Farm World is read by subscribers in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. When writing the Ohio Farm News column,
I try to provide Ohio readers information pertinent to them while also interesting subscribers from nearby states.

Particularly during the growing season, I read newsletters and articles written by Extension specialists from states to our west and south. What those states are experiencing one week may be what we see the following week. I trust farmers and ag business types might have similar interest in Ohio information.
The Crop Observation and Recommendation Network (CORN) Newsletter provides Ohio’s crop industry with timely and accurate information to deal with changing crop conditions. CORN is developed from discussions generated during a weekly telephone conference call, then sent via e-mail to on line subscribers and posted on the net as well.

An 8 a.m. Monday morning call includes our Ohio State University Extension agronomists and pest specialists, as well as Ag Extension educators from across Ohio. Fortunately, I am able to participate in this discussion on a regular basis.

Farmers, dealers, independent Certified Crop Advisors and others often contribute to the weekly reviews of Ohio’s corn, soybean, wheat and forage issues.

They contact a state specialist or local Extension agent with the challenges seen. After the conference, an editor summarizes problems discussed along with articles on weed, insect, disease, fertility and production topics from our state specialists; then prepares the CORN Newsletter for posting on Tuesday mornings.

Last week’s CORN addressed numerous topics including:
•Adjusting Corn Management Practices for a Late Start (and getting later if forecasts hold true)

•Adjusting No-Till Burndown Programs for Later Planting
•Nitrogen Loss in Topdressed Wheat; Am I Losing Any N? What if I Have Not Supplied N Yet?

•Rainfall and Nitrogen Loss from Topdressed Wheat Fields, Am I losing Any N? What if I Have Not Supplied N Yet?

•Sign up to Receive Wheat Head Scab Alerts on your Phone and E-mail (remember 2010)

•Plant Virology: Does my Wheat have a Cold? (We contributed to this subject matter as we continue to investigate a suspected soil virus challenge in several area wheat fields)

•Potential for Armyworm Problems This Spring

•Other Insects of Concern at This Time

•Bulletin 545 and Other Web Information Updated

•Soybean Rust Off to a Slow Start in 2011 (Good news from southern states)
Accessing the publication is easy and may be beneficial to your crop production operation. CORN is usually emailed and posted by early Tuesday morning. You can subscribe via the web at http://agcrops.osu.edu or view it directly at http://corn.osu.edu

Please check out CORN and contribute with your questions.

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