Wanting to help provide useful information for area farmers and those in agriculture, the OSU Extension offices in Northeast Ohio held its annual Northeast Ohio Agronomy School.
More than 65 farmers attended the event at Bristol Township Hall, which focused on issues that impact corn and soybean production.
Lee Beers, extension educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources for OSU Extension in Cortland, said with profit margins decreasing it is vital for crop producers to get the biggest bang from the dollars they invest in land rental, seed and fertilizer, technology, chemicals, and crop protection in 2019.
He said the full day of topics featured six different speakers discussing the major issues impacting corn and soybean production in northeast Ohio. Beers said farmers learned of the best fertilizers, chemicals and other pesticides to use to help crops be healthy.
“Each year, the OSU Extension holds a big event for farmers. We cover a wide variety of topics such as weed management, soybean production and improvement, and best ways to save money on chemicals and get best pricing for crops,” he said.
Lees said farmers were provided information on which chemicals work best for pests on soybeans and other plants.
Steven Coleman, assistant professor of soil fertility from the OSU Extension, said there have been studies done in the past five years on fertilizers used by farmers and also water quality.
“Fertilizers are a major input cost for farmers. Some of the results of the studies have found some of levels of the fertilizers don’t need to be increased. There is ways for farmers to have increased profitability and efficiency for growers,” he said.
Other speakers told of the various insects that can cause damage to crops and what farmers need to be doing to help their crops while also saving money.
Anne E. Dorrance, professor of soybean pathology, discussed some of the fungal organisms responsible for the seed damage, along with a description of the symptoms. She explained the fungi can affect seed health, can detrimentally affect marketing, and can potentially affect the 2019 crop.
Dorrance explained fields with a high incidence should not be used for seed, but should be fine for feed — best in low quantity. Over the winter, under dry conditions, the mycelium (fungus) on the outside seed tissues will die and then those seed will appear normal with the point to keep the seed dry to prevent any further colonization of the seed.
Originally posted by BOB COUPLAND, Reporter, Tribune Chronicle on FEB 25, 2019.