Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Extension Office News Release: LET’S HAVE A PRODUCTIVE AND SAFE HARVEST

Harvest is here already this year and from driving around the county for the annual soybean weed survey I can see things are in full swing. I felt almost like I was back in Kansas seeing soybeans, corn, and even tomatoes, coming off in early September. This year may seem like a relief from last year when nothing seemed to dry down but it brings its own challenges. What field or crop to harvest first, how to keep safe, and dare I say it what to do with some extra time once you are done! Let’s dive into these topics.

With an early harvest this year you might have the unique situation of choosing which crop and which field to harvest first. There is a great article in this past week’s CORN Newsletter (corn.osu.edu/ or contact me to join the email list) by Dr. Peter Thomison on scheduling harvest based on moisture. Dr. Thomison recommends limiting harvest losses to start harvesting around 20% moisture in corn. Doing so can avoid losses from plant lodging, insect damage and ear rots. Driving that combine too fast through the field (which we are all guilty of) can reduce yield 3 to 4 percent. What else should one consider? Tall beans or stalk rots can increase the risk of lodging. If you can’t see anything lying in the field take a quick walk and check a few areas. Push on some corn stalks, push on some bean stems, are they falling over? If your corn is standing strong and beans are lodging you might want to jump on the beans first. Do you have a field that is clean and one that is infested with weeds? Save those weed infested fields for last if at all possible. Harvesting them last can prevent spreading seeds from a bad field to a clean one. Those are just a few of the many things to consider when planning harvest.

As harvest keeps rolling we need to remember farm safety is more important this time of year than any. There was a story from southeast Colorado a few years ago of a combine fire in a wheat field. A sheriff drove into the field to aid the farmer in quickly extinguishing the flame. With the fire out they turned to see the running squad car had caught the dry wheat on fire. The car, field, and also the combine were a total loss. Even the most trained individuals can make a simple mistake that results in tragedy. OSU has a great series of farm safety modules available at http://clermont.osu.edu/topics/agriculture-and-natural-resources/farm-safety. OSHA has publicized statistics that show on farm accidents annually result in 1300 fatalities and over 120,000 injuries, all of which can be prevented. Among the most dangerous activities on the farm are those involving running equipment. Grain bin accidents are on a steady rise. It is important to take extra time to ensure safety. Take an extra second to buckle that seatbelt, take a second look to make sure young ones are safe, and take a second to think if you are taking an unnecessary risk. We can fix equipment, clean spilt grain, but we can’t replace a lost life. If you need a reason to take a break, keep an eye out for those familiar green lunch bags dropped off by the Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee for the Stay Safe Take a Break program. They are full of water, snacks and other good reasons to stop and have a safety meeting, or just talk about the latest OSU victory.

So what do you do if you finish harvest early or we get a rain delay? Well, if it’s the 21st through the 23rd, go to the Farm Science Review and learn about all the latest topics in agriculture. The 25th, of course, is OSU vs Eastern Michigan. It’s also the beginning of Prairie Days at the Darke County Parks. Bring the family down and enjoy a walk into the past! Stay safe and if you have any questions contact Justin Petrosino at 548-5215 or petrosino.3@osu.edu.
Justin Petrosino, ANR Extension Educator, OSU Extension, Darke County

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