefits compared with leaving the soil bare. View Rory’s recorded presentation on this subject at go.osu.edu/AgCrisis. Check out the Cover Crop Selector Tool at mccc.msu.edu/selector-tool.

Podcast hosts Elizabeth Hawkins and Amanda Douridas touch on various aspects of prevented plant fields from forage options for livestock to agronomic considerations for fields left bare. As of recording, all information was accurate but it changes daily so make sure to check with your insurance agent and the FAQ page at go.osu.edu/AgCrisis. The podcast has a new landing page at go.osu.edu/AFM. This website makes it easy to listen to past episodes and access informational links.

The Ohio State University Ag Law Team made up of Peggy Kirk Hall, Ellen Essman and Evin Bachelor join us for an update on some hot topics hitting agriculture right now. In the second of a 2 part series, we discuss the rise in solar leases being sought across Ohio. The team provides some tips and advice on what to consider and look for in these leases before signing. In addition, the California courts have ruled on two more Round-Up/glyphosate cases. We talk about the results of these cases, new cases in the future and what it could mean for the future use of the product. Follow the Ag Law Team on their blog and access law resources at farmoffice.osu.edu.

The Ohio State University Ag Law Team is made up of Peggy Kirk Hall, Ellen Essman and Evin Bachelor. Listen as they join us for an update on some hot topics hitting agriculture right now. In the first of a 2 part series, we discuss the expectancy of legalizing hemp production for Ohio farmers. Where is congress at in the process and when might it happen? We also go into what has happened with the Lake Erie Bill of Rights since it was passed back in February. Follow the Ag Law Team on their blog and access law resources at farmoffice.osu.edu.

Dr. Anne Dorrance, Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology with The Ohio State University, discusses concerns with soybean seedling disease as wet weather continues across Ohio and creates difficult growing conditions. We talk about telling the difference between disease and flooding damage and touch on some other diseases including what might come up later in the season and the increasing presence of Soybean Cyst Nematode. For more information, visit: u.osu.edu/osusoybeandisease.

Dr. Laura Lindsey, Assistant Professor in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science with The Ohio State University, provides agronomic advice on growing wheat in Ohio. You can visit her webpage at setupsoy.osu.edu. The new Small Grains Initiative provides incentives for farmers in the Lake Erie watershed to plant more small grains. Kirk Hines, Chief of the Division of Soil and Water Conservation, discusses details on the initiative along with a couple of other programs. The article by Glen Arnold on topdressing wheat can be found at: agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2019-05/topdressing-wheat-liquid-swine-manure.

Dr. Alex Lindsey, Assistant Professor in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science with The Ohio State University, has been studying the effects of different weather conditions on corn. With recent weather conditions, one major concern addresses is corn survival after flooded conditions. Alex shares results from two years and multiple sites where nitrogen was applied to corn after it was flooded for different lengths of time and how it recovered. He also talks about studies simulating hail and lodging damage. Look for more information in coming articles in the CORN Newsletter at corn.osu.edu.

Sam Custer, OSU Extension Educator in Darke County, and Ben Brown, Program Manager in the OSU Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics talk about the Tri-State Farm Bill Summit held April 11, 2019. Custer and Brown also discuss the details and changes made from the 2014 Farm Bill. You can view a recording of the summit online at: https://www.ocj.com/2019/04/live-farm-bill-summit-from-versailles-april-11-2019

Weather has a huge impact on farming each year. Changing weather patterns have become a challenge to manage. Aaron Wilson, Researcher at the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center and OSU Extension, weighs in on what we saw this winter and how the weather is expected to play out during the growing season. We also discuss long term weather patterns and what it means for the future of agriculture in Ohio. Check out the weekly climate assessment at: https://climate.osu.edu; and the Field Application Resource Monitor at: https://farm.bpcrc.osu.edu