This past week we finally got rain throughout the county that everyone could enjoy. I know it was much needed on the Nye Farm in Fayette County. We got 1.9 inches this past week and that is the first week of rainfall that totaled more than 1.25 inches since June 1. In fact, it was only the second time in that period that rain totals were over an inch for a week.
The downside is that it was a little too late for our corn crop. The heat stress and lack of rain had already impacted yield. Still, it will help with test weight of corn. Soybeans, on the other hand, will definitely benefit.
The storms this week did bring with it some hail damage to about 1,200 acres in the county. Some of the damage looked to be significant on some soybean fields. Be sure if you were one of the unlucky to report it to your crop insurance representatives.
In other county crop interest, Palmer and Water Hemp were found, so if you heard the rumor, it is no longer a rumor. The fortunate piece to this story is we think we found it before mature seed had developed and most of it has been destroyed.
Mark Loux, Ohio State University Weed Specialist, came in to see the situation and has made management recommendations for the future where it was found. The moral to the story is to not think you won’t get it. According to Mark Loux it has been found in more areas of Ohio again this year. It is the same message every year – get out and scout your fields for such things as this. Don’t wait until it is out of hand no matter what the threat to your crop is.
Palmer amaranth is an extremely aggressive annual weed that is listed on Ohio’s noxious weed and seed laws, which means that landowners/managers are responsible for preventing further spread of known infestations. It is a prolific seed producer and costly to manage in corn and soybeans. Waterhemp is only slightly less problematic to manage.
Disposing of pesticides
Another question I get from time to time has to do with disposal of unwanted pesticides. If you have pesticides sitting in storage that you do not intend to use, the Ohio Department of Agriculture will be sponsoring four Ohio Pesticide Clean Sweep Days around the state for farmers wishing to dispose of unwanted pesticides on four different dates in August.
The pesticide collection and disposal service is free of charge, but only farm chemicals will be accepted. Paint, antifreeze, solvents, and household or non-farm pesticides will not be accepted.
The disposals are limited to farmers only. Commercial entities are not supposed to bring product. Pesticides not have to be in original containers or identifiable for disposal. The largest container that can be accepted is a 55-gallon drum as long as it has a good sealed bung. There is no limit to the amount of pesticides that a farmer can bring, although ODA would like to know if someone is bringing anything larger than a pickup load.
The pesticide collections will happen on the dates below from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the following locations closest to Clinton County to allow for local and surrounding county farmers to dispose of these chemicals:
Aug. 22: Hardin County Fairgrounds, 14134 County Road 140, Kenton, OH 43326
Aug. 24: Miami County Fairgrounds, 650 North County Road 25-A, Troy, OH 45373
Ohio Pesticide Clean Sweep collections are sponsored by the Ohio Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. To pre-register, or for more information, contact the ODA at 614-728-6987.
Farm Science Review coming
Finally this week, Farm Science Review is just around the corner. Visitors can talk one-on-one with agronomists about everything from weed control to cover crops.
The Review, Sept. 20-22, is a three-day trade show for everything agricultural. It features field demonstrations, more than 630 exhibitors, and 180 educational presentations.
One of the big focuses this year will look at Nutrient Management and soil quality. Nutrient management demonstration plots will be on site and they will compare the timing and placement of fertilizer and manure applications. Soil quality demonstrations look at various residue, cover crop and additive approaches.
Some of the Agronomic Crops Demonstrations will include:
• Nutrient management demonstrations — timing and placement
• Nutrient management — manure use
• Soybean and corn pests and diseases
• Nitrogen management for corn and soybeans
• Long-term soil quality plots
• Cover crops
• Corn planted into a cover crop
• Herbicide technology plots
• Weed management
• Antique corn plots and the relation to today’s genetically modified crops
Agronomic Crops Presentations, held at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day, include:
• Nitrogen management: See crop sensors at work
• On the spray table: Choosing tips for herbicide tolerant crops
• Soil quality sampling and results
• Take the weed ID quiz
Tickets to the Farm Science Review are $7 in advance, and available here at the Extension office. Children under the age of 5 are admitted free.
Tony Nye is the state coordinator for the Ohio State University Extension Small Farm Program and has been an OSU Extension Educator for agriculture and natural resources for 28 years, currently serving Clinton County and the Miami Valley EERA.
