Farm Facts for Fairfield County
Farm Facts for Fairfield County
for September 21, 2001; also seen on Fridays in the Lancaster Eagle Gazette
Area barn enthusiasts have an opportunity on September 22 to mingle with others who have a unique interest in the preservation of historic barns while visiting three outstanding Fairfield County barn sites. The day's activities will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Tim White barn, 5811 Bremen Road, where you will observe a Pennsylvania Forebay barn. From there, the tour will progress to 5450 Old Millersport Road, where Tim and Kim Hicks' log barn, double crib log barn, and timber frame barn will be visited. The final stop for the day will be at the home of John Stitzlein, 10545 Snyder Church Road, where an immaculate craft barn has been moved to, and restored..
Charles W. Whitney, The Barn Consultant, and Howard Siegrist, OSU Extension Agent, will
serve as your tour guides and hosts. A registration fee of $7 will cover the cost of the entire
event including a fine catered lunch. Contact OSU Extension, 740.653.5419, for reservations or
simply arrive at the first by 9:30 a.m. on the 22nd to register.
Get Ready to Plant Wheat - Steps to Improved Yield
High yields and low cost production are necessary for wheat to be a viable economic partner in the crop-rotation sequence in Ohio. Wheat has a place in the rotation sequence on nearly every farm in Ohio, if for no other reason than to help reduce problems associated with continuous planting of soybeans and corn. The most prudent wheat production system is one of defensive management. High yield wheat research conducted over the past four years as On-Farm research plots and on OARDC research facilities have confirmed that high input wheat does not consistently improve economic returns on investment. However, consistent high yields can be obtained by following a few important management guidelines. Below, OSU specialists have listed the most important management decisions that Ohio wheat producers need to make at fall planting to produce the best crop possible.
-Select high-yielding varieties with good straw strength and disease resistance. Do not jeopardize your investment by planting anything but the best yielding varieties that also have good resistance to yield robbing diseases like powdery mildew and Stagonospora blotch. Use good clean seed that has been treated with a fungicide to control seed borne diseases.
-Plant after the Hessian Fly Safe date of September 30. Planting within the first 10 days after this date ensures the proper planting time to avoid serious insect and disease problems including Hessian Fly, Barley yellow dwarf virus and several foliar diseases. Early planting has reduced yield by 7.5 to 20% in research trials due to increase disease levels as compared to those planted after the Hessian Fly Safe Date.
-Optimum seeding rates for Ohio are between 1.2 and 1.6 million seeds per acre. For drills with 7 inch spacing between rows plant 16 to 21 seed per foot of row. In seeding rate studies conducted over the past four years, seeding rate had little effect on final yield. High seeding rates (above 30 seed/foot of row) increased lodging potential. There is no evidence that more seed is better, it only costs you more money.
-Planting depth is critical to winter survival and tiller development. Plant seed 1 to 1.5 inches deep and make sure the seeding depth is uniform across the field. Rough ground or heavy crop residues greatly affect planting depth even with the newer no-till drills. Remember shallow planting is the main cause of winter heaving and freezing injury to wheat causing thin stands in early spring. Additionally, you can not compensate for a poor planting job by planting more seed, it just costs you more money.
-Apply 20 to 30 lb of nitrogen prior to planting in the fall and apply the rest of the nitrogen requirement for the crop as a top dress in the spring. An application of nitrogen in the fall was one of the main factors that contributed to consistent high yield in our recent research tests. Remember to subtract the amount applied in the fall from the total crop requirement and apply the difference in the spring as a single application between green up and beginning stem elongation (mid March to early April).
-Apply Phosphorus and Potassium at planting time based on a soil test.
Remember to record the information and decisions you made including variety planted, planting
date and weather conditions for future reference. Having accurate and complete notes will help
you be a better manager and increases your chances of improving your profit margin.
Time to Take Last Harvest of Forage Legumes
OSU forage specialists says it is definitely time to wrap up the last harvest of the year for forage legumes. Harvest of forage legumes should be completed IMMEDIATELY. They should not be cut during the 6-week period before a killing frost. For our region, this means the period from mid-September through October is the critical fall rest period. Harvesting during this period disrupts accumulation of energy reserves and development of cold hardiness.
Late September and early October cutting can be especially stressful, but the injury suffered depends on the winter conditions which no one can predict. The damage can be severe, mild, or non-existent. Despite the known risk, each year growers harvest forages during the fall. This year rainy weather has delayed cutting schedules throughout the growing season for many
producers, pushing back the time when the crop will be ready for a last harvest. Growers should
carefully weigh the need for additional forage against the increased risk of stand injury from fall
cutting. The tonnage expected from a fall cutting and the need for the forage should be high
before considering a cutting during the critical fall period.
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