James J. Hoorman

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

By James Hoorman, Hoorman Soil Health ServicesAfter a wet and late planted spring, crops and weeds are starting to grow. Spraying weeds is crucial for achieving high yields and minimizing weed competition. Many farmers use commercial applicators to spray their fields, but a lot of farmers do it themselves or have applicators for spot spraying. Several factors influence herbicide performance.

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

By James Hoorman, Hoorman Soil Health ServicesBrian Doughtery, an Understanding Ag consultant, says compaction is a sign of a poorly functioning soil. Soil compaction is not a natural occurrence; it comes from too much equipment (heavy axle loads, too much tillage), not enough biology (lack of roots and living organisms), and excess nutrients. Well-aggregated soil looks like black cottage cheese; soil crumbles easily in your hand, and water and gases move freely in the soil.

1 month 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 months 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.

2 months 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.