Small-grain experts to speak at local field day

In two to three weeks, farmers in the area will be harvesting this year's wheat crop. At this time, the local crop looks very good. Wheat yields have the potential to be above average if temperatures stay below 90 degrees and excessive precipitation does not occur at harvest time. Wheat is the third-largest grain crop grown in Ohio. However, wheat acres have been decreasing in Ohio and adjacent states, as corn and soybeans have become more profitable for farmers. Ohio still produces more soft red winter wheat than any other state. Wheat acres have also been in decline in our area. In Hancock County alone, farmers traditionally grew about 40,000 acres of wheat. Today, about 20,000 acres are grown. Many factors have caused this decline in recent years: better prices for corn and soybean grain, high land rents, delayed soybean harvests, poor planting conditions, poor harvest conditions and Fusarium head scab infestations. Even with these issues, northwest Ohio still produces most of the wheat for the state. There is a concern that the wheat acres will continue to decline and cropping systems will become less diverse. Monoculture systems — or systems only growing a few different crops — are more susceptible to pest problems, more vulnerable to market fluctuations, and tend to be more destructive on soil health. Wheat has many benefits in the rotation. Corn and soybean yields tend to be larger with wheat in the rotation. Wheat is the only crop that protects the soil through the winter since it is planted in the fall. As a result, soil health is improved, organic matter protected, and erosion reduced with wheat in the rotation. Farmers have a chance to make field improvements, since wheat is harvested mid-summer. For livestock producers, wheat provides a site for manure application in late summer, fall and early spring, minimizing the risk of nutrients leaving the field. Wheat also allows a potential income source for farmers during the middle of the cropping season. Besides the grain, wheat can be economically valuable for the straw market. Ohio State University researchers have been working with producers to find ways to make wheat more profitable by reducing input costs and developing management practices to increase yields and improve grain quality. Producers may learn about some of these practices by attending a field day at the OARDC Northwest Agricultural Research Station near Hoytville. The Wheat Field Day will be held from 9 a.m. to noon June 22, followed by lunch. Topics and speakers for the morning program include: • High Input Wheat: Dr. Ed Lentz and Todd Petersen will discuss research on maximizing inputs for high-yielding wheat including nitrogen stabilizers, growth regulators and sulfur. Lentz is an Extension crop specialist and educator in Hancock County whose research has focused on nutrient management in wheat production. • Malting Barley Research: Greg McGlinch and Eric Richer will discuss the adaptability of malting barley to this area. • Small-Grain Resiliency Project: Dr. Laura Lindsey and Dr. Mark Loux will discuss the adaptability and herbicide concerns of different types of small grains, including spelt, triticale and spring/winter types of barley, oats, rye and wheat. • Double Crops after Wheat: Jason Hartschuh and Nick Eckel will discuss raising other crops following wheat harvest including soybean and cover crops. Main topics will be on management practices and herbicide concerns. Hartschuh and Eckel are Extension educators for Crawford and Wood counties, respectively. Both have done extensive on-farm research studies in this area, especially cover crops. I would highly encourage farmers and any other individuals interested in wheat production to attend this educational event. It will be two to three years before the Wheat Field Day will be offered in our area again, and seldom are we able to have this group of researchers together at one time. The Northwest Agricultural Research Station is conveniently located near the county lines of Hancock, Putnam, Henry and Wood, 2.5 miles northeast of Hoytville on the northeast corner of Oil Center and Range Line Road intersection. Range Line Road is closed just north of Ohio 18. RSVP by Friday for a free Tony Packo's lunch at https://go.osu.edu/smallgrains21, compliments of the Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers. For more information, contact the Hancock County Extension office (419-422-3851, lentz.38@osu.edu) or the OARDC Northwest Agricultural Research Station (419-257-2060, davis.1095@osu.edu). Lentz is Extension educator for agriculture and natural resources for the Ohio State University Extension Service in Hancock County. Contact him at 419-422-3851 or lentz.38@osu.edu for additional information.