Applying liquid manure to emerged corn with a soft-drag hose requires an understanding of corn development and an accurate identification of the corn’s vegetative stage. Using a drag-hose system to apply liquid manure to a corn field is faster and more efficient than using a manure tanker, and it poses less of a soil compaction concern.
Liquid manure applications using a soft-drag or lay-flat hose are becoming increasingly popular in the Midwest as an efficient method of applying manure to farm fields. Application with a drag hose eliminates the compaction concern of heavy manure tankers. Liquid manure can be applied with a drag hose in-season to crops such as forages, wheat, and corn. Liquid manure replaces purchased fertilizers, improves yields, and better captures manure nutrients.
In Ohio, an estimated 8% of the state’s farms sell about $90 million worth of agricultural products directly to consumers, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS, 2024a; USDA NASS, 2024b). While farms have multiple direct-to-consumer market channels, the more than 8,000 farmers markets estimated to operate across the United States are an important way for farmers to reach customers directly (USDA NASS, 2020).
The U.S. market for hemp grain and fiber, a sustainable crop (Shepherd, et al., 2020) with several applications (Kaur & Kander, 2023), is expected to increase at a rate of 17.1% from 2023 to 2030, with a value of USD 16.75 billion (Grand View Research, 2023). Since its legalization in the 2014 and 2018 U.S. Farm Bills, interest in growing and utilizing industrial hemp has been expanding. Different varieties of hemp are cultivated for CBD (cannabidiol) oil, grain, or fiber, while some varieties can produce both fiber and grain.
Soil health refers to the ability of the soil to function as a living ecosystem to support plants, animals, and humans (Karlen et al., 1997; USDA-NRCS, 2019). Soil health is quantified by considering agricultural sustainability, environmental quality, and animal health.
The Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum, is an emerging tick of both medical and veterinary concern in Ohio, as it can transmit Rickettsia parkeri (which causes spotted fever rickettsiosis in humans) and Hepatozoon americanum (which causes American canine hepatozoonosis in dogs). Gulf Coast tick infestations can also result in Gotch ear in livestock, which is characterized by swelling and drooping of the ear and can even result in necrosis. These ticks were first detected in Ohio in 1990.
The production of pawpaw fruit (Asimina triloba) continues to carry high economic potential but remains underutilized on a commercial scale. Recent research efforts have focused on industry-wide strategies to build awareness among consumers, expand the market through product diversification, and foster collaboration among peer producers to improve agricultural practices and gain processing scale (Signorini & Francino, 2024).
Airspace refers to the part of the sky a country controls above its land or territory. It is where airplanes and other aircraft take off and land. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for managing this airspace and ensuring everyone shares the sky safely and efficiently.
Soil health reflects the physical, chemical, and biological condition of soil. Unlike traditional soil fertility tests that focus on crop nutrient needs, soil health testing evaluates the soil’s ability to function as a vital living ecosystem.
It is widely known that healthy soil is the foundation of agricultural productivity and long-term profitability. Less known is the importance of living organisms within the soil. Bacteria, fungi, and other soil life drives decomposition, releases nutrients, suppresses certain diseases, and builds soil structure that improves water movement and storage.
