James J. Hoorman

2 weeks ago | ocj.com | Brianna Smith |James J. Hoorman

By Brianna SmithThe National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and the American Soybean Association (ASA) expressed serious concern on Tuesday after the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) voted to impose anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imports of the herbicide 2,4-D from China and India. The U.S. Department of Commerce will now determine final duty rates.

2 weeks ago | ocj.com | James J. Hoorman

By James Hoorman, Hoorman Soil Health ServicesNew research from The University of Florida shows that healthy plants with high levels of nutrients resist plant pests. As farmers prepare for spring planting, applying fertilizer enhances plant growth, yield and reduces pests. Arnold Schumann, Ph.D., Professor in the Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences department at UF, outlines the benefits that certain nutrients give plants to fight various fungi, bacteria, and viral diseases.

1 month ago | ocj.com | James J. Hoorman |Dusty Sonnenberg

By James Hoorman, Hoorman Soil Health ServicesRecent soybean research by Rafiq Islam, Ph.D., soil and bioenergy program leader at The Ohio State University, shows benefits from using sulfur fertilization and small doses of aspirin or salicylic acid (SA, a fulvic acid) to increase soybean yields. Soybeans are planted on about 86.5 million American acres. Yearly increases in soybean yields have been flat, and with lower prices, farmers are looking for ways to get higher yields.

1 month ago | ocj.com | James J. Hoorman

Ohio’s Country Journal is excited to announce that Brianna Smith has joined the team as our new editor. Smith, formerly referred to as Brianna Gwirtz in her freelance work with Ohio’s Country Journal, has been a valuable contributor to the publication, writing insightful articles in the past. Smith now brings her expertise and passion for agricultural communications to lead our editorial team.

1 month ago | ocj.com | James J. Hoorman

By James Hoorman, Hoorman Soil Health ServicesThree years of national survey results have now been collected on farmers who no-till and use crop crops. No-Till farming magazine shared these results recently. Around 80.5% of all no-till farmers use cover crops which has been steady, although slightly less than the peak in 2023 at 83.2%. Weather, especially dry weather in the fall and getting a crop established could be part of the reason for a slight decrease in cover crop acres.