C.O.R.N. Newsletter: 2024-41
-
Winter Application of Manure in Ohio
With the colder weather, some livestock producers will be applying manure on frozen ground. Here are some things to keep in mind. For the article below, frozen ground would be soil that you cannot inject the manure into or cannot conduct tillage within 24 hours to incorporate the manure.
Permitted farms are not allowed to apply manure in the winter unless it is an extreme emergency, and then movement to other suitable storage is usually the selected alternative. Several commercial manure applicators have established manure storage ponds in recent years to help address this issue.
In the Grand Lake St Marys (GLSM)watershed, the winter manure application ban from December 15th to March 1st is still in effect. Thus, no manure application would normally be allowed in this time period.
For producers in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) watershed, the House Bill 1 rules established in 2016 are still in effect.
The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Code 590 was revised in 2020 and now applies statewide in Ohio (except to GLSM & WEBL). It states the surface application of manure on frozen and snow-covered soil is not acceptable unless it is an emergency. An emergency exists as a temporary situation due to unforeseen causes and after all other options have been exhausted. In this situation only limited quantities of liquid manure shall be applied to address manure storage limitations until non frozen soils are available for manure application. The Ohio Department of Agriculture will only enforce NRCS 590 in counties outside of GLSM and WELB if there is a manure discharge from the field. If a citation is issued for a discharge, it will be based on the 590 standards.
All applications of liquid manure to frozen and snow-covered soils must be documented in the producers’ records and must be applied in accordance to ALL the following criteria:
• The rate of application shall not exceed the lesser of 5,000 gallons/acre or P removal for the next crop.
• Applications are to be made on land with at least 90% surface residue cover (cover crop, good quality hay or pasture field, all corn grain residue remaining after harvest, all wheat residue cover remaining after harvest).
• Manure shall not be applied on more than 20 contiguous acres. Contiguous areas for application are to be separated by a break of at least 200 feet.
• Apply manure to areas of the field with the lowest risk of nutrient transport such as areas furthest from streams, ditches, waterways, with the least amount of slope.
• Application setback distance must be a minimum of 200 feet from grassed waterways, surface drainage ditches, streams, surface inlets, water bodies and 300 feet minimum from all wells, springs and public surface drinking water intakes. This distance may need to be further increased due to local conditions.
• For fields exceeding 6% slope manure shall be applied in alternating strips 60 to 200 feet wide generally on the contour, or in the case of contour strips on the alternating strips.
For farmers with solid manure, stockpiling could be an option. There are two different types of stockpiles: Short term and long term.
The short-term stockpile information can be found in NRCS FOTG 318 Short Term Storage of Animal Waste and Byproducts Standard (“NRCS 318”). Essentially, short term stockpile is a pile of solid manure that is being kept temporarily in one or more locations. It is considered a temporary stockpile as long as the pile is kept at the location for no more than 180 days and stockpiled in the field where the manure shall be applied. Setback distances listed in NRCS 318 should be followed to prevent discharge to waters of the state. There are multiple recommendations listed in NRCS 318 that speaks to location, timing, and preventative measures that should be taken while stockpiling the manure short term.
The long-term stockpile information can be found in NRCS FOTG 313 Waste Storage Facility Standard (“NRCS 313”). Long term stockpile is directly related to solid manure being piled and kept at a facility for longer than 180 days at a permanent location. It is recommended that all permanent long term storage stockpiles should be following the guidelines in NRCS 313 with the utilization of a stacking facility and the structural designs of fabricated structures. A stacking facility can be open, covered or roofed, but specific parameters should be in place to prevent manure runoff from the site. These recommendations are listed in the NRCS 313.
Regardless of your county, it’s probably best to check with your local Soil and Water Conservation District office before considering winter manure application in Ohio. The rules have changed, and you should become aware of those that affect your operation.
-
Register Today for the 2025 Soil Health Webinar Series
Get ready to dig into soil health with the 2025 Soil Health Webinar Series hosted by The Ohio State University Agronomic Crops Team. In this monthly series, farmers, industry, and academic experts will weigh in on practical steps to improve soil health and measure impact on crop yield and farm profitability. This year’s topics are based primarily on viewer requests from recent years.
Register today at go.osu.edu/SoilHealthWeb for one or all four sessions. Continuing education credits will be available for Certified Crop Advisers who view the program live. Recordings will also be available through the Ohio State Agronomy YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@OSUAgronomicCrops.
This year’s topics and speakers include the following:
Zooming into soil health via a producer, an educator, and a researcher lens
When: Thursday, January 16, 2025 - 8-9 a.m.
Speakers:
Ron Snyder, Ohio Farmer
Alan Sundermeier, Conservation Action Project Coordinator and retired OSU Extension Educator
Dr. Alan Franzluebbers, Ecologist, USDA-ARS
Understanding basics and practicalities of biologicals
When: Thursday, February 13, 2025 - 8-9 a.m.
Speakers:
Dr. Florence Sessoms, Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University
Dr. Brian Arnall, Professor, Oklahoma State University
Comparisons of soil health tests and what they are telling us?
When: Thursday, March 20, 2025 - 8-9 a.m.
Speakers:
Dr. Jim Ippolito, Rattan Lal Endowed Professor of Soil Health and Soil Fertility, The Ohio State University
Dr. Elizabeth Hawkins, Associate Professor and Extension Field Specialist, The Ohio State University
Soil health in the urban sphere
When: Thursday, April 10, 2025 - 8-9 a.m.
Speakers:
Dr. Fernanda Krupek, Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University
Dr. Jeff Hattey, Professor, The Ohio State University
Registration at go.osu.edu/SoilHealthWeb.
For any questions, contact Rachel Cochran at cochran.474@osu.edu or Manbir Rakkar at rakkar.4@osu.edu.
-
Certified Crop Adviser Exam Preparation Class
Individuals looking to become a Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) should consider attending the Ohio CCA Pre-Exam Preparation Class offered by Ohio State University Extension. The session will be January 7-8, 2025, at the Shelby County Ag Building, 810-820 Fair Rd, Sidney, Ohio 45365.
This in-depth class will better prepare participants for the Tri-State CCA exam with a review of the four Performance Objective Competency Areas. These include nutrient management, soil and water management, integrated 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.
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. The deadline to register for this course is December 31, 2024. You can register at: https://bit.ly/OSU-CCAEXAMPREP-2025
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
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 January 2, 2025 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.
Course contact:
Lee Beers, CCA
Ohio State University Extension
330-638-6783
Tuesday, January 7
Registration and Welcome - 8:30A.M. – 9:00A.M.
Soil & Water Management - 9:00A.M. – 12:00P.M.
- Soil Properties
- Soil Water
- Surface and Ground Water
- Soil & Wind Erosion
Provided Lunch – 12:00P.M. – 12:45P.M.
Nutrient Management – 12:45P.M. – 3:45P.M.
- Soil pH and Liming
- Primary Nutrients
- Secondary Nutrients
- Micronutrients
- CEC
Day 1 Wrap Up and Q&A - 3:45P.M. – 4:00P.M.
Wednesday, January 8
*Optional* CCA Program Overview - 8:30A.M. – 9:00A.M.
Integrated Pest Management - 9:00A.M. – 12:00P.M.
- Weeds
- Insects
- Diseases
- Fertilizer & Pesticide Math
Provided Lunch – 12:00P.M. – 12:45P.M.
Crop Management – 12:45P.M. – 3:45P.M.
- Crop Production
- Photosynthesis
- Crop Physiology
- Variety Selection
Day 2 Wrap Up and Q&A 3:45P.M. – 4:00P.M.
-
Early Bird Registration ends this Friday for the January 9-10 Ohio State Organic Grains Conference
Early bird registration for the 3rd annual Ohio State Organic Grains Conference, January 9-10, 2025, will close this Friday, December 6. Be sure to register for this conference focused on commercial organic grain production in the Eastern Corn Belt. The conference will take place at the Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Sandusky, Ohio and will offer programming for experienced organic growers, growers transitioning to or considering organic, and consultants or educators who support these growers. The early bird fee is $140 and registration can be made online: www.go.osu.edu/organicgrains
Featured speakers for 2025 include Erin Silva, University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension Specialist in Organic and Sustainable Cropping Systems; Damon DeSutter of DeSutter Farms in Attica, Ind., Osler Ortez, Ohio State Corn and Emerging Crops Specialist; Sophie Rivest-Auger, organic field crop advisor for Centre for Expertise and Transfer in Organic and Local Agriculture, Quebec; Connor Sible, University of Illinois; and David Marrison, Ohio State Farm Management Field Specialist. Additional farmer, researchers, and educators from Ohio and beyond will round out the two full days of agronomic and farm management sessions. Topics for this year include interseeding cover crops in organic corn, flame cultivation, the use of biological products in organic production, setting up weed control equipment for success, nitrogen credits from cover crops and manure, farm succession planning and a market end-users panel.
This event is planned by Ohio State University Extension and Ohio State’s Organic Food & Farming Education and Research (OFFER) program. Continuing education credits will be available for Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs). For more information, visit go.osu.edu/OrganicGrains.
-
2025 Spray Drone End User Conference
The Spray Drone End User Conference—the most informative and end-user focused drone spraying event—is back for a third year. Hosted by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Auburn University, this conference will discuss hot topics and industry trends and connect people in the spray-drone community from all over the world.
Several keynote presentations and twenty-four dynamic breakout sessions are planned to cover drone topics, such as regulations and compliance, business operations, finance, applied research, and much more. There will also be many expert question-and-answer sessions to allow new users to ask questions regarding any aspects related to drones. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn spray drone operation from the best and connect with peers to build your vision for the future.
We would like to assemble an Ohio Contingent to attend this conference. If you would be interested in attending this conference, please let Alan Leininger OSUE Educator in Henry County know (leininger.17@osu.edu).
Conference information can be found here.
-
Join OSU Extension as a Water Quality Extension Associate!
Are you a conservationist, environmentalist, or agriculturalist who wants to work with agricultural producers make a difference in local water quality? If so, consider joining OSU Extension as a Water Quality Extension Associate! This position is based in Tiffin, Ohio at the Seneca County Extension Office. The position covers 5 counties in the Western Lake Erie Basin: Seneca, Sandusky, Crawford, Wyandot, and Erie.
Water Quality Extension Associates (WQEAs) work with agricultural producers, landowners, conservation district staff, and NRCS personnel to educate and demonstrate the benefits of utilizing different on-farm conservation practices. The goal of this team is to facilitate relationships between stakeholders, the University, and farmers/landowners to reduce nutrient loads leaving farm fields. WQEAs conduct on-farm research, create and provide outreach materials, teach topics related to conservation and water quality, and provide one-on-one instruction to producers in the region. WQEAs work both as a team of six individuals, and on their own across the region to accomplish shared goals and projects that can improve the quality of Lake Erie.
Application reviews will begin on Sunday, December 8, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled. Application information can be found at go.osu.edu/WQPosting. If you are interested in learning more about this position, you can contact the Water Quality Team by emailing waterqualityassociates@osu.edu.
-
Registration Open: Basics of Grain Marketing Workshop January 16 & 17
Registration is now open for the Basics of Grain Marketing Workshop, January 16 & 17, 2025 at the OSU Extension Champaign County Office in Urbana, Ohio. This in-person workshop offers education and farm ready strategies on topics such as: basis, market carry, margins, cash markets, forward and futures contracts, hedge to arrive and basis contracts, differed price, hedging, storage, and overviews on options, spreads, and crop insurance. It’s “more than a 2-day workshop”, featuring pre-workshop activities on calculating grain cost of production and measure of risk comfort. The workshop will include grain marketing basics, application, and activities, plus a panel of industry professionals. A post-workshop grain marketing peer group will be offered to strengthen learning into action with webinar updates. The workshop has 50 limited seats.
Expert instructors: Seungki Lee, The Ohio State University, Grant Gardner, University of Kentucky, and Ben Brown, University of Missouri. Hotel block rate deadline: December 15, 2024. Workshop registration deadline: January 3, 2025. For more information and registration, visit https://go.osu.edu/grainmarketing
This workshop is possible by the support of grower checkoff dollars via the Ohio Soybean Council and Ohio Corn & Wheat. This workshop is led by Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio State University Farm Financial Management & Policy Institute.
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.