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Shelby County Ag Day Draws Farmers from Six
Counties
By Justin Petrosino, ANR Extension Educator
OSU Extension, Darke County
OSU Extension, Shelby County, hosted its annual Ag Day on Monday,
January 10th,at St. Michael’s Hall in Ft. Loramie. The event brought in
farmers from six counties including Darke and state specialists from
OSU and Purdue. Participants in the field day listened to experts speak
about insect management, movement of phosphorus in our soils, managing
the problem weed marestail, crop disease management, and many other
topics.
Dr. Ron Hammond, OSU Entomologist, discussed the use of resistant
alfalfa varieties for managing potato leafhopper in alfalfa, and said,
“If current cycles continue 2011 might shape up to be a year to monitor
your soybeans for aphids”. Aphid populations fluctuate on a two year
cycle with 2011 shaping up to be an on year. However if 2011 is a high
year your fields may not be at risk. Hammond urged participants to
scout their fields and only apply an insecticide if aphid populations
are above the economic threshold of 250 aphids per plant.
Dr. Robert Mullen, OSU Soil Fertility Specialist, spoke on the best way
to manage your fertilizer dollars and the fate of phosphorus in our
soils. Dr. Mullen said the best way to minimize soil losses was to
apply your phosphorus, either manure or chemical fertilizer, based on
soil test information and avoid applying before heavy rains.
Purdue Extension’s new Pathologist Dr. Kiersten Wise joined the OSU
crew to talk to our local farmers. Dr. Wise updated local farmers on
new diseases we are seeing in the north central states like diploidia
leaf streak of corn and the discovery of resistant frog eye leaf spot
in soybean. Dr. Wise pointed out that in the past few years based on
her research growers applying fungicides to corn and soybeans have made
their money back with improved yield only 50% of the time. Dr. Wise
joked, “Our research shows that the chance of making your money back is
the same as flipping a coin”.
The evening finished with Harold Watters, OSU Extension, Champaign
County, discussing managing herbicide resistant weeds, especially
marestail. Of the programs available marestail management can be
achieved by combining a burndown herbicide in the spring with a
preemergence treatment which will give residual control early into the
season. Watters mentioned that “glyphosate applied post(emergence) will
not control marestail”. Continuous use of glyphosate, a common
herbicide, has led to resistant weeds like marestail and giant ragweed
becoming more prevalent.
The Ag Day also allowed participants to obtain credits to recertify as
private and commercial pesticide applicators and for Certified Crop
Advisors to obtain CEU credits. If you are interested in any of these
topics contact Justin Petrosino, OSU Extension, Darke County, (937)
548-5215. Upcoming Extension events include Pesticide Recertification
training in Mercer County on February 1st and in Darke County on March
1st. A manure technology day will be held in Maria Stein on March 8,
2011, to update farmers and citizens on new technologies being
developed to utilize manures.
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