WEEKLY AG UPDATE By ned birkey msu EXTENSION EDUCATOR EMERITUS SPARTAN AG The official 30-day forecast for January from the Climate Predication Center, issued December 31, 2025, for our area of the upper Midwest calls for below normal temperatures and equal chances for precipitation. The three-to-four week outlook for Jan. 17-30, updated Jan., calls below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation. The three-month outlook for February, March and April is calling for equal chances of above and below normal temperatures and above normal outlook for precipitation. 6th annual Virtual OSU Corn College & Soybean School will be Feb. 23 presented by the Ohio State University Extension Agronomic Crops Team. The program will run from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and feature OSU Extension field and state specialists with updates and topics relevant for the 2026 growing season. Certified Crop Adviser CEUs will be available upon viewing the live presentations. Talks will also be recorded for later viewing on the Ohio State Agronomy YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@OSUAgronomicCrops. Farmers and others interested should register by Feb. 20 at noon. To register, visit go.osu.edu/corncollegesoyschool. There is a $10 registration fee for this event, which goes directly to support the activities and efforts of the OSU Agronomic Crops Team. Topics include tar spot and vomitoxin, nutrient management strategies, weather outlook, weed management update, soybean management update and grazing and stored forages update. Soybean planting “sweet spot” is a consideration of weather, seed and soil factors before those seeds hit the ground. Former world yield record holder Kip Cullers wanted seeds germinating within 18 hours of each other. Seed spacing is not nearly as critical as corn seed spacing, but planting depth is important. Dr. Manni Singh, of MSU, recently reported that soybeans planted between April 10 and May 10 had no change of relative yield. Why? Planting date is only one of many factors influencing soybean yield. One year, one of the Michigan soybean yield winners had planted in late May due to wet soil conditions, but other factors compensated. And earlier planting often means less-than-optimal conditions. Plan for the first few hours. Trials show that the first 24 hours after planting are pivotal in setting soybeans up for success. Initial warm temperatures and available water are key to ensuring the plants have a good start. Find the right planting depth. A difference of just half an inch can determine if your seed will be placed close enough to water. If you don’t want to go too deep, plan your planting date around rain events to ensure water will get to the seed. Growing vegetables in containers comes with many advantages: containers are portable and easy to move; containers make it easier to garden around poor or contaminated soil. Soil can be refreshed, replaced, or reused as needed and plants can be moved indoors when frost threatens. Gardening is possible on patios, balconies, rooftops, urban settings and paved areas. The main drawback is that containers dry out more quickly than garden beds, so regular watering is essential, especially in warm weather. One of the great strengths of container gardening is the reusability of pots. A container that held tomatoes in summer can be replanted with spinach and lettuce in the fall. As confidence grows, many gardeners begin to experiment beyond traditional pots. Crates, tubs, sacks, and other household items can all be repurposed as planters – if they have good drainage holes. This flexibility allows for creative, low-cost gardening and constantly evolving layouts. |
