C.O.R.N. Newsletter: 2023-02
-
Great Lakes Wheat Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) Registration Closing Soon!
Wheat growers interested in becoming part of a ground-breaking new program in the Great Lakes region must register now, so they don’t lose out on the 2023 opportunity to learn more about their wheat crop and how to hit their yield potential.
Registration closes January 27 for growers interested in participating in the second year of the Great Lakes Wheat Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) program. To register or for more information on Great Lakes YEN visit https://www.GreatLakesYEN.com or look for the hashtag #GreatLakesYEN.
Every farm involved in the Great Lakes YEN anonymously shares soil, tissue and whole plant analysis for comparison and benchmarking. Growers receive reports specific to their farm. Growers will learn more about how their wheat crop develops and produces yield, and how they compare to their peers.
According to 2022 participant Rick Clifton of Circleville, Ohio, “The sampling aspect of the YEN program in itself is a learning opportunity. It makes you get out of the cab of the sprayer and combine and see things in your wheat crop that you don’t see driving across the field.”
Great Lakes YEN registration for 2023 closes January 27. Growers must be registered and submit the $250 participation fee prior to program launch in February 2023. Sponsorships may be available for Ohio growers who sign up.In 2022, growers from six states and Ontario participated in the program, including over 25 growers from Ohio.
This is a great opportunity for wheat growers to identify yield-limiting factors within their individual fields. By collecting soil samples and plant samples, farmers will be ground-truthing their own fields, which is a great learning opportunity.
“The idea of looking at the estimated yield potential and then providing a direct link back to growers is a novel concept that has really “moved the needle” in the UK when it comes to yields,” said Dennis Pennington, YEN collaborator and Michigan State University wheat specialist. “There was much interest by growers as to how the UK YEN functioned. We had already begun our collaborative work with Ontario, so these comments from growers were just what we needed to get the Great Lakes YEN up and running even more quickly,” Pennington said.
As the second year of Great Lakes YEN gets underway, it’s already proving to be a program that encourages farmers to try new things and learn from data that are comparable across the Great Lakes region. Every field is different and has different yield potential based on a multitude of factors, such as environment (rainfall, sunlight), soil (water holding capacity, nutrient level), and management (inputs used and timing). Growers are responsible to enter their data throughout the growing season.Once harvest is complete, data is compiled and reported back to each participant via a field-specific written report as well as through regional events. Individual farm data will be specific to each grower and is safeguarded and not reported back to anyone except that grower.
For more information visit www.GreatLakesYEN.com. Additional information is available by contacting Dennis Pennington, Wheat Systems Specialist, Michigan State University, pennin34@msu.edu. -
Join Us for the 3rd Annual Virtual Corn College and Soybean School
Due to popular demand, the AgCrops Team will host the 3rd annual virtual Corn College and Soybean School on February 10, 2023 from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM featuring your OSU Extension state specialists and soil fertility guest speaker, Dr. Kurt Steinke, from Michigan State University. CCA CEUs will be available during the live presentations.
To register, please go to: go.osu.edu/cornsoy. Please register by February 9 at noon. There is a $10 registration fee for this event, which goes directly to support OSU AgCrops Team activities.
Presentations will be recorded and uploaded to the AgCrops Team YouTube channel after the event (https://www.youtube.com/c/OSUAgronomicCrops). However, CCA CEUs will not be available for the recorded presentations.
MORNING SESSION 9:00-noon
9:00-9:40 Osler Ortez Corn Management for 2023
9:50-10:30 Laura Lindsey Soybean Management for 2023
10:40-11:20 Kurt Steinke (MSU) Soil Fertility
11:20-noon Alyssa Essman Weed Management
AFTERNOON SESSION 1:00-4:00
1:00-1:40 Kelley Tilmon Soybean Insect Management
1:50-2:30 Andy Michel Corn Insect Management
2:40-3:20 Pierce Paul Corn Disease Management
3:20-4:00 Horacio Lopez-Nicora Soybean Disease Management
-
Madison and Champaign Counties offer Soybean School
If you want to up your soybean game, Madison and Champaign Counties are offering an in-person Soybean School where you can gain useful insight from university soybean specialists. They will share the latest research and provide a hands-on look at what may be impacting soybean yield.
Topics and speakers include:
Weed control and cover crops- Dr. Alyssa Essman
Ultra Early Soybean Planting- Dr. Laura Lindsey
Fungicide and Insecticide Application Timing- Dr. Laura Lindsey and Dr. Horacio Lopez-Nicora
Sulfur on Soybeans- Amanda Douridas
SCN and other Soilborne Pathogens- Dr. Horacio Lopez-Nicora
Seeding Rates and Replant – How Low is Too Low- Grant Davis
Certified Crop Advisers and Commercial and Private Pesticide Applicators can receive continuing education credits.
This event will be held at Beck’s Hybrids, 720 US Hwy 40, London, Ohio, on February 24th. Cost to attend is $40 and includes lunch and one publication (chosen during registration). Please RSVP by 2/17 at go.osu.edu/SoybeanSchool.
Thanks to the Ohio Soybean Council for sponsoring this event.
-
Agricultural Fertilizer Applicator Certification Training and Testing Option
Fertilizer applicator certification began in 2014. The agricultural fertilizer applicator certificate is required by the Ohio Department of Agriculture when you apply fertilizer to more than 50 acres of agricultural production. Agricultural production is defined as grain, forage, and other cash crops grown primarily for sale. Both horticultural and agronomic crops are included under this law. There is no distinction between commercial and private fertilizer applicators: both certify or recertify in an identical way.
Commercial nitrogen or phosphorus containing fertilizers and manures from certain livestock operations require a fertilizer applicators certificate. Manure applications from permitted Concentrated Animal Feeding Facilities (CAFF) require the certificate.
If you only use starter fertilizer through the planter, or if a certified applicator makes all N & P application for you, then you are exempt from this certification.
If you have any questions about whether you are required to have a fertilizer applicator certificate, call the Ohio Department of Agriculture at 614-728-6987 for a determination or more information on fertilizer regulations at https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/plant-health/fertilizers
A fertilizer applicator must demonstrate competency in fertilizer applications to obtain a certificate. An applicator can choose one of the following three options to prove their competency:
- Training: Attend a three-hour Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) approved training provided by OSU Extension and complete the forms at the end of the meeting.
- Testing: Pass the Agricultural Fertilizer Applicator Test at an ODA testing site.
- Training/Testing Exemption: Apply for the certificate without training or testing if you hold a "Certified Crop Adviser" or "Certified Livestock Manager" certification.
Find Scheduled training events through 3/31/2023
Local training events hosted by Ohio State University Extension are found at https://nutrienteducation.osu.edu/trainingopportunities The meeting are posted by region, so you can find a meeting location and time that works for your schedule. Meetings require pre-registration.
A virtual training is scheduled for March 22, 2023, from 9:00-12:15. Information and registration on the webinar is at https://nutrienteducation.osu.edu/OnlineFertCert
Testing Option
A Training Manual-Ohio Agricultural Fertilizer Applicator Certification ANR-842 is available as a study guide for those who prefer receiving certification through the testing option. The manual is available in print and electronic format for Ohio State University Extension Publication. A link to purchase the manual is https://nutrienteducation.osu.edu/2022FertilizerManual
Once you are ready to take the exam, you need to register with the Ohio Department of Agriculture's exam website https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/plant-health/pesticides/exam-registration Select a testing date and site from the listed options.
-
Citizen Science for Great Lakes Cover Crops - Spring 2023 Recruitment
Project Description: The Soil & Agroecosystems Lab at the University of Michigan is seeking farmers to participate in a citizen science study to understand variation in cover crop growth across different farming conditions. This research will help inform site-specific recommendations for improving cover crop performance in the Great Lakes. If you or someone you know is currently growing overwintering cover crops, please consider participating!
Participation involves completing two easy steps:
- A 15-minute online survey asking questions about soil conditions and management practices for your cover crop field.
- A short field assessment in early spring (~20-30 minutes per field) that requires taking a few photos and height measurements of your cover crops before they are terminated.
Participants will receive $50 per cover cropped field (for up to two fields) and a personalized cover crop performance report, including estimated cover crop biomass and management recommendations based on the findings of our study.
Eligibility: Fields located in MI, OH, IN, IL, WI, or MN that currently contain fall-planted,overwintering cover crops are eligible. We are especially interested in row crop fields.
For more information, watch this short video or visit the Blesh Lab website.
Please contact herricke@umich.edu or complete this form if you would like to participate.
-
Ohio Organic Corn Performance Test (OOCPT) – 2022 Results Available
The purpose of the Ohio Organic Corn Performance Test (OOCPT) is to evaluate certified organic corn hybrids for grain yield and other important agronomic characteristics. Results of the test can assist farmers in selecting hybrids best suited to their farming operations and production environments as well as recommendations made by seed companies and breeding programs.
Results for the 2022 Ohio Organic Corn Performance Test are available, you can access a copy of the PDF full report here. Additionally, you can access results by selecting any of the three 2022 test locations (including 2-year and 3-year summaries) on the Ohio Organic Corn Trial webpage. The web-based version of the trial includes sortable tables, and the information can also be downloaded as spreadsheets.
In 2022, wet and cold soil conditions in May delayed field preparation and planting. The Organic OCPT fields were planted in the second half of May into conventionally tilled fields with good soil moisture. The Wooster and Apple Creek organic locations received over 2” of rain within 48 hours of planting which impacted the emergence on most hybrids. The weather presented unique challenges that not only delayed planting but also delayed harvest, with two out of the three locations harvested on December 5th. Despite these and other challenges in the crop season, organic corn test yields were in the 200 Bu/A range. Averaged across hybrid entries in the early and full season tests, yields were 211 Bu/A. Yields at individual test sites averaged across hybrid entries in the early and full season tests were 193 Bu/A - Graytown, 213 Bu/A – Apple Creek to 226 Bu/A at Wooster.
Corn hybrids differ considerably in yield potential, standability, maturity, and other agronomic characteristics that affect profitable crop production. Hybrid selection should be based on proven performance from multiple test locations and years.
If you have any questions, contact Rich Minyo (minyo.1@osu.edu) or Osler Ortez (oortez.5@osu.edu).
Crop Observation and Recommendation Network
C.O.R.N. Newsletter is a summary of crop observations, related information, and appropriate recommendations for Ohio crop producers and industry. C.O.R.N. Newsletter is produced by the Ohio State University Extension Agronomy Team, state specialists at The Ohio State University and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC). C.O.R.N. Newsletter questions are directed to Extension and OARDC state specialists and associates at Ohio State.
Contributors
Disclaimer
The information presented here, along with any trade names used, is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is made by Ohio State University Extension is implied. Although every attempt is made to produce information that is complete, timely, and accurate, the pesticide user bears responsibility of consulting the pesticide label and adhering to those directions.
CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis. For more information, visit cfaesdiversity.osu.edu. For an accessible format of this publication, visit cfaes.osu.edu/accessibility.