Weekly Ag Update By ned birkey msu EXTENSION EDUCATOR EMERITUS SPARTAN AG The National Weather Service outlook through Dec. 23 called for “near normal” outlook for both temperature and precipitation. As long as we’re going into winter, we might as well review some winter weather words. Blizzard includes winter storm conditions of sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more that cause major blowing or drifting of snow, reducing visibility to less than ¼ mile for three or more hours. El Niño is the cyclical warming of the ocean temperatures in equatorial waters in the eastern Pacific Octean that can result in significant changes in global weather patterns. Flurries means light snow falling for short durations with no accumulation or just a light dusting. La Niña is a cooling of the equatorial waters in the Pacific Ocean that can result in significant changes in climate in the tropical Pacific Ocean and elsewhere around Earth. Eric Hunt, the University of Nebraska Extension Meteorologist, thinks spring 2026 could be warmer and drier for our part of the upper Midwest, including lower Michigan, and upper Ohio and Indiana. Land atlas or plat books make a great Christmas present for the farmer or landowner who has “everything else.” The Monroe County plat book was updated a couple of years ago and makes a great “gawker gift” for anyone wanting to look at the pages of land ownership for farming, hunting or other land uses. The cost is $40 and they are available in Monroe at the Monroe Conservation District office, Greenstone Farm Credit Services or the MSU Extension office; or in Ida at the farm bureau office; or at the Ottawa Lake Co-op Elevator in Ottawa Lake, Mich. T They can also be mailed by sending a $49 check, including $9 postage, to Ned Birkey, PO Box 57, Ida, MI 48140-0057. Farmer’s Tax Guide, IRS Publication 225 is now available in either print or e-edition. Printed copies are available at most Monroe County and several eastern Lenawee County agri-businesses. This publication explains how the federal tax laws apply to farming as reflected by the IRS’s interpretation of tax laws enacted by Congress, Treasury regulations and court decisions. There are several changes, including; section 179 expense deduction dollar limits, special depreciation allowances, disaster relief benefits, Social security and Medicare taxes for 2026, no federal income tax on qualified overtime compensation, tax on farmland sale or exchange, and other changes and reminders. The law does not require any specific kind of records, paper and pencil or electronic except for a few cases. Backup copies may be important in case of fire, theft or cyber threats. 2025 and 2026 This time of the year can be farmer “information overload” as all the 2025 plot data and research reports are released and new 2026 information becomes available. Examples include the 2026 MSU Weed Control Guide for Vegetable Crops, the 2026 Midwest Vegetable Production Guide and the 2026 Michigan Fruit Management Guide available at the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo. On Dec. 19, the new 2026 MSU Field Crop Weed Control Guide will be released at another meeting. Jan. 16, 2026, will be the 2025 OSU eFields report at Corn-Soybean Day at Sauder Village, Archbold, Ohio. The same scenario is playing out at numerous university and commercial company meetings. This is a great time to learn something for next year. Houseplants may be a simple, relatively inexpensive way to reduce your stress or anxiety and improve your life. Having some greenery may have beneficial effects on the brain and mental health. Simply spending time in green spaces, indoors or outdoors, can relieve stress. One study noted that small plants with green foliage and a light fragrance made people feel happier. Something to think about, especially going into the winter months. |
