Weekly Ag Update

By ned birkey

msu EXTENSION EDUCATOR EMERITUS

SPARTAN AG

 The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center’s outlook to March 3 is calling for a good chance for likely above normal temperature and leaning to likely above normal precipitation. The three-to-four-week outlook, from Feb. 28 to March 13, is calling for an outlook favoring warmer temperatures and more precipitation. Eric Snodgrass, of Nutrien Ag Solutions, agrees with a 15-day and beyond outlook of overall mild weather conditions. He thinks El Niño will be fading and sees potential similarities to 2023, which in the near term had a drier May 2023. This comparison is very preliminary, however.

Planting short corn in narrow rows paid off at MSU in Lansing 2025, with 15-inch rows yielding 7 percent more than 30-inch rows. At Richville 2025, row spacing yield differences were not significant but showed a trend of yield increase (3 percent) in 15-rows compared to 30-inch row spacing, indicating a modest yield benefit of narrow rows for short corn even under high-yield conditions at this location. Similar patterns were found in 2024 with both trials conducted in Lansing. A 12 percent yield increase was found when switching from 30- to 22-inch row spacing in the first trial, and a 4 percent increase from 30- to 15-inch rows in the second trial.

Additionally, there was no significant interaction between row spacing and seeding rates on short corn grain yield at any site-year. This means that the yield benefit of narrow row spacing was observed regardless of the seeding rate. Tall-stature hybrids tested in this study did not show any yield increase from narrow rows at any of the MSU location in 2024 or 2025. Short-stature corn did respond to increasing seeding rate, although yield differences among seeding rates were not significant, but the numeric trend was clear. Yield improved by 3.7 percent by increasing seeding rate from 26,000 to 34,000 seeds per acre. The highest yield (223 bushels per acre) occurred at 42,000 seeds per acre, a 7.6 percent increase over the lowest rate.

At the Center for Excellence in Lenawee County in the late 1990s, using a Case IH experimental cornhead, the problem was always the weight and jamming the snapping rolls and gathering chains to fit into 15-inch rows.

The newest version of the 2025 Ohio State eFields Research Report is now available and chock full of data that can help farmers make informed big decisions this season. The latest report highlights 102 on-farm, field scale trials conducted in 29 Ohio counties. Research topics include nutrient management, disease management in both corn and soybeans, biologicals, utilizing drones for seeding and applications, and cover crop management. Interest in organic farming systems has been steadily increasing, which is reflected though the growth of organic focused trials from 8 in 2024 to 12 studies in 2025. Some new additions to the report this year include trials on sunflowers, flint corn, and a new statewide scouting project for Tar Spot. The Tar Spot Surveillance study, which will continue in 2026, was seeking to better understand what conditions Tar Spot thrives in and how it impacts yield. With the wide variety of trials, there is something for everyone to learn from in the 2025 report.

The 2025 eFields Report is available in both print and as an e-version. To receive a printed copy, contact your local OSU Extension office or email: www.digitalag@osu.edu. The e-version can be viewed and downloaded at go.osu.edu/eFields, with the online version being readable on smartphone or tablet devices. You can also explore the data from past seasons at: kx.osu.edu/efields.

Friday the 13th combines two long-standing superstitions: Friday being an unlucky day and the number 13 being associated with misfortune. Over time, folklore, religion, and historical events blended these fears into one infamous date. This year has three months with a Friday the 13th – February, March and November.

The fear of Friday the 13th is officially called friggatriskaidekaphobia. Frigga refers to the Norse god for which Friday is named, and triskaidekaphobia means fear of the number 13. An alternate term for anxiety is paraskevidekatriaphobia. Originating from Greek, paraskevi means Friday, dekatria refers to “13,” and phobia translates as “fear.” Some of today’s skyscrapers and hotels don’t have 13th floors or a room 13. More than 60 million people worldwide have a phobia of Friday the 13th to varying degrees.

Of course, Spring never arrives on the 13th, but does come on Friday, March 20th, so safe planting everyone!