By Richard Purdin-
My Name is Richard Purdin, OSU Extension Ag and Natural resource Educator for Adams County. I hope to better inform local producers and the general public of the latest news in the world of Agriculture.
As we start the month of September signs of fall are starting to show up. In my travels I have started to notice many of the walnut tree leaves starting to change colors and dry down. There is still a market today for walnuts, Keim Family Farm located on Tater Ridge Road will start accepting walnuts Oct. 5 and the current price received is $15 for every hundred pounds processed. If you have questions or need directions call (937) 544-7813.
With the autumn season creeping up on us, many producers are wondering what the weather is going be like this harvest season. One thing is for sure it cannot be predicted completely, but the outlook looks like a warm with normal or above normal rainfall. Harvest should have a long window of opportunity. This might give producers an opportunity to plant cover crops after harvesting the cash crops.
So, the question for many farmers is, are cover crops worth planting? This is a good question and for many producers cover crops pay great dividends for not only the soil but the savings in feed cost. Cover crops have been known to help break compaction, increase water infiltration, decrease weed pressure, limit soil erosion and several other benefits. Now these benefits do not come overnight, it takes time and persistence. Growing cover crops is a management tool and that means they need to be managed properly to see the full benefit. Before planting cover crops this fall think about these factors
• Why- Why are you planting the cover crop, what issues do you want to address?
• When- When do you want to plant, terminate, or harvest the cover crop?
• Where- where is the best source for seed? Where is the best place to plant the cover crop on the farm (is it easily managed)?
• How – How are you going to plant the cover crop, drill, planter, broadcast?
There are ifs and buts involved too.
• If- If I planted corn or soybeans before will the residual herbicide effect the cover crop growth? If the weather slows harvest or planting?
• Buts- But I have a wet farm. But the seed cost is high and corn and soybean prices or so low?
These are all factors that need considered before jumping in the cover crop frying pan. Please let me know of any question you might have.
Some other items from our office:
• Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) sign up deadline Sept. 11 contact West Union FSA at (937) 544-2033.
• The Highland County Soil and water District is taking pre-orders for their fish sale and annual meeting that is going to be held Sept. 19. The fish will be handed out the day of the meeting from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Check out our web site (adams.osu.edu) and Facebook page for details, you can also call the Highland County Soil and Water Conservation District at (937) 393-1922.
From the Field
In scouting field conditions for Adams County, the following are things I have noticed.
1. Starting to see signs of Sudden Death Syndrome in the soybeans.
2. Stink Bug presence is increasing, evaluate for possible control options.
3. Water Hemp and Mairstail are having a bundle of fun in soybean fields.
4. Most corn is starting to dent, and silage harvest will begin soon.
5. Most second and some third cutting of hay has completed.
6. Fall panicum and yellow foxtail are taking hold of most hay fields.
7. Mexican Bean leaf beetles and brown marmorated sink bugs are causing damage on green beans.