WEEKLY AG UPDATE By ned birkey msu EXTENSION EDUCATOR EMERITUS SPARTAN AG The agricultural weather outlook from the National Weather Service Climate Predication Center (CPC) to Nov. 10 for our area of the Midwest is calling for a forecast leaning above normal temperatures and calling for a stretch of near normal outlook for precipitation. Eric Snodgrass, of Nutrient Ag Solutions, confirms a strongly based El Niño, still gaining strength, and peaking maybe in December. The official CPC 30-day forecast for November, updated Oct. 15, is showing above normal temperatures and normal to below normal outlook for precipitation. The CPC three-month outlook for metrological winter of December through February 2027 is calling for likely above normal temperatures and equal chances for precipitation. Despite all the hubbub about a dry October, the MSU Enviroweather station at Deerfield, Mich., shows October 2026 with 1.68 inches of rain, compared to 1.13 inches last year and a five-year average of 2.14 inches. Warm soils are not suitable for holding fall applied nitrogen, such as anhydrous ammonia (NH3), safely in the soil. Soil temperatures on Oct. 28 at the MSU Enviroweather station at Deerfield show soil temperature at the 4- inch level at 59.2ºF. Farmers are encouraged to wait for 50ºF and falling 4-inch temperatures, with a cooling forecast, before applying NH3. A nitrification inhibitor slows the conversion of ammonium N to nitrate N but doesn’t ensure that all the N will be there come Spring, especially with a strong El Niño. If necessary, partly for pricing purposes, consider applying part of the N in the fall and the est in the spring or sidedress. Tri-State Fertility Calculator has been updated with Microsoft Excel spreadsheet according to Greg LaBarage, of Ohio State. This tool allows users to generate nutrient recommendations or compare recommendations from other sources, such as the fertilizer dealer, based upon the Tri-State Fertilizer Recommendations for Corn, Soybeans, wheat and Alfalfa. The calculator can be downloaded at: https://go.osu.edu/ohiofertiltytool. Fall Garden Winter Prep should include: collecting old annual and vegetable plants as long as they are free of disease for composting; knowing which perennials to cut back or leave standing until spring; cleaning hanging baskets, pots or other contains this fall for re-use; cleaning and sharpening garden tools; trying to utilize fallen leaves, which provide valuable natural mulch resources for the yard or garden; and keeping a garden journal for next year. |
