C.O.R.N. Newsletter: 2023-40
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2023 Preharvest Weeds Survey
Each year just before harvest, the weed science team at OSU spends some time driving across the state and evaluating weed escapes in soybean fields. This year, 4027 fields were evaluated across 46 of the top soybean producing counties. We collected information on the frequency and distribution of 10 weed species, namely: marestail, giant ragweed, common ragweed, waterhemp, Palmer amaranth, redroot pigweed, volunteer corn, common lambsquarters, giant foxtail/grass, and velvetleaf. This allows us to evaluate the efficacy of management programs, monitor escapes, and forecast potential issues and threats for the next growing season.
In 2023, 48% of fields encountered on the survey were clean, or at least free of the 10 weeds being evaluated. The most commonly encountered weed this year was volunteer corn, which was found in 17% of fields. In second was giant ragweed at 14%, closely followed by waterhemp at 13%. The other two species among the top 5 were marestail/horseweed and grass/foxtail spp. Â
The most commonly encountered weeds – percent of total fields:
- Volunteer corn - 17%
- Giant ragweed - 14%
- Waterhemp - 13%
- Marestail/horseweed - 10%
- Grass/foxtail spp. - 9%
The most concerning outcome was that we once again encountered waterhemp at a higher frequency than in previous years, based on percent of fields encountered with waterhemp present. This year, waterhemp was found in 89% of surveyed counties and in 13% of total fields (Figure 1). In 2022, waterhemp was present in 93% of surveyed counties in Ohio and in 11% of the total fields encountered. Waterhemp in 2021 was found in 77% of counties and in 7% of surveyed fields. In 2020, pigweeds combined across species (waterhemp, Palmer amaranth, and redroot pigweed) were found in 89% of surveyed counties and in 8% of fields.
Information on the biological characteristics of waterhemp and results of previous herbicide resistance screenings were covered in an article published last year: Waterhemp on the Rise. For more information on the prevention and management of waterhemp populations, visit our website or reach out to Alyssa Essman, Essman.42@osu.edu.
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Virtual Soil Health Tour showcasing best management practices in Northwest Ohio
Ohio State University Extension and The Nature Conservancy are partnering for the third year in a row to provide a platform showcasing farms around Northwest Ohio that are utilizing soil health-promoting practices. These virtual stops include photos, videos, and interviews with the site providers, allowing attendees to learn more about the practices without leaving the comfort of their homes.
Soil Health is becoming an increasingly important topic within agriculture, and many different practices and methods can be used to promote it. This tour is designed to showcase what local farmers are doing on their farms and how these practices have affected the health of their soils and their farming operations. The wrap-up event is an opportunity for one-on-one or small group discussion with farmers already implementing these best management practices, as well as with OSU Extension’s new state specialist for soil health.
The tour opened at 8:00 AM on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, and will remain open through the end of 2023. Paulding County will be hosting an event to close out the first two weeks of the Soil Health Tour at the OSU Extension Office in Paulding on November 30, 2023, from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM. The wrap-up event will feature Dr. Manbir Rakkar, statewide Soil Health and Soil Fertility specialist, as the night’s guest speaker. In addition, farmers who provided sites on the tour will be invited to speak with attendees about their practices and answer any questions that may have come up during the tour. Please call the Paulding County Extension Office or visit go.osu.edu/soilhealthtour to register for this meeting. Dinner will be provided free of charge, but registration is required to attend this event.
To view the interactive StoryMap of site locations around Northwest Ohio and to get information about the Wrap-Up Event, visit go.osu.edu/soilhealthtour. Be sure to fill out the survey at the bottom of the StoryMap to give your feedback on the tour!
For additional information on Soil Health or other Best Management Practices, to register for a program or receive additional education, contact Sarah Noggle, Paulding County Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, at noggle.17@osu.edu, or Rachel Cochran, CCA, Water Quality Extension Associate for Paulding, Defiance, and Van Wert Counties, at cochran.474@osu.edu. Individuals can also walk into the OSU Extension Office at 503 Fairground Drive in Paulding or call 419-399-8225.
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Understanding and Overcoming Cover Crop Yield Penalties in the Maumee River Watershed: Unlocking the Potential
A research and extension team from Ohio State University is inviting farmers in the Maumee River Watershed to participate in a USDA-funded project designed to help better understand the benefits and tradeoffs associated with integrating cover crops into corn-soybean rotations.
A total of 16 fields which meet the criteria of one of the following four treatment categories will be needed for this project:
- Treatment 1: Corn-soybean rotated fields with no cover crops or winter wheat in the last five years (4 fields: 2 corn, 2 soybean).
- Treatment 2: Corn-soybean-winter wheat rotated fields with no cover crops (4 fields: 2 corn, 2 with soybean).
- Treatment 3: Corn-soybean rotation with cereal rye cover crop for less than three years (4 fields: 2 corn, 2 soybean).
- Treatment 4: Corn-soybean rotation with cereal rye cover crop for over five years (4 fields: 2 corn, 2 soybean).
If you are a farmer with fields and rotations that fit in any of the four categories outlined above, please get in touch with us (our contact information is listed below). We will work with you during the end of the 2023 crop year to determine the suitability of your farm’s location and management. Farmers whose fields are selected for this project will receive a small honorarium, $350 per field per year. This is a 2-year project; field measurements will start in 2024 and continue through 2025. Field measurements will include soil samples, gas emissions, minimal tissue/biomass sampling, and drone imagery. The only farmer input requirements are calibrated yield/harvest data (but could also include any other information they would be willing to offer). Participants will not need to alter crop management; our team will collect information on what is already out there.
Project Objectives
Identify Best Practices: Uncover management practices and biophysical conditions influencing cover crop biomass production, variability, and their impact on soil health and nutrient cycling.
Quantify Findings: Develop robust models using remote sensing and ground-truth data to quantify within-field variability in cover crop biomass and the cover crop effects on cash crop yields.
Watershed-Scale Impact: Create a biogeochemical model to project cover crop effects on cash crop yield, carbon sequestration, and greenhouse gas emissions at the watershed scale.
Knowledge Sharing: Develop an extension curriculum based on study outcomes to develop recommendations for best management practices for cover cropping.
If you are interested and have field(s) in any one or more of the categories, you can contact:
Â- Jonah VanRoekel – Ph: (319)-591-0486, (vanroekel.2@osu.edu)
Dept. of Horticulture and Crop Science - Osler Ortez (ortez.5@osu.edu)
Dept. of Horticulture and Crop Science
Or Other Members of our Research Team, including:
- Sami Khanal (khanal.3@osu.edu)
Dept. of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering - Laura Lindsey (lindsey.233@osu.edu)
Dept. of Horticulture and Crop Science - Ryan Haden (haden.9@osu.edu)
Agricultural Technical Institute - Stephanie Karhoff (karhoff.41@osu.edu)
Dept. of Extension
Why Cover Crops?
Cover crops can enhance soil fertility, improve soil health, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (learn more about cover crops here). However, concerns about potential impacts on cash crop yields have left many wondering about effects that might impact their fields and cash crop yields. Stakeholders are calling for research to understand better the factors contributing to yield declines following cover crops and subsequent management strategies addressing the yield gap. With the outcomes of this project, constraints to cover crop adoption in the Western Lake Erie basin can be overcome. Overall, this project will provide a better understanding of cover crop dynamics and evidence-based insights to address concerns about the potential cover crop yield gap.
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Certified Livestock Managers Webinar Series
Join the Ohio State University Water Quality Extension Associates for the last installment of the Certified Livestock Managers Webinar series for 2023. This webinar will focus on Biosecurity Measures: Rodent Control and Animal Mortalities Speakers featured are Dr. Jacquie Jacob, Poultry Extension Associate Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky and Paige Kelly- Ohio Poultry Association. CCA continuing education credits and Certified Livestock Manager (CLM) credits will be offered during the live session. If you miss this webinar a recording of the session will be posted on YouTube for later viewing. The CLM webinar will continue into 2024 with the next webinar being presented on 2/5/2024.
Register at go.osu.edu/CLM. Contact Jocelyn Birt, birt.32@osu.edu (419-910-6057) with questions.
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Certified Crop Adviser CEU Credits Available
The Ohio State University Extension Agronomic Crops Team has developed an online, self-paced course for Certified Crop Advisers to earn CEU credits.
The course is designed as a series of eight video, each with a five-question quiz. Up to four CEU credits can be earned upon successful completion of all eight modules and quizzes with a passing score. The course is open from October 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024 with a cost of $45.00.
CCAs can access the course by going to go.osu.edu/ccapd.
Questions about the course can be asked by emailing baumer.15@osu.edu.
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Upcoming Ohio Certified Crop Adviser Pre-Exam Preparation Class
Are you interested in becoming a Certified Crop Adviser (CCA), but are intimidated by the exams? You should consider attending the Ohio CCA Pre-Exam Preparation Class offered by Ohio State University Extension. The session will be January 10-11, 2024, at the Shelby County Ag Building, 810-820 Fair Rd, Sidney, Ohio 45365.
This class will provide an overview of the CCA program, and help you prepare for the test by covering basic principles in the four competency areas – nutrient management, soil and water management, pest management, and crop management. Even if you are not considering the CCA program, this class is a great basic agronomy course that any farmer, ag retailer, or anyone working with field crops will find valuable. A detailed agenda for each day’s topics is below. Â
The cost for this two-day class is $250/person which includes the publications listed below, lunch both days, and other program materials. Don’t wait to register as class size is limited to 25, and online registration closes on December 20, 2023.
Publications included with registration:
- Ohio Agronomy Guide
- Ohio, Indiana & Illinois Weed Control Guide
- The Ohio Corn, Soybean, Wheat and Forages Field Guide
- 2020 Tri-State Fertilizer Recommendations
Secure online registration via credit card, debit card, or check is available on the Ohio AgriBusiness Association website: https://go.osu.edu/cca2024
The Local and International Exams are proctored online tests. You must pass both exams to obtain Certified Crop Adviser status. Tests are offered four times a year with registration opening December 13, 2023, for the next exam. You can learn more about the exam dates and sign up for reminders at https://www.certifiedcropadviser.org/exams.
For more information about the CCA program, visit https://www.certifiedcropadviser.org/about-program
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Course contact:
Lee Beers, CCA
Ohio State University Extension
330-638-6783
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Wednesday, January 10
Registration 8:30-9:00 Class 9:00-5:00
Morning
Morning
Crop Management
- Crop Production
- Photosynthesis
- Crop Physiology
- Variety Selection
Soil & Water Management
- Soil Properties
- Soil Water
- Surface and Ground Water
- Soil & Wind Erosion
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Thursday, January 11
Registration 8:00-8:30 Class 8:30-5:00
Afternoon
Afternoon
 Nutrient Management
- Soil pH and Liming
- Primary Nutrients
- Secondary Nutrients
- Micronutrients
- CEC
Pest Management
- Weeds
- Insects
- Diseases
- Fertilizer & Pesticide Math
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Register Today for the 2024 Soil Health Webinar Series
Are you interested in improving soil health and better measuring its impact on crop yield and farm profitability? Then make plans to join us for the 2024 Soil Health Webinar series on January 11, February 8, and March 7 at 8:00 a.m. This monthly series will feature farmers, industry, and academic experts weighing in on various soil health management systems.
This year’s topics and speakers include the following:
January 11: Soil Health: Who's the J.A.M at OSU?
Dr. Manbir Rakkar, Dr. Jim Ippolito, Dr. Asmita Murumkar, The Ohio State UniversityFebruary 8: Grower Panel - Cover Crop Info Drop
March 7: What's the Beef with Soil Health and Livestock?
Dr. Anna Cates, University of Minnesota, Dr. Mary Drewnoski, University of Nebraska & Dr. Doug Jackson-Smith, The Ohio State UniversityRegister for one or more webinars at go.osu.edu/soilhealthweb. All webinars will be recorded for later viewing. The link for the recording will be shared with registrants via email when it becomes available. CCA CEU credits will be available during the live sessions only.
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 an accessible format of this publication, visit cfaes.osu.edu/accessibility.