Farm Facts for Fairfield County
Farm Facts for Fairfield County
for November 30, 2001; also seen on Fridays in the Lancaster Eagle Gazette
The Fairfield Soil and Water District, OSU Extension and NRCS are cooperating to sponsor a bus trip to the 5-State Grazing Conference in Rind, Illinois. This one-day conference will focus on the economic and management advantages of controlled grazing of livestock. Specifically, topics of discussion will include Principles and Practices of Grazing, Positive impact of Grazing, and the Opportunities for Extending the Grazing Season. Speakers will include Jim Gerrish, R.L. Dalrymple, Bob Herdershot, Garry Lacefield and others. A Trade Show will also be featured at the conference.
Trip details have not been finalized, but the tentative plans are to leave Lancaster early on January 23, 2002 and return late on January 25, 2002. A visit to the Dudley Farm at the University of Illinois is also being planned as a portion of the trip. The Dudley Research Farm features a small group of cows that are grazed most of the winter on alternative crops seeded into corn stalks. Also they have a unique winter watering system. At least one additional beef cattle related stop is currently being planned.
Plans are to get the transportation and conference registration fees paid for through various grants
with participants being responsible for their own food and lodging. If you are interested in this
trip please contact Fairfield Soil and Water (740.653.5320) and you will receive the registration
forms and more details as they become available.
Ohio Corn Performance Tests Posted on WWW
Results of the 2001 Ohio Corn Performance Test are available on-line at http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/corn2001/. Since assessment of hybrid performance is enhanced by using a number of
test sites, farmers along Ohio's border with neighboring states should consider checking results of
the Purdue, Kentucky, Michigan State, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia Corn Test results. An
on-line version of the 2001 Indiana corn test results is available at
http://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/variety.htm. Growers interested in results of the corn hybrid
silage trails should consult the Michigan State University and Pennsylvania corn hybrid tests that
include silage yields. The North Central Crop Evaluation Committee web site
http://www.ksu.edu/kscpt/nccec/ provides links to corn hybrid test results from state universities
across the Corn Belt.
Selecting Soybean Varieties for 2002
In 2001 The Ohio State University evaluated 190 soybean varieties at five test sites around the state. One hundred fifty three of the varieties were Roundup Ready and 37 were normal varieties. Depending on test site, yield ranged from a low of 44.8 bushels per acre to a high of 79.1 bushels per acre. Relative maturity ranged from 2.3 to 4.4 while plant height was 22 inches to 47 inches. Lodging ranged from none to all plants on the ground and hard to pick up with a floating cutterbar. Seed size varied from 1800 to 3700 seeds per pound. The percent Oil and Protein varied from 18.2 to 22.9 for Oil and 37.8 to 45.7 for Protein. The partial tolerance to Phytophthora root rot varied from 3.2 to 8.0.
Complete test results are posted on the Internet at www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~perf/. When reviewing the test results and selecting varieties to grow in 2002, be sure to select varieties having the following characteristics:
1) A range of maturities to spread out the harvest season. Early varieties in narrow rows perform as well as late varieties.
2) Test plot yields should be greater than average for the test.
3) Lodging always reduces yield. Varieties should have low lodging scores (1 or 2). Reducing the seeding rate of lodging susceptible varieties will reduce lodging without affecting yield.
4) Select varieties with a Phytophthora partial resistance score of less than 5 to reduce the loss of yield from that disease.
5) Selecting varieties with one or more Phytophthora resistance genes (Rps 1b,1c, 1k, or 3a) will also help reduce yield loss.
6) Varieties with a Sclerotonia rating "M" will have much less yield loss to Sclerotinia white mold than varieties without the M rating if conditions are favorable for that disease.
7) All seed should be treated with fungicides to improve plant stand and root system health,
regardless of variety, crop rotation, tillage, planting date, or seeding rate.
Manditory ID Now Required of U.S. Sheep Producers - are Beef Cattle Next?
USDA has published the final rule on their new scrapie program which is being billed as the first step in scrapie eradication. Sheep and goat owners will find that the identification requirements in this rule will cause them to do business differently than they are used to.
The basis of the program to finally eradicate scrapie among sheep and goats is based on the creation of a manditory identification system. Therefore, all sheep and goats not enrolled in the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program (VSFCP) will now be subject to new identification requirements before they change ownership and/or enter into interstate commerce.
Under the new program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide ear tags, without charge, to producers. These tags will be available through the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS) Area Office and/or the State Veterinarian's office in each state. Metal ear tags are preferred because of their low cost and durability; however, plastic ear tags may be provided when requested. Sheep producers who prefer to use a different type of tag may purchase official tags through specified, approved tag companies. Additionally, producers will be required to keep identification records for five years after the animal has left the flock/herd.
Ron Lemanager, Executive Director of the 5 State Beef Initiative and Purdue Extension Beef
Specialist, offers these thought provoking comments regarding the new Federal requirements for
sheep and goat identification. "This was created to address the scrapie issue and international
trade, not to mention consumer confidence. Who didn't think that mandatory identification and
unique PREMISE numbers would happen? It's here! Mandatory vs voluntary unique
identification has been discussed for some time in beef cattle as well. Are cattle next? Is the 5
State Beef Initiative ahead of the curve in using EID, and will there be premiums (lack of
discounts) for those that enter into the realm of electronic identification in the future if it is done
voluntarily. Regardless of the premiums/discounts with EID, the real value is in sharing of
data/information that will allow a producer the opportunity to more precisely target their genetics
and management toward a value-added market."
For a listing of upcoming programs, meetings and events, visit the AG CALENDAR
Farms Facts is a weekly newspaper column, written by the agriculture staff at the Ohio State
University Extension office in Fairfield County.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith,
Director, Ohio State University Extension.
TDD # 1 (800) 589-8292 (Ohio only) or (614) 292-1868