Ohio Farm News
By Roger Bender

Reducing crop production tillage has long been a goal of many soil conservation types. A saying frequently quoted by farmers who do not till states: “If you don’t want dirt to move, don’t move dirt.”

Logically, that makes sense since less tillage reduces soil exposure to the erosive effects of rain and wind. The downsides to less tillage are obvious to those farmers convinced that use of tillage equipment still produces the best crops.

Realistically, crops will continue to be grown with and without tillage, but for anyone wanting to learn more about less tillage, the Sept. 8 Ohio No-Till Field Day promises a few new ideas. The Preble County, southwestern Ohio, event will be easily found by Ohio, Indiana or Kentucky farmers.

The Keith Kemp farm, 959 Georgetown-Verona Road, West Manchester, is located four miles north of Interstate 70 off Exit 10 and one mile east of U.S. Highway 127. Kemp, a member of both the Ohio No-Till and Ohio Soybean councils, invites everyone to his farm for a comprehensive program.

A goal of the field day is to help farmers eliminate problems and accelerate benefits associated with converting land from conventional tillage to no-till. Fruit, doughnuts and coffee are available during registration, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

At 9:30 a.m. sharp, Dr. Bob Nielsen, Purdue University’s extension corn specialist, tackles what many farmers claim is their biggest challenge, “Success with No-Till Corn.”

Nielsen lays out the parameters for profitable corn production without tillage. Be sure to be on time to catch all of the KingCorn.com author’s insight.

Stephen Myers is director of the Ohio BioProducts Innovation Center, with Ohio State University and the Ohio Agriculture Research and Development Center. He plans to detail emerging trends with corn- and soybean-based bioproducts.

At 10:30 a.m., the agenda advances to the morning field program. Long-term no-tiller David Brandt details the aboveground benefits of cover crops, followed by OSU extension’s Jim Hoorman and Rafig Islam digging into cover crop belowground attributes.

OSU extension entomologist Ron Hammond leads the group next on an aphid hunt in nearby soybeans. An in-depth look at soil pits will be led by George Derringer, NRCS soil scientist, and Matt Deaton of the Preble SWCD.

A pork chop lunch by none other than Porkchop Charley precedes visits to no-till machinery and other exhibitors.

The 2-4 p.m. afternoon field program delves into “Manure and Drainage” with OSU extension’s Bruce Clevenger and no-till farmer Bob Featheringill. Purdue’s extension grain quality specialist Matt Roberts hits on proper operation of grain handling systems. Baseball bat-wielding Fred Whitford, Purdue’s pesticide coordinator, will address plastic poly and fiberglass tank safety.

The program ends with the first speaker, Bob Nielsen, analyzing corn roots in his comfort zone – the soil pit.

Lots to learn and see at the program sponsored by OSU extension and OARDC, NRCS-USDA, Preble and Darke counties’ SWCD, Ohio’s Country Journal, Monsanto, Oregon Ryegrass Commission, Kal Marketing, Farmer’s Commission, AGCO, Pioneer and the Ohio Corn Growers Assoc.

A check for $30, payable to the Ohio No-Till Council, sent by Aug. 30 will save you $5. Mail that check to: Mark Wilson, Ag Stewards, 1122 Somerlet Hoffman Rd. East, Marion, OH 43302.

Do you have an idea for an “Ohio Farm News” column in Farm World? Please share it with me at the Ohio No-Till Field Day.

The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with comments for Roger Bender may write to him in care of this publication.