So, what do May showers bring?
By
John Grimes-
Most of you have heard the phrase “April showers bring May flowers.” While it’s hard to argue the truth behind that statement, many farmers and gardeners are now asking, “What do May showers bring?” A few obvious answers would be delayed soybean and garden plantings, late hay harvest, and rapidly growing lawns. While the extra rain may be frustrating right now, we will be glad to have the moisture later in the growing season.
Higher seeding rates
A common question of late from growers and consultants is whether or not nitrogen rates should to be adjusted higher for corn when seeding at higher rates. Though it seems that additional nitrogen would be necessary to feed more plants per acre to an equivalent level of fewer plants, yield data from a number of experiments does not clearly indicate that this is the case.
Ohio State University has conducted field research the last four years at the Northwest Research Station near Custar, on the impact of seeding rate on nitrogen rate response.
Two different cropping rotations were evaluated – corn after soybeans and corn after corn. The two seeding rates used were 30,000 and 40,000 seeds/acre. In five out of eight site-years, seeding rate had no impact on fertilizer N response (the optimum N rate was similar regardless of seeding rate).
When there were differences in optimum N rates, it was not because the higher seeding rate required more N. Only one out of the eight site-years (2006 for corn after corn) revealed that the higher seeding rate required more N.
In only two out of eight site-years was there a yield increase associated with the higher seeding rate (that being 2007 for both rotations).
From a study conducted at Purdue (2005, 2006, and 2007 seasons), three seeding rates and three nitrogen rates were studied: 21,900, 32,000, 42,000 seeds/acre, and 0, 147, 295 lb/acre N. In two of the three years, the 42,000 seeding rate yielded significantly better with 295 lbs N/ac than 42,000 seeds at 147 lb N/ac.
However, grain yields were consistently higher or similar at 32,000 seeds/acre at either nitrogen rate compared to yields from the 42,000 seeds/acre rate. Higher seeding rates were more responsive to N, but there was no yield advantage when compared to the lower seeding rate at lower N rates.
The take-home message is that higher seeding rates do not necessarily require higher nitrogen rates. Based upon the current scientific evidence, higher seeding rates also do not necessarily translate into higher yields.
Ohio Livestock Care
Standards Board
During its first, organizational meeting held on April 27, the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board set the dates and locations for their regional public listening sessions in May.
The purpose of the listening sessions is to allow Ohioans the opportunity to provide input to the board and to educate the board members and public on the various factors the board needs to consider as it begins to establish standards of livestock care.
At each of these sessions the public is encouraged to offer comments to members of the board regarding what important factors the board should consider as it creates standards of livestock care that will maintain food safety, encourage locally grown and raised food and protect Ohio farms and families.
Written comments may also be submitted. The board will use the unbiased facilitation services of the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management.
A listening session was held in Ross County on May 26.
The Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board is charged with establishing statewide standards governing the care and well-being of livestock while promoting food safety, preventing animal and human diseases and encouraging local food production.
John Grimes is the Ohio State University Extension educator for agriculture and natural resources in Highland County. OSU Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all research and related educational programs are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or veteran status. This statement is in accordance with U.S. Civil Rights Laws and the USDA.[[In-content Ad]]
Higher seeding rates
A common question of late from growers and consultants is whether or not nitrogen rates should to be adjusted higher for corn when seeding at higher rates. Though it seems that additional nitrogen would be necessary to feed more plants per acre to an equivalent level of fewer plants, yield data from a number of experiments does not clearly indicate that this is the case.
Ohio State University has conducted field research the last four years at the Northwest Research Station near Custar, on the impact of seeding rate on nitrogen rate response.
Two different cropping rotations were evaluated – corn after soybeans and corn after corn. The two seeding rates used were 30,000 and 40,000 seeds/acre. In five out of eight site-years, seeding rate had no impact on fertilizer N response (the optimum N rate was similar regardless of seeding rate).
When there were differences in optimum N rates, it was not because the higher seeding rate required more N. Only one out of the eight site-years (2006 for corn after corn) revealed that the higher seeding rate required more N.
In only two out of eight site-years was there a yield increase associated with the higher seeding rate (that being 2007 for both rotations).
From a study conducted at Purdue (2005, 2006, and 2007 seasons), three seeding rates and three nitrogen rates were studied: 21,900, 32,000, 42,000 seeds/acre, and 0, 147, 295 lb/acre N. In two of the three years, the 42,000 seeding rate yielded significantly better with 295 lbs N/ac than 42,000 seeds at 147 lb N/ac.
However, grain yields were consistently higher or similar at 32,000 seeds/acre at either nitrogen rate compared to yields from the 42,000 seeds/acre rate. Higher seeding rates were more responsive to N, but there was no yield advantage when compared to the lower seeding rate at lower N rates.
The take-home message is that higher seeding rates do not necessarily require higher nitrogen rates. Based upon the current scientific evidence, higher seeding rates also do not necessarily translate into higher yields.
Ohio Livestock Care
Standards Board
During its first, organizational meeting held on April 27, the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board set the dates and locations for their regional public listening sessions in May.
The purpose of the listening sessions is to allow Ohioans the opportunity to provide input to the board and to educate the board members and public on the various factors the board needs to consider as it begins to establish standards of livestock care.
At each of these sessions the public is encouraged to offer comments to members of the board regarding what important factors the board should consider as it creates standards of livestock care that will maintain food safety, encourage locally grown and raised food and protect Ohio farms and families.
Written comments may also be submitted. The board will use the unbiased facilitation services of the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management.
A listening session was held in Ross County on May 26.
The Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board is charged with establishing statewide standards governing the care and well-being of livestock while promoting food safety, preventing animal and human diseases and encouraging local food production.
John Grimes is the Ohio State University Extension educator for agriculture and natural resources in Highland County. OSU Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all research and related educational programs are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or veteran status. This statement is in accordance with U.S. Civil Rights Laws and the USDA.[[In-content Ad]]