The Press-Dispatch
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C-12 Purdue Extension | Pike County March 2018 The Press-Dispatch Agriculture and Natural Resources Farm rental rates remain low, match current grain prices By Kenneth J. Eck County Extension Director Purdue Extension – Pike County With the close tie between commodity grain prices and land sale and rental rates, local land- owners and renters are seeing some of the lowest prices in recent years. Challenging eco- nomic concerns related to grain sales will probably keep rates low to slightly higher until over- seas trade or lower yielding crop seasons reduce a larger than desired grain surplus in the United States. In regards to average sale and rental prices for local farmland, Purdue surveys conducted in June 2017 found that on a state- wide basis, year to year compar- isons of Indiana farmland indi- cated that top quality land sale prices remained steady (an in- crease of 0.2 %) while average and poor quality farmland showed modest declines of 1.6 % and 1.4% , respectively. Average 2017 sale prices for Indiana were $ 8,529 for top farmland (200 bu. corn/acre average), $ 6,928 for average farmland (169 bu. corn/acre average), and $5,280 for poor farmland (139 bu. corn/ acre average). For the southwest Indiana region (which includes Pike County and counties west), all categories of farmland sale prices continued to drop with top (208 bu. corn/year average), average (165 bu. corn/year average), and poor (126 bu. corn/year average) categories showing declines in prices of 1.4% , 10.6 % , and 14.5% , respectively. Farmland average prices for southwest Indiana found top farmland at $ 8,984, average farmland at $ 6,271, and poor farmland at $ 3,982. Similarly for farmland rental rates, low commodity grain prices continued to drive caution in pricing across Indiana, with average rental rates decreas- ing statewide by 1.6 % for the top category, but making slight in- creases for average (0.5%) and poor (3.8 %) categories. Average rental rates for these land classes were $253/acre, $205/acre, and $163/acre, respectively. Southwest Indiana rental rates continued to fall for all catego- ries, with top, average, and poor categories showing average drops of 5.9 % , 7.6 % , and 6.0 % , respectively. Rental rates for our region averaged at $257/acre for top farmland, $194/acre for average farmland, and $140/acre for poor farmland. For the complete report on 2017 farmland sale and rental averages (including rates for pasture and hay fields), check out the free Purdue publication "Purdue Agricultural Economics Report – August 2017" at http:// bit.ly/2FfpN0B. Average estimated Indiana land value and cash rent per acre (tillable, bare land) 2016 and 2017, Purdue Land Value Survey, June 2017. Soil sampling for lawns and gardens By Kenneth J. Eck County Extension Director Purdue Extension – Pike County Proper soil fertility is a necessity for any plant, with the needs of one plant compared to the next sometimes being different. Correct soil testing in your garden, orchard, lawn, or landscaping area helps you better understand what your soils contain and, in turn, what nu- trients your plants will need as we enter the spring growing season. A basic laboratory soils test should provide you with your soil's phos- phorus, potassium, calcium, magne- sium, pH (acidity), and organic matter levels, as well as cation exchange ca- pacity (how many nutrients the soil can hold) and recommendations on fertil- izer to add to the soil to provide what your plants need. A laboratory soil test is recommend- ed rather than a simple "quick test" available at big box stores and other locations due to the much higher level of accuracy it can provide, as well as for the specific recommendations re- turned with the actual soil test results. Laboratory soil test kits are available through any Purdue Extension office or through most agrichemical dealers, and are recommended every three to five years under normal soil conditions. To begin your sample, obtain a soil probe, auger, shovel, or spade to sample your chosen location. Each soil location should be sampled separately, which means do separate samples for the garden area, for the front yard, for the back yard, for the home landscaping areas, etc. due to the fact that the use of that location as well as the type of plants growing there will have affect- ed the nutrient levels in different ways. Using your spade or soil probe, poke the instrument into the ground for 15 or more sub-samples to be mixed togeth- er to make your representative sample. Depth of the samples should usually be to the tillage depth (for tilled areas like gardens) or the rooting depth (for non- tilled areas like lawns). Recommended depths include: gardens – 6 -8 inches; lawns – 3 inches; landscaping, orna- mental plant, or flower beds – 6 inches; and established trees – 8 inches deep with samples taken out to the drip line. Collected sub-samples should have clods broken up and be thoroughly mixed in a plastic bucket (metal buckets may give off zinc and iron, which can affect test results), and the soil should be spread on a newspaper to dry natu- rally for one day. The amount of soil to be sent to the lab will be around one cup, and small soil bags included in soil test kits usually have a "fill line" for the samples being submitted. Fill out requested paperwork (which will be used to provide the recommen- dations for your specific plants), and submit the paperwork, fees, and soil sample either through the mail or through your local fertilizer dealer. Results will usually be mailed to your home in seven to 10 days, with longer delays in early spring when other homeowners are also submitting their samples. SHEEP AND GOATS • Scrapie program flock tags or tattoo. • Tattoo, if accompanied by reg- istration papers with tattoo noted; OR a 5 digit county tag if only going to be shown at the 2018 Pike County 4-H Fair. • Retinal scanning will be re- quired if the animal may be shown at the Indiana State Fair. • No more than three market and five breeding sheep may be shown per exhibitor. • No more than a total of six goats may be shown per exhibitor. • All sheep and goats must be castrated by May 15. SWINE • 840 tags, 15 digits, beginning with 840 are required; OR ear notch that has been recorded in the book of record of a purebred registry; OR tattoo, if registered with a swine reg- istry association. • DNA hair samples will be re- quired by May 15 for any swine that may be shown at the Indiana State Fair. • No more than 15 barrows and 10 gilts may be identified per exhib- itor. • All swine must be castrated by May 15. HORSE AND PONY • Digital photographs showing distinctive markings, cowlicks, scars, blemishes, biometric mea- sures, brands, tattoos, etc. must be uploaded, along with all identifica- tion information, into 4HOnline no later than May 15. If you do not own the horse, lease forms must also be uploaded into 4HOnline by the May 15 identification deadline. • All horses and ponies to be ex- hibited at the 2018 Pike County 4-H Fair should be vaccinated with the 5 -way equine, the West Nile, and the rabies vaccines. The Extension office will need proof of the vaccines, signed by a vet, by May 15. • No more than two horses or ponies may be shown per exhibitor. RABBITS • All rabbits will need to be iden- tified with a tattoo by May 15. • No more than thirteen total rabbits may be shown per exhibitor. POULTRY • Poultry includes the follow- ing domesticated fowl: chickens, turkeys, pigeons, ducks, geese, pheasants, quail, and guineas. Poultry will be identified with a leg band. • All poultry presented for ex- hibition, except ducks and geese, must either test negative for pullo- rum-typhoid within 90 days prior to the 4-H Fair; OR originate from a flock where the entire flock is certi- fied NPIP pullorum-typhoid clean. 4HONLINE ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION INSTRUCTIONS All 4-H members (Grades 3-12) must identify all Cattle, Goats, Horses, Sheep, and Swine in the 4HOnline system by the species deadline to be eligible for exhibition. REACTIVATING ANIMALS IDENTIFIED IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR A member that wishes to re-iden- tify an animal, such as a horse, from a previous year should do so by Ac- tivating the Animal and completing all new fields and authorizations in 4HOnline. Some of the fields have changed and you will be required to complete each bold field even though it may appear some infor- mation is already associated with the animal record. 1. Login to your family profile at: https://in.4honline.com using your family email address and password. 2. Click the orange 'Continue to Family' button 3. Find the 4-H member's name in the Member/Volunteer list for your family. 4. Click 'Edit' next to the 4-H member's name to which you wish to reactivate animals entered under their name for the previous year. 5. Click the text that says 'Animal/Livestock'. 6. Click the box in front of the animal(s) you wish to activate for the year, and click the 'Activate Animal(s) button. 7. Click 'Edit/View' button next to the each activated animal to com- plete the newly required fields for the animal. 8. Click 'Save' and repeat for each animal you have activated. ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION IN 4HONLINE (NEW ANIMALS) Please complete the following steps to identify your livestock in the 4HOnline system. 1. Login to your family profile at: https://in.4honline.com using your family email address and password you created at the time of family profile creation. If you have forgot- ten your password, please use the 'I forgot my password' option on the 4HOnline login page, and you will be sent a new temporary password. 2. Click the orange 'Continue to Family' button. 3. Find the 4-H member's name in the Member/Volunteer list for your family. 4. Click 'Edit' next to the 4-H member's name to which you wish to identify animals for in the system. 5. Click the text that says 'Animals/Livestock'. 6. Select the Animal Type from the Add an Animal drop-down menu. 7. Click the 'Add animal' button. 8. Read the on-screen instruc- tions for Animal ID requirements for Indiana State Fair Exhibition. 9. You must complete all fields with BOLD titles. 10. Complete all other visible fields as applicable. 11. Once the information is com- plete, click 'Save'. 12. Verify that the animal is now listed in the Animal List below the Add Animal button. 13. Repeat steps 6 -12 for each animal the member needs to iden- tify. 14. Members are able to edit Animal ID information until the species specific Animal ID deadline. You must save the record to ensure that your changes are made. 15. Click the 'My Member List' in the upper right to return to the list of family members to select another 4-H member to identify animals. ANIMAL Continued from page C-11 Bring home the right fruit tree for your yard By Kenneth J. Eck County Extension Director Purdue Extension – Pike County As rain continues to fall around Indiana, the annual flurry of seed and fruit tree catalogs begins in local mailboxes and drop stations. As you select which plants might work best for your family – espe- cially in the area of fruit trees – take some time to consider what might work best not only for taste, but for fruit tree care and mainte- nance as well. When choosing a tree for your home orchard, begin with a catalog or nursery with strong, healthy stock. For mail companies, make sure there is a refund guaran- tee on shipped plants should they arrive with defects or damaged root systems or branches. For local nurseries also check on guar- antees, and whether the business must plant the trees to allow an ex- change or refund should problems arise. Select trees for mail delivery or to take home from the store when the weather allows you to plant the tree as soon as possible. This avoids having the tree dry out or become stressed. Check spring frost dates to avoid damage due to cold condi- tions. NEVER select the "one dollar special" at the end of the year at big box stores, as these frequently are stressed from infrequent/ too fre- quent watering, heat stress, and being moved or jostled around the store. Remember, it will take most trees three to five years before they might bear fruit, so pay a little more for a strong, healthy tree and leave the "bargains" for the next person. When selecting trees, you should look at several factors in- cluding: 1.) Type and use of fruit – Which type of apple, pear, or cherry is best for your family's needs? Do you need eating apples, or apples for sauce? Check out newer variet- ies that may have better fruit qual- ities such as taste, texture, or use than older varieties by purchas- ing and "taste testing" new vari- eties found at your local market or grocery store. 2.) Harvest time – Do you want all your fruit at once, or over several months? By choosing different va- rieties of fruit, you can spread out your harvest (and fresh eating) schedule depending on your fam- ily's needs. 3.) Space considerations – How large will the tree grow? Al- though the idea of a large tree full of juicy fruit may sound good at first, when pest management or harvest is considered, this may not always be the best choice. By choosing trees grafted onto dwarf (8 – 10 feet tall) or semi-dwarf (12 – 20 feet tall) root stock, homeowners will have an easier time at spray- ing and harvesting fruit that might be produced by being able to access smaller trees. 4.) Disease resistance – Will your tree be able to withstand common disease challenges? If full or partially disease resistant varieties are available, consider purchasing these for your home. Not all popular varieties are avail- able yet with full resistance, and in some cases the flavors or tex- tures of some fruit types make it worth the extra effort to plant non- resistant trees. Resistant varieties may reduce the number of fungi- cide sprays needed for a healthy fruit crop 5.) Hardiness – Can your variety survive the local weather? Each state is divided into USDA plant cold hardiness zones to help growers match the correct plants with local weather conditions. Check tree tags and information sheets to insure that your plants will survive when planted. 6.) Location – Can your tree grow where you plant it? Most fruit trees prefer well drained soils with adequate year-round mois- ture (not droughty sands). A tree may survive a few years in a wet lo- cation, but stress will eventually cause it to die. Make sure the tree is not placed near obstacles such as power lines, roads, sidewalks, or home foundations where additional problems may eventually develop. 7.) Soil tests – Will the tree have the food it needs? Run a soil test for nutrients and pH before planting the tree, and make adjust- ments so that conditions are right before digging the tree's hole. Do not guess on what is beneath the soil, as most soil tests will provide you with what you have (the actual soil analysis) as well as what you need (fertilizer and lime recom- mendations). A home fruit planting can provide fresh, tasty, and nutritious fruit for family use or sale. By fol- lowing the suggestions listed, you will be more successful while po- tentially reducing challenges as- sociated with a healthy home orchard. For additional information on growing fruit at home, check out the free Purdue publication "Midwest Home Fruit Production Guide" (Bulletin 940) at: http:// bit.ly/2FYbize. MARCH YARD AND GARDEN CALENDAR By B. Rosie Lerner Purdue Extension Consumer Horticulturist HOME Indoor Plants and Activities • Apply fertilizer to houseplants according to label directions as days grow brighter and longer and new growth begins. Foliage plants require a relatively high-nitrogen fer- tilizer, while blooming plants thrive on for- mulations that are higher in phosphorus. • Remove spent leaves and flowers regular- ly to improve appearance and encourage more blooms. • Start seeds of cool season plants for trans- planting outdoors later in spring (late Feb- ruary for Southern Indiana). YARD Lawns, Woody Ornamentals, and Fruits • Rake to remove leaves, twigs, and trash. • Mow lawn as needed. The first mowing should be slightly lower than normal to en- courage green-up. • Prune trees and shrubs while plants are still dormant. Those that bloom early in spring should be pruned after flowers fade. • Fertilize woody plants before new growth begins, but wait until after soil tempera- tures have reached 40°F (usually in early March in Southern Indiana, and late March to early April in Northern Indiana). Two pounds of actual nitrogen per 1000 square feet should be broadcast over the entire root area. • Remove winter coverings from roses as soon as new growth begins, but keep mulch nearby for protection from late freezes. Prune and fertilize as needed. • Apply superior oil spray to control scale insects and mites on landscape plants and fruit trees when tips of leaves start to pro- trude from buds. • Remove tree wrap from trunks to prevent scalding due to overheating of bark. GARDENS Flowers, Vegetables, and Small Fruits • Prepare garden soil for planting. Do NOT work the soil while it is wet. Soil should crumble when squeezed in your hand when it is ready to work. If soil forms a solid ball when squeezed in your hand, it's still too wet. • Follow last fall's soil test recommendations for fertilizer and pH adjustment. (It's not too late to soil test if you missed last year.) • Start seeds of warm season vegetables and flowers indoors. • Watch for blooms of early spring bulbs such as daffodils, crocus, dwarf iris, and snow- drops. https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/ yardandgarden/wp-content/uploads/ sites/2/2016/10/HO-91.pdf