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 IN THIS ISSUE...July-August         2002

Important "Economic" Facts About Ohio Agriculture
Recently an article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper questioned the logic behind spending state tax dollars for agricultural research. In response to this article, Dr. Bobby Moser, Dean of the OSU College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences issued a response, outlining how important agriculture is to Ohio's economy (it's also pretty important to our stomachs!). Below are just some of the "economic" facts about Ohio agriculture:

-Total output from the food and agricultural sector was $73.3 billion in Ohio.

-The Ohio economy generated a gross domestic product (GDP) of $304.4 billion, and the food and agricultural share of this GDP was $33.6 billion.

-Food and agriculture contribute $11.05 of each $100 in GDP for Ohio.

-The entire food and agriculture complex accounted for over one million jobs in Ohio, or about 1 of every 6 jobs.

-The food and agricultural sectors of Ohio's economy contributed approximately 13 percent of the output,

-The food and agricultural sectors of Ohio's economy contributed 11 percent of the value added,

-The food and agricultural sectors of Ohio's economy contributed approximately 16 percent of the total employment,

-For 1996 the food and agricultural sectors of Ohio's economy contributed approximately 11 percent of total income,

You are the most important part of one of Ohio's largest and most important industries–AGRICULTURE!

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Jefferson County Cooperative Mineral Purchase Program
A flyer is attached for the Cooperative Beef Cow Mineral Purchase being sponsored by the Jefferson County Cattlemen's Association. If you didn't save money by purchasing your mineral mix through the Carroll County Cooperative Mineral Purchase, be sure to save yourself some money by purchasing minerals through the Jefferson County project. Minerals can be picked up at Jefferson Landmark Branches at Cadiz, Bloomingdale, and Adena.
 

Ohio Cattlemen's Association Summer Roundup
The OCA Summer Roundup is scheduled to be held on July 12 and 13 in Gallia County. A registration form for the Roundup is enclosed with this newsletter. If anyone is traveling to the Roundup and would like to combine travel, contact the Carroll County Extension Office and we'll try to "match you up" with someone else planning to attend.

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OCTA Summer Meeting Scheduled
The 2002 Ohio Christmas Tree Association Summer Meeting will be held on July 26 and 27, 2002 at Galehouse Tree Farms in Wayne County. The program will include a trade show, educational sessions on numerous production and marketing topics, and a Barbecue/Tree Research Auction. For a registration brochure, contact the Carroll County Extension Office.

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Algae Control in Stock Tanks
Each week add 2-3 ounces of chlorine bleach for each 50 gallons of water capacity in the tank. Chlorox® or Purex® bleaches (without scent) are recommended.

Every 2-4 weeks as needed, add Copper Sulfate crystals as follows depending on tank volume to achieve 1 ppm treatment level.

Amounts of Crystals      Volume of Tank
0.5 teaspoon  350 gallons
1.0 teaspoon  675 gallons
1.5 teaspoons  1000 gallons
2.0 teaspoons  1350 gallons
2.5 teaspoons  1700 gallons
3.0 teaspoons  2000 gallons
4.0 teaspoons  2500 gallons
5.0 teaspoons  3000 gallons
6.0 teaspoons  3500 - 4000 gallons

To be most effective: Copper Sulfate needs to be dissolved in warm water and poured around in the tank.

Neither method requires that livestock are kept away from the tank, but best results are obtained if the active ingredient concentration is held for at least five minutes, so restricting livestock access for 5-10 minutes could be helpful.

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"Rootless Corn Syndrome" in late Planted Fields
As the weather conditions turn hot and dry, it's likely that some corn fields, especially later planted fields, will experience "rootless corn syndrome". Rootless corn syndrome (or "rootless corn") occurs when there is limited or no nodal root development. Plants exhibiting rootless corn symptoms are often leaning or appear ready to lodge. Affected corn plants may only be anchored in the soil by seminal roots or by an single nodal root. This condition is generally observed in plants from about the three leaf stage to the eight leaf stage of development. Before the problem is evident, corn plants may appear vigorous and healthy, but after a storm with strong winds, plants will fall over because there is a limited number or no nodal roots supporting them. Leaning and lodged plants (sometimes referred to as "floppy corn") may also be wilted. When affected plants are examined, they are found to lack all or most nodal roots. The nodal roots present appear stubby, blunt, and unanchored to the soil.

Rootless corn problems are usually caused by weather related conditions that coincide with development of the permanent (or nodal) root system and environmental factors. These include shallow plantings, hot, dry surface soils, compacted soils, and loose or cloddy soil conditions. Excessive rainfall and shallow plantings may cause erosion and soil removal around the crown region that can result in rootless corn. Nodal root development is inhibited by hot dry compacted soils. The force of strong winds can break off secondary roots and inhibit establishment of a permanent root system.

The nodal roots develop above the seed and comprise the permanent root system of corn. The nodal roots, not the seminal roots (associated with the seed), are important in providing the water and the mineral nutrients that the corn plant needs for normal growth and development. If corn seed is planted 11/2 to 2 inches deep, then the nodal (or crown) roots begin development at about 3/4 inches below the soil surface. However, if seeds are planted shallower (1 inch or less), then the nodal roots may form near or at the surface where they are more exposed to fluctuations in soil moisture and temperature. Nodal root growth is very sensitive to high temperatures (w/ root growth slowing or stopping at soil temperatures exceeding 86 degrees F). When unshaded surface soil temperatures reach the mid 90's or higher on hot days, the nodal root growth of shallow planted corn may stop. Plants are forced to rely on the seed root system or limited nodal root growth until more favorable temperatures and moisture conditions allow nodal root growth to resume.

Although certain types of herbicides injury (e.g. 2,4-D, Banvel) insect feeding (e.g. corn rootworm) may cause lodging to occur in corn plants during vegetative development, there is generally little evidence of their involvement in these rootless corn problems. Nevertheless, there may be situations where insect feeding and/or herbicides may be a contributing factor to the problem.

Poor root development may also occur in no-till fields that were planted when soils were too wet. In addition to likely compaction-induced root problems, abnormal root development may also occur because the furrow walls may have been smeared during the planting operation, preventing good seed-soil contact. If conditions turn dry, the walls of the furrow become hard and act as a barrier to root development. Roots growing in such an environment often appear flattened and under extreme conditions may result in plants' breaking and falling over during wind storms.

Can rootless corn recover? Yes, after plants lodge, adequate rainfall will promote crown root development and plants can recover. Cultivation to throw soil around exposed roots may aid the corn's recovery. Of course, this is difficult to do in a no-till situation or when the soil is hard and dry. Since affected corn is likely to be vulnerable to potential lodging problems at maturity, it should be harvested as soon as grain moisture conditions permit.

-Peter Thomison
 Corn #19

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Insect Update
Potato leafhopper - Potato leafhoppers (PLH) numbers have exploded during the past week. Fields that did not get sprayed are showing considerable yellowing and hopper burn at this time. A rescue treatment is warranted on alfalfa for PLH when the number of adults and nymphs exceeds the height of the alfalfa in inches. For example, if more than 6 leafhoppers were collected per 10 sweep sample on 6 inch alfalfa, a rescue treatment should be considered. If fields are too severely damaged by PLH, then early cutting may be necessary. If early cutting is used for control, be sure to check the next cutting for PLH after a week or so of regrowth has occurred.

Chemicals labeled for PLH on alfalfa, rate per acre and pre-harvest waiting time in days are: 

Chemical	Rate/Acre	Pre-harvest limit/in days
Ambush*	3.2 to 6.4 fl oz/A	14
Baythroid 2*	0.8 to 1.6 fl oz/A	7
Dimethoate 4E	½ to 1 pint/A	10
Dimethoate 4EC	½ to 1 pint/A	10
Furadan 4F*	1 to 2 pints/A	14 at 1 pint 28 > 1 pint
Guthion Solupak 50 WP*	½ to 1 lb/A	14 at ½ lb; 16 at 1 lb
Imidan 70-W	1 to 1-1/3 lb/A	7
Lorsban 4E*	1 to 2 pints/A	14 at 1 pint 21 days > 1 pint
Malathion 57 EC	1 - ½ to 2 - 1/4 pint/A	0
Mustang*	2.4 to 4.3 fl oz/A	3
Pounce 3.2EC*	4 to 8 fl oz/A	14
Warrior 1CS*	2.56 to 3.84 fl oz/A	7

*Use is restricted to certified applicators.
 

Sincerely,
 

Mike Hogan Extension Agent Agriculture & Natural Resources  Community Development

Ken Simeral Extension Agent Agriculture & Natural Resources Community Development

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Trade names are supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Ohio State University is implied.

All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.

OSU Extension will provide accommodations to handicapped persons needing assistance to participate in Extension programs. If you require some type of assistance/accommodations to attend programs, utilize written materials or visit the Carroll, Harrison, or Jefferson County Extension Offices, please contact that office or TTD#1-800-589-8292.

Visit Ohio State University Extension’s WWW site “Ohioline” at: hhtp:/www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~ohioline/
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Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith, Director, Ohio State University Extension.
TDD # 1 (800) 589-8292 (Ohio only) or (614) 292-1868