C.O.R.N. Newsletter: 2025-21

“Make hay while the sun shines”. How many times have you heard that said throughout the years? We’ve had some sunshine this spring/summer, but making first cutting “dry” hay has really been challenging for most farmers this year. Getting two or more days in a row without rain has been rare in the spring of 2025.

In response to these challenges OSU Extension is offering a forage testing program with the goal of providing timely education for winter supplementation and if enough samples are submitted, creating a county hay quality summary.

Dry hay or baleage samples are due to your local OSU Extension office by July 31, 2025. The first sample analysis will cost $15, with subsequent samples costing $20. Near Infrared (NIR) Analysis will be completed. Producers will get values for Dry Matter Content, Total Digestible Nutrients, Crude Protein, ADF, NDF, Ash, Fat, C, P, K. Contact you local office for further information and availability of a forage sampling probe.

Below is an article by Mark Landefeld, Retired Monroe County ANR Extension Educator detailing the challenges of making hay during a wet May and June.

Making timely first cutting dry hay in Ohio always has challenges with weather it seems, but this year it definitely has been more than usual. Extremely good, high quality hay is made from young leafy forage at boot stage, not fully mature long brown stems with dried up seed heads like we have been seeing everywhere now in July. The combination of maximum yield and highly digestible dry matter is usually obtained at the late boot, to early head stage of maturity for grasses and in the mid-to-late bud stage of maturity for our legumes. Forages that can be harvested at that time, most often meet nutrient requirements of beef cattle, but accomplishing that this year has really been the exception, not the rule for most producers.

Beef cows do not require the same level of nutrition dairy cows need to maximize production. However, this year is going to be challenging to have enough nutrients in most beef producers first cutting hay to maintain the cow’s minimum requirements without grain supplementation, mixing in high quality stockpiled forage, or adding good quality second cutting hay into the feeding scheme this winter. Forage testing should be done so producers know what their hay quality actually is and if adjustments need to be made.

Just because there is hay in the bale rings for the cows to eat does not mean she can eat enough, or that there are enough nutrients in the hay, for her to function properly. Extended periods of poor nutrition can lead to calving problems, weak newborns, poor quality milk, rebreeding problems and many other costly complications. The multiple costs associate with feeding poor quality hay for an extended period of time are hard to put a dollar amount on, but they certainly are there!

Forage tests results may be extra valuable this year. With forage tests results we usually look at total digestible nutrients (TDN) and crude protein (CP) to determine the forage quality and use this information to calculate if there are enough nutrients to meet the livestock’s requirements in various stages of production. We may need to take a closer look at other information on the lab results this year as well.

I expect neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content is going to be higher than normal in many producer’s hay bales because of the over mature condition of the hay. As forage plants mature, cell wall production in the plants increase and NDF content will increase, see Figure 1. As NDF content in a forage increases, dry matter intake decreases because it cannot pass through the cow’s system as fast. Therefore, with NDF percentages, we can accurately predict forage intake as it relates to bulk; or we could say, how much an animal will eat before its stomach gets full and stops eating. The higher the NDF value, the less the livestock can physically eat of that forage/day.

Most mixed grass hay, after heading out, will have NDF values of 65% or greater. Beef cows can only consume about 1-1.2% of their body weight in NDF/day. So, a 1300 lb. beef cow could consume up to 15.6 lbs. of NDF/day on a dry matter (DM) basis. If our hay is 65% NDF a 1300 lb. cow can only eat 24 lbs. of this hay on a DM basis or approximately 27 lbs./day as fed. Without showing all the calculations in this article, this hay would cause more than a 2.2 lb. (±14%) deficiency in TDN/day for a superior milking, early lactating cow’s needs. This is why a cow can have a full stomach, but still lose weight.

Ash levels in this year’s hay may be a concern too. As ash percentage increases, digestible dry matter decreases. So far this year, I have seen virtually no hay fields around my area this year without tracks left from equipment and areas of hay left unraked in the fields because the producer realized it was too wet to get through without excessively tearing up the field. Running equipment over hay, on ground that is wetter than usual, and around these wet spots for mowing, tedding and raking has undoubtedly caused dirt/mud to adhere, or splash in some cases, onto the forage that would not normally be there.

Dan Undersander, Forage Agronomist from the University of Wisconsin–Madison provides the following information and table. “Ash in forage comes from two sources: internal, e.g. minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus, and external, e.g. dirt, bedding, sand, etc. The average internal ash content of alfalfa is about 8% and of grasses is about 6%. Additional ash in a hay or silage sample is contamination with dirt, sand, etc. As shown in Table 1, a summary of ash content of forage samples submitted to the University of Wisconsin Soil and Forage Analysis Laboratory, the average ash content of haylage is 12.3% and of hay is 10.3%. Assuming the silage is mainly alfalfa and the hay has a higher percentage of grass, forage samples are averaging about 4% ash contamination from external sources. Note that some samples have been as high as 18%. This means this farmer had fed almost 1 pound of dirt with each 5 pounds of hay or haylage!”

Ash content is only one item listed in a forage analysis, but I am interested to see what our analyses will show this year compared to others in the past. Studies have shown cutting height and type of rake used in the haymaking process are big factors that can increase ash content, above what is considered normal in forages. Some studies indicate that leaving a stubble height of about 3” provides the best results for reducing additional ash content while yet maximizing quantity of forage for harvest. The lower a producer cuts their forage to the soil surface; the more ash ends up in the forage. Studies have also shown ground driven wheel rakes generally add a few percentage points to ash when compared to other type rotary or power take off driven rakes.

Another point to consider this year is going to be heat damage to the forage. Many producers probably have hay that was baled wetter than optimum. In a previous issue of the Ohio Beef Cattle Newsletter Chris Penrose and Dan Lima provided information about dry matter percentages that are suggested for a variety of hay bale types when baling: Small squares to be 20% or less, large round, 18% or less and large squares, 16% when baling. Small bales dissipate heat faster than large round bales so small bales are less susceptible to longer periods of heating than large round bales. The goal for long-term storage and stability is a moisture content of <15%. The larger and denser a bale is, the less likely it is to lose moisture in storage and reach the stability desired, so the moisture at harvest becomes more critical.

Penrose and Lima also provided information about what can happen when baling hay if it is too wet. Excessive microbial action causes hay to heat and if internal temperatures get above 150-160 degrees F, a call to the fire department may soon be needed because hay may ignite if exposed to air.

Aside from hay bales that catch on fire, the potential heat damage I’m referring to is what can be measured, using a laboratory forage test, if crude protein is lost due to heat damage. This amount shows up in the adjusted crude protein percentage in the analysis numbers. This reduced number reflects what happens to bales that were baled wetter that optimum, but not wet enough to cause the fire problem. Once temperatures reach 115-120°F a chemical reaction occurs between the protein and carbohydrates present in the forage. This reaction, called the Maillard reaction (often referred to as the browning reaction), is responsible for the characteristic, sweet smelling cured tobacco odor you may notice around your hay bales. While cows seem to like the taste of this type hay, the process denatures proteins making part of them unavailable for digestion by our livestock. Laboratory testing can show if an adjustment has been made for excessive heat damage. All rations should be balanced using the “Adjusted Crude Protein” rather than the other protein values listed on your forage analysis.

So, what is the quality of the hay you made? As we have discussed, several factors effect quality and intake, but a forage test is the best starting point to know how to feed the hay you produced. Sampling multiple lots of hay would provide the best picture of your overall situation and provide information for you to make the best use of the forages. Different production dates, variation in the amount of grass vs. amount of legume composition in the fields or different rates of fertilizer you applied this spring could all be reasons for sampling multiple lots of hay.

One thing to remember, forage analysis results are only as good as the samples taken. Core samples should be taken with a forage sampler from 12-15 bales for each lot of hay being sampled. Place all of the core samples in a sealable plastic bag, taking care that fines material in the sample is not lost, which can skew the results.

Due to the nature of this effort being part of a data collection project, sample results will take longer than a conventional lab to return. Analysis will be returned to your local Extension office as well as emailed to the provided address. Any members of the OSU Extension Forage Team or Beef Team are willing to help you interpret your results or contact your local ANR Educator for assistance. Producers can then start planning for the winter feeding program to provide sufficient nutrients to all classes of livestock so maximum performance can be achieved.

We will be having our annual Agronomy Day this year at the Western Ag. Research Station in South Charleston, Ohio, July 16, 2025.  We will start at 9 a.m. with introductions and then load up the tour wagons to go out to the fields.   Registration will start at 8:30 am with coffee and doughnuts. Certifed Crop Adviser CEU's will be offered.

In the morning session we will get to look at the much-anticipated Battle of the Belt Corn and Soybean Competition with Laura Lindsey, and Taylor Dill.  We have a couple years of data under our belt to share, as well as look at this year’s crops.  Pierce Paul will be our next informational stop, to discuss tar spot and forecast what to look forward to in 2025 for other corn diseases. Our last stop right before lunch we will visit the herbicide interaction demo with Tony Dobbels to look at how different herbicides work on weeds and crops. After Lunch we will have our last stop of the day with Kelley Tilmon, we will learn more about Slugs and Stink Bugs with the added pressure we have seen this year.

The field day will be at 7721 South Charleston Pike, South Charleston, Ohio  45368 from 9am to 1:30 pm.  Please RVSP by July 11, 2025, to davlin.1@osu.edu or call 937-462-8016 to help us with the lunch count.  Lunch will be supplied by Lyons Catering again this year.   

Thanks, hope to see you at the Western Agronomy Field Day! 

This spring’s wet weather delayed planting of some of our May forages. Combined with a cool June that kept soil temperatures below optimal for many warm-season annual grasses, there have been some questions about late-planting options for forage crops.

The success of early-planted warm-season annual grasses (sudangrass, sorghum-sudangrass, millet, and teff) is typically determined by soil temperature, and soils should be above 60-65* F before you begin planting. Later in the summer, establishment success is more moisture-dependent. Yields can also be reduced for late-planted crops, since they’ll have a reduced growing season.

We don’t have a lot of recent data on exact cut-off dates for warm-season annual forage establishment in Ohio. The Ohio Agronomy Guide recommends that plantings continue through late-June in northern Ohio, and that plantings can continue through mid-July in southern Ohio. Anecdotally, we’ve seen successful sorghum-sudangrass establishment into July throughout the state as long as adequate soil moisture is available during planting.

If you’re considering a late planting of warm-season annual grasses on your farm, pay attention to ground prep. No-till establishment is certainly possible in many years, but the heavy, intense rains that covered most of Ohio in June has caused both crusting and extensive weed pressure in some fields. Tillage can help manage both crusting and weeds, although it may also reduce soil moisture. Plant quickly after tillage is completed to reduce these concerns.

Regardless of whether you choose to till or not, proper drill set up will help optimize establishment. Teff should be planted 1/8-1/4 inch deep, and must be drilled, not broadcast. Species like millet and sorghum-sudangrass should be planted ½-1 inch deep. These larger-seeded warm-season annual grasses can also be broadcast and harrowed in, but fields established this way will be more sensitive to dry weather in the week or two following planting. Make sure to increase your seeding rate by about 1/3 for broadcast plantings as compared to drill plantings, and learn more about seeding rate recommendations in the Ohio Agronomy Guide.

In short, you still have a few weeks to get warm-season annual grasses planted. Pay attention to weeds and soil moisture to optimize establishment.  

Don’t have an Ohio Agronomy Guide? Call your local extension office or get one here: https://extensionpubs.osu.edu/ohio-agronomy-guide-16th-edition-pdf/

Season 3, Episode 15 of Battle for the Belt is now available: https://youtu.be/lHtE8krmtAo?si=PAbILS3BdBQzCAUA  

At this time of year, with rapid crop growth, soybean crop management should prioritize monitoring for foliar insect pests. Focus scouting efforts on defoliators such as various caterpillar species and grasshoppers, the latter being more prevalent under dry conditions. July typically marks the highest period for defoliation, making regular field scouting essential. When assessing damage, it is important to evaluate the overall field for defoliation, not just field borders. Thresholds for management differ by growth stage (Figure 1):

• From vegetative to bloom (V1-R2), insecticide applications are recommended when defoliation reaches 30%
• From pod development to full seed (R3-R6), the threshold drops to 10–15%, provided the insects remain actively present in the field.  

A unique challenge this season involves late planted and late maturing soybean plants, which may result in green, actively growing fields persisting longer than usual this fall. As early planted fields begin to dry down, insect pests are likely to migrate toward these greener areas, creating concentrated pest populations. Notably, bean leaf beetles (Figure 2) have shown increased activity in these late-maturing varieties, and stink bugs (Figure 3) are expected to move from senescing fields into those still in vegetative or early reproductive stages. This shifting pressure underscores the need for heightened vigilance in late-planted fields.

Effective pest management requires a field-wide evaluation to both estimate the extent of defoliation and correctly identify the pest species responsible for any damage present, as threshold levels vary depending on the insect. Accurate diagnosis is critical to determining the appropriate treatment strategies. For additional guidance on insect identification and defoliation thresholds, consult the Soybean Defoliation Guide, available at: aginsects.osu.edu.

Crop Progress Updates from the Field 

Across the state, corn and soybean entered reproductive stages last week. Rain is important during this time to reduce heat stress to ensure complete pollination in corn. While rainfall is also important to soybean plants currently, they are most susceptible to drought stress later in the season during, grain fill.

The Western location had a few plants with tassels but most of planting date one (4/18) corn was about V14 (Figure 4). The rest of the planting dates are still in young vegetative stages. In soybean, the first two planting dates (4/18, 5/12) are flowering, with the first planting date getting close to R3.

The Wooster location is the furthest behind in corn growth with the first planting date (3/27) only at V10. However, the first two planting dates of soybean are at R2. The rest of the planting dates are in early vegetative stages.

At the Northwest location, planting date one (3/27) in corn is at V12, with the later planting dates at early vegetative stages. The first two planting dates of soybean are at R2 (3/27, 4/17), while the later planting dates are in early vegetative growth (Figure 5).

Thus far in the growing season, there has been minimal insect feeding/defoliation in corn and soybean at all three locations. Disease symptoms have also been absent in our field, but it is important to be scouting as we move into reproductive stages, especially with these hot temperatures and frequent rain events.

Follow the Battle for the Belt campaign all season long to stay informed and up to date. Catch every episode on the Ohio State Agronomy YouTube channel. Ohio State Agronomy