The Delaware Gazette » Rob Leeds

Planting time: Weather, pests, treatments

Rob Leeds — Sat, 11 May 2013 03:10:53 +0000

The weather finally cooperated this past week, and farmers were able to get a good start on planting, even though it was later than the past few year. A lot of corn was planted this week, and the rain on Thursday night will definitely help the fields that are finished. According to the National Weather Service, after the cold front passes through this Saturday, we will get a quick shot of cold air Sunday into Monday. There is a chance of frost on Monday and some of the low lying areas could even see temperatures around 32F for a late season minor freeze. Temperatures this coming week will rebound though - normal highs are 65-73F from north to south and lows near 45. Much of the week will be dry allowing for more planting to resume.

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Master Gardeners Association seeks new recruits

Rob Leeds — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 21:49:28 +0000

We are taking applications for our 2013 Master Gardener School, which will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays between Feb. 5 and March 26 at the Extension Office, 149 N. Sandusky St., Delaware.

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Late bean leaf beetle, profitable wheat production guide

Rob Leeds — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 01:18:48 +0000

After all the dry summer we’ve experienced, the National Weather Service is predicting that our rainfall is going to be above normal for the first few weeks of September.

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Junior Fair 4-H, Farm Science Review, stink bug update

Rob Leeds — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 00:17:07 +0000

Junior Fair 4-H entries were due in our office yesterday for the Delaware County Fair which starts Sept. 15 and runs through Sept. 22. This is always a great time as we get to see all of the hard work that our county’s 4-H’ers have put in to their various projects over the past few months. So be sure to come to the fair and support our kids this year; go to some of the many Junior Fair livestock shows, go through the barns and the Junior Fair Building to see all the exhibits and much more.

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Crops making a comeback

Rob Leeds — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 22:35:08 +0000

It looks like we will be getting a break from this heat next week. Hopefully some of the scattered rain will come our way. The National Weather Service has been calling for a warmer and drier than average August, but I hope they are wrong and we get some much needed rain.

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Weather update: Soybean water stress, poisonous trees

Sat, 14 Jul 2012 00:04:15 +0000

Hopefully by the time you read this, we will have received some much needed rainfall. The National Weather Service is saying that most places will get some rain within this next few weeks. They are saying that it will not end the drought at this time and the worst hit areas of northwest Ohio may get the least rainfall where it is needed most.

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Stress and corn pollination

Rob Leeds — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 23:16:48 +0000

OK, I think we have all had enough of the 100-degree temperatures. I know this heat and humidity has been tough on the livestock. Be sure to keep a close watch on all livestock while this heat stays around. Make sure they access to have shade, good ventilation and a sufficient quantity of water.

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Western Bean Cutworm moths in area

Rob Leeds — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 22:35:58 +0000

Workshop: OSU Extension is offering a workshop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, July 20, titled “The Woods In Your Backyard.”

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Weather playing usual role in planting

Rob Leeds — Fri, 25 May 2012 21:32:44 +0000

We have seen such a switch from last spring where we were waiting for the rain to subside so we could get the crops in the ground. Now, one year later, we are waiting for the rain to come! This week-end looks to be a scorcher and the National Weather Service is calling for temperatures to average 3 to 5 degrees above normal the next two weeks taking us into early June. Normal temperatures are highs in the mid to upper 70s and lows in the 50s. They are calling for lots of 80s for highs with a few days of 90s and 70s over the next two weeks.

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Warmer temperatures have impact on field crop insects

Rob Leeds — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 10:00:12 +0000

We had a great meeting last Wednesday evening on the oil and gas leasing briefing. There were more than 130 people in attendance to hear Chris Penrose and Dale Arnold speak. We plan to have some follow-up meetings, so watch the newspaper and website for dates and times.

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Important upcoming meetings to attend

Rob Leeds — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 23:41:28 +0000

We are almost into March and it seems that winter has passed us by. Ground moisture is high, and thankfully, we have really missed out on the ice and snow so far this year. I hope we will slide right into spring without it.

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Agricultural meetings to attend

Rob Leeds — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:00:32 +0000

This weather is really getting old. I hope when you are reading this the sun will be shining and things will be starting to dry out. It seems that the “wet and soggy” theme has continued well into our winter months. To help get through these long grey winter days, here are a few meetings you may want to take in:

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Seed fungicide treatment for wheat

Rob Leeds — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 01:39:49 +0000

The office has been busy taking in 4-H entry forms for the Delaware County Fair. Our Fair will open on September 17th, which is just three weeks away. We have been gearing up for a few weeks now. The weather is feeling more “fall like” and it reminds us that fall is clearly around the corner. Forecasters are calling for near normal temperatures and below normal rainfall for these next two weeks.

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Farm Science Review places emphasis on ideas, innovation

Rob Leeds — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 23:00:09 +0000

You know that the Delaware County Fair is just around the corner when we start talking about the Farm Science Review. Seems that this summer has flown by as we are fast approaching the first day of school for our kids and football two-a-days have been going on. We have survived the heaviest rains in our state in more than a century, and the crops overall are looking pretty good around the county.

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Estimating corn yields

Rob Leeds — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 00:00:35 +0000

I was on our weekly agronomy conference call Monday morning and Jim Noel, NOAA meteorologist, told us that weather forecasters are calling for a shift in the weather from wetter than average like we had this spring and early summer, to drier than average. That afternoon we got 1.5 inches of rain in Ostrander. It was a little funny at the time, but as I drive around the county and the state there is no doubt that a drier weather pattern did kick in around late June. Noel says that forecasters are predicting that this type of weather pattern will likely continue into August as well. Forecasters are not predicting a drought but are saying that the rainfall will average at or below normal.

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July has really arrived: Head scab covers state

Rob Leeds — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:22:12 +0000

I can’t believe that July 4 is here already! Yes, it has been a trying crop season so far, but we have made it to summer. With all the cool wet weather it seems that we didn’t have a spring. But with the heat forecasted for next week it looks like summer is here.

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Check soybean seedling stands for signs of disease

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:55:24 +0000

The scouting trips this week have left me fairly optimistic about soybean progress at this time. I know we have a lot of growing season to go but around the county most of the soybean stands look good. However, there are a few soybean stands around the county that appear to have some issues. There are several possibilities for the poor stands including diseases, insects, poor quality seed, or just poor growing conditions.

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Local producers: Watch your wheat for head scab infection

Rob Leeds — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 00:11:24 +0000

The weather was beautiful this past week for baling hay, and looks like the crops are almost all in around Delaware County. I’ve been out scouting the wheat fields this past week, and I’ve seen head scab in a few fields and I’ve seen surprising good wheat. The wet and humid spring has made it favorable for head scab. All areas around the state are reporting of head scab in fields.

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Growers: Watch for wheat disease

Rob Leeds — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 22:00:37 +0000

It is so nice to have the sun shinning for more than one day at a time! Following Ohio's worst wet spring conditions in more than 100 years farmers across Delaware County are able to get into the fields and continue planting.

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Wet weather, planting: Preventative plant coverage

Rob Leeds — Sat, 28 May 2011 23:25:35 +0000

Seems like we cannot break this weather pattern. With forecasters calling for more wet weather next week, farmers are starting to think about the preventative planting provisions in their crop insurance policies.

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Producers contemplate switching to soybeans

Rob Leeds — Sat, 21 May 2011 23:25:47 +0000

Forecasters are calling for a high pressure system to move into our area later this week-end and dry things out. I agree with all of you, it is much overdue.

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