Agronomy and Farm Management

We continue our discussion with Eric Richer, OSUE Field Specialist, by digging into more hurdles of organic grain production. From nitrogen sources to paperwork, we take a realistic look what farmers can expect in an organic system compared to conventional. To dive deeper into this topic, we recommend attending the 2026 Ohio State Organic Grains Conference January 7-8. For more details, visit: https://offer.osu.edu/events/2026-OrganicGrainsConference.

To renovate or not to renovate? That is the question many pasture managers face, especially after two dry summers. With a large commitment of time and money, it is a question that should be carefully considered. To help us do so, Dr. Emma Matcham, State Specialist for Integrated Forage Systems, walks us through the process from start to finish. We consider stand evaluation, timing, seeding methods and more as we discuss the nuances farmers face in making this decision. Additional resources: Giving new life to tired pastures: https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/anr-0159 Forage management after drought and a tough growing season: https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2025-36Ohio Agronomy Guide: https://extensionpubs.osu.edu/ohio-agronomy-guide-16th-edition/

We continue our discussion with Dr. John Fulton on how to increase the reliability of harvest data. This time we focus on the in-field practices. With bigger machines, it is getting more difficult to collect high res data. Tune in for recommendations on things such as how long passes should be and more to increase the quality of your yield data. For more resources on harvest data, visit: https://digitalag.osu.edu/precision-ag/research-focuses/harvest-technologies.

Farmers write some big checks based on harvest data. How confident are you in the quality of that data? We’re getting into the weeds with Dr. John Fulton about how to ensure confident decisions can be made based on what is collected in the field this fall. In the first of this two part series, we talk about how yield measurements are collected in the combine, provide advice on calibration and discuss how unintentional mistakes can lead to big missteps with input decisions. For more information on calibration, visit: https://digitalag.osu.edu/precision-ag/research-focuses/harvest-technologies.

Tar spot concern continues to grow across Ohio as it shows up in more and more fields each year. Each year farmers and researchers wonder if this will be the season it really explodes, causing widespread economic damage. For a background on Tar Spot, check out episodes 123 and 101. In this episode, Dr. Stephanie Karhoff updates us on the latest research and treatment recommendations for managing not only Tar Spot but Gibberella ear rot and the vomitoxin it causes. Each disease has certain weather conditions and infection timing that are critical components to successfully managing it in field. The Crop Protection Network’s disease forecasting tool can afford insight into what to look for during scouting: https://cropprotectionnetwork.org/crop-disease-forecasting.

Dr. Aaron Wilson is back online to share exactly where this spring came out in the rankings. It might surprise you! We also provide an outlook on what we can expect from Ohio’s weather for the rest of the growing season season and what that means for crop health. Sign up to receive monthly and quarterly updates from the State Climate Office: climate.osu.edu. Check out mrcc.purdue.edu/ to find useful tools such as the GDD calculator and freeze predictor. You can also reach out to Aaron at wilson.1010@osu.edu.

Each planting window brings the same question- Should I plant corn or soybeans first? Perhaps you have heard it referred to as the Battle for the Belt. Dr. Osler Ortez joins us for an update on his research based competition with soybean specialist Dr. Laura Lindsey to determine when the best windows are for planting corn and soybeans. They are also looking at where the largest yield losses occur when planting is delayed. These results can help farmers make decision on when to switch between corn and soybeans based on the calendar, maturity and conditions. Follow updates on YouTube, the C.O.R.N. Newsletter and X (Dr. Ortez and Dr. Lindsey).