The last couple of weeks have been cold and wet, and things have moved pretty slowly around here. Right now, we are just waiting on some heat and sunshine to get things growing again.

We are probably about half done with planting corn and soybeans at this point. Most of the corn that was planted has emerged, but it came up looking a little yellow and has mostly just been sitting there waiting for warmer weather. We also had some patchy frost a couple of weeks ago. We had a few soybean fields that had already emerged, but fortunately, it was a fairly light frost, and I do not think it caused much damage.

On the specialty crop side, we were originally scheduled to start planting tomatoes last Saturday, but conditions have simply been too cold and wet to get started. As soon as things dry up, though, we will be hammered down and moving quickly.… Continue reading

Soybeans were 34% planted, up from 30% last week and ahead of the 20% average. Soybeans emerged reached 16%, compared with 10% last week and 7% on average.

Winter wheat was 5% headed, behind both 13% last year and the 11% average. Ohio winter wheat condition rated 64% good to excellent, with 53% good and 11% excellent.

Oats were 62% planted, still behind the 77% average, while 37% had emerged, behind the 51% average.

Soil moisture remained generally favorable to wet. Ohio topsoil moisture was 62% adequate and 25% surplus, while subsoil moisture was 61% adequate and 15% surplus.

Click here to read the full report from USDA NASS.… Continue reading

Managing nitrogen (N) efficiently in corn with high N fertilizer prices compared to corn grain prices. In several common production scenarios, soil-supplied nitrogen can replace a significant portion—or in some cases all—of the fertilizer N typically applied. Two situations where this occurs most often are following fall-applied manure and planting corn after nitrogen-rich cropping systems such as alfalfa or long-term cover crops. The most reliable way to determine how much N the soil can supply is through the Pre-Sidedress Nitrogen Test (PSNT).

Manure supplies nitrogen primarily in two forms: ammonium N and organic N. The ammonium portion is not soil-stable and is subject to losses following application. The magnitude of these losses depends largely on soil temperature and precipitation after application. For example, manure applied in November typically has more soil N for the following corn crop than manure applied in September.

Organic N, in contrast, is soil stable.… Continue reading

Plus, we’re talking farm equipment, auctions and current trends with Craig von Stein, Equipment Division Manager with Dye Real Estate. On this episode, von Stein talks about what the used equipment market looks like right now and if there are specific types of equipment seeing strong demand.

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Many Ohio farmers use precision agriculture tools every day, such as yield maps, GNSS guidance, and variable-rate technology, to manage crops more efficiently. Precision conservation builds on those same tools, but with a different goal to help farmers decide where conservation practices make the most sense on their farms.

Simply put, precision conservation means using field data to target conservation practices to the acres that need them most. Instead of treating every acre the same, it looks at multi-year yield maps, profit maps, soil type, drainage, and topography to identify spots that consistently lose money or create management challenges. These may be wet holes that never dry out, eroded slopes, compacted headlands, or field edges that rarely produce a payback. Rather than continuing to invest seed, fertilizer, and time in those areas, farmers can shift them into conservation practices that improve both profitability and environmental performance.… Continue reading

Keeping cash reserves is a good practice for any business, no matter what the industry. When it comes to agribusinesses and farming operations, special considerations come into play. This month, we look at some things to keep in mind when budgeting and setting funds aside to keep in reserves.

Cash reserves give you vital breathing room. It ensures you can do things like cover payroll, buy feed, and maintain operations without relying on high-interest loans or dipping into personal funds to bridge short-term gaps.

A good rule of thumb is to have three to six months of operating expenses available in a liquid account. However, that can vary based on the size of your operation. The larger the farm or the business, the higher the fixed costs. We are talking about bigger payroll, extensive land leases, and large equipment fleets that need to be maintained.… Continue reading

“Each of these individuals has helped shape Ohio agriculture in ways that reach far beyond their own work,” said Mike Bailey, president of the Ohio Agricultural Council and senior vice president of operations and partnerships at Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. “Their impact can be seen in the people they’ve mentored, the programs they’ve built and the example they’ve set for others to follow.”

 The ceremony, celebrating its 60th year, will be held Friday, August 7, 2026, and is expected to draw more than 600 attendees, including community leaders, industry professionals and family members.… Continue reading

After what felt like an exceptionally cold, long winter, I was excited to check on my dahlia tubers. I started growing dahlias a few years ago just for fun. I love the flowers, the bright blooms in the yard, and cutting bouquets to place on the kitchen table throughout the summer.

The first year, I only had a handful of plants in pots, so winter storage was easy enough. I simply moved the pots inside and hoped for the best. By the second year, I had expanded the collection into raised beds and more containers. I had more colors, varieties and blooms than ever before!

Then fall arrived, along with the first frost. Anyone who grows dahlias knows that is when the real work begins. Tubers need dug, cleaned, divided, labeled and stored properly if you want to enjoy them again the next season. It is not difficult work, but it does take time and attention to detail.… Continue reading

Pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, miticides, etc.) may affect soil microbes in many ways, often leading to reduced diversity and even lower populations of various soil microbes. Soil microbes are bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, and viruses, and account for an estimated 3% to 4% of the total biomass on Earth. Pesticides often degrade soil health and can reduce agricultural productivity and crop yields. Some pesticides change the soil structure so that the soil becomes dense and compacted. Minimizing pesticide use benefits soil health, microbial diversity, and microbial populations.  

Broad-spectrum herbicides are those that kill or control a wide variety of pests, including weeds, fungi, and insects. Since they are so non-selective, they can kill or control beneficial microbes as well as both targeted and non-targeted organisms. Often, broad-spectrum pesticides may also harm pollinators and beneficial predators. When this happens, species diversity decreases along with changes in the overall population of soil microbes, as well as beneficial pollinators and other predators.… Continue reading

The Ohio Department of Transportation and the ODNR are asking the public to report locations where they frequently see reptiles and amphibians crossing roadways. In spring and summer, reptiles such as box turtles, snapping turtles, and snakes are vulnerable to vehicles as they cross roadways to lay eggs, find new habitat, or seek shelter. In early spring and occasionally in the fall, amphibians such as salamanders, frogs, and toads sometimes cross roads as they travel to breeding areas.

Observers can report locations of reptile and amphibian road crossings via the Wildlife Reporting System, available at wildohio.gov and on the HuntFish OH mobile app. Observations of live animals are helpful, as are reports of roadkill. Users are encouraged to take note of road crossing locations and submit reports — but only after you are no longer driving!

Spring waters spell trouble

It may be May, but as any angler who has gone in over their waders or decided to cool off with a quick swim off the boat’s transom knows, water temperatures remain dangerously cold this month.… Continue reading

The post went on to say: “Customers can expect a continued commitment to local products built for their growing conditions, backed with personalized support through our local seed dealer network.”

Hoegemeyer® was previously named the regional seed brand of the Western Corn Belt for Corteva Agriscience in 2018. Hoegemeyer was founded in 1937 by H. Chris Hoegemeyer and his son Leonard C., in Hooper, Nebraska. Learn more at www.hoegemeyer.com.

… Continue reading

December corn broke through the $5 mark on Monday but traded back below it on Tuesday. The market is testing the upper end of its recent trading range. The funds are pretty long corn, and wheat has been driving higher, but maybe both have ran their course for the time being. 

Long-term concerns about limited nitrogen production next year could potentially make today’s prices look extremely undervalued a year from now. Even if the Iranian war is resolved and the Strait of Hormuz opened up next month, fertilizer production in that region will likely still remain either offline or at a reduced capacity for a while.

For the next two months, the downside seems somewhat limited, while upside potential remains high.

Market Action – Spread Trades

Corn

As I shared previously, I am currently 80% priced on the 2025 corn crop with a short futures position in my hedge account. … Continue reading

Unfortunately, this is the third time I’ve written an article about potential freeze damage to winter wheat this year. Previously, the concern was not high; however, as the wheat crop progresses toward heading and flowering, freeze damage becomes much more concerning.

The magnitude of freeze damage depends on: 1) temperature, 2) duration of exposure, and 3) wheat growth stage. A few years ago, we conducted a freeze chamber experiment to examine the effect of low temperature on winter wheat at several growth stages. At beginning flowering (Feekes 10.5.1), we saw a 10% reduction in wheat yield when temperatures reached 28°F for a 15-minute duration. Under field conditions at the University of Kentucky, researchers found a 41% yield reduction when temperatures were ≤30°F for six hours and less than 28°F for three hours at the heading stage (Knott and Raymond, 2020). (Wheat at Feekes 8 had no yield penalty.)… Continue reading