-
Jan 7, 2025 | 
ocj.com | Stephanie Karhoff
Given the tighter corn enterprise margin facing us in 2025, the question in the title is one to consider. There are uncertainties in nitrogen rate management. Weather is the primary variable that affects soil nitrogen cycling and corn yield. Yet one certainty is that there are diminishing returns to increasing rates with the next pound of N applied, increasing yield less than the previous pound.
-
Nov 13, 2024 | 
ocj.com | Greg Labarge |Stephanie Karhoff |Luke Schulte
By Greg LaBarge“Net incomes on many Midwest grain farms will be negative in 2024, some of the lowest in the past 30 years.”This statement opened the 10/8/2024 article from the University of Illinois, farmdocdaily staff is sobering and compounded in Ohio by the 2024 drought. The article titled Perspectives and Strategies for Dealing with Low Farm Incomes in 2024 and Beyond is worth a read to start the conversation on your farm about strategies to meet the challenges ahead.
-
Sep 19, 2024 | 
ocj.com | Stephanie Karhoff |Elizabeth Hawkins |Greg Labarge
By Stephanie Karhoff and Elizabeth HawkinsCover crops can help slow erosion, suppress weeds, retain nitrogen, and increase organic matter. However, barriers to cover crop use remain. These include seed costs and timely fall establishment, but, if growers lower seeding rates to capture cost savings or if weather conditions delay establishment, do we still realize the environmental benefits of cover crops?
-
Jul 23, 2024 | 
ocj.com | Stephanie Karhoff |Greg Labarge
By Stephanie KarhoffAs you scout soybean fields this August, you will likely come across plants with holes in the leaves or along the leaf margin. The culprit(s) behind this damage are mid-season defoliators like bean leaf beetles, Japanese beetles, grasshopper nymphs, and caterpillars. Defoliation in soybean is typically observed twice during the growing season. First, following plant emergence, and then during early reproductive stages in July and continuing through August and early September.
-
Jul 4, 2024 | 
ocj.com | Greg Labarge |Stephanie Karhoff
By Greg LaBargeLast month, I discussed best sampling practices for collecting leaf tissue for nutrient analysis: https://ocj.com/2024/06/plant-tissue-testing-part-1-best-sampling-practices/. This month, we will cover using the results to make nutrient decisions. The lab results you receive typically report nutrients in two different ways.
-
Jun 5, 2024 | 
ocj.com | Greg Labarge |Stephanie Karhoff
By Greg LaBargePlant tissue testing is a valuable nutrient management tool. We often use it to identify if off-colored plants have a nutrient deficiency. Another place tissue testing fits into management is to evaluate our fertility program. This use can help identify any hidden deficiencies that could limit yield.
-
Apr 15, 2024 | 
ocj.com | Stephanie Karhoff |Greg Labarge |Bernadette Arehart
By Stephanie KarhoffEmergence issues can cause reduced stand and uneven plant development, lowering yield potential. As corn planting progresses throughout Ohio, revisiting the emergence process and how environmental and management factors influence it is important. Corn requires between 100 and 120 growing degree days (GDDs) to emerge (based on air temperature). Daily GDD accumulation is determined by calculating the average daily temperature and subtracting the base temperature of 50 degrees F.
-
Mar 26, 2024 | 
ocj.com | Greg Labarge |Stephanie Karhoff
By Greg LaBargeCereal rye has been a go-to cover crop for many producers who are getting started in the practice due to the relatively wide fall planting window, reasonable cost, and the ability to retain nitrogen from the previous crop or fall manure applications. We have flexibility in the spring by planting green or using mechanical and chemical options to terminate the plant. One challenge to using rye when planting corn is to answer the question of the best way to handle nitrogen.
-
Mar 4, 2024 | 
ocj.com | Stephanie Karhoff
By Stephanie KarhoffLate planting and freezing temperatures with little snow cover this winter raises concern for stand losses in winter wheat. To estimate yield potential and decide whether a field should be destroyed growers should evaluate winter wheat stands this spring. Understanding your field’s yield potential and identifying the current growth stage can also optimize the timing of nitrogen, herbicide, and fungicide applications.
-
Feb 27, 2024 | 
crescent-news.com | Greg Labarge |Lee S. Beers |Amanda Douridas |Stephanie Karhoff
A certified crop adviser exam online study course will be available this year for the public. kAm%96 @?=:?6 4@FCD6 H:== 96=A E9@D6 2DA:C:?8 E@ 364@>6 46CE:7:65 4C@A 25G:D6CD AC6A2C6 7@C E96 AC@8C2>VD C6BF:C65 6I2>D] %96 D6=7\A2465 4@FCD6 4@G6CD 7F?52>6?E2= 4C@A AC@5F4E:@? 4@?46AE:@?D :?4=F565 :? E96 =@42= 2?5 :?E6C?2E:@?2= 46CE:7:65 4C@A 25G:D6C 6I2>]k^AmkAmz6J 4@?46AED :?
