Agriculture

Ron Becker offer research-based answers for your questions and problems in agriculture, horticulture, and pest management. 

 Ron Becker has advice on pesticides, pest management, field crops and produce crops. 

• Workshops, Classes and Conferences

  Click on the link above for a list of events for area producers

• Field Reports

• Armyworm alert - Click here

• Field Crops  - Crop and pest reports as well as current items of interest.Includes reports from the fields on current crop, pest and weather conditions
  
  Fruit Crops  -In season information

• Vegetable Crops  - In season information

• Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the name given to the practice of using a combination of control methods to keep pests from ruining a crop. READ MORE

• Newsletters and weekly articles

Weekly article

June 2008 AgNews

Topics of this quarterly newsletter include: Flea Beetle Prediction, Nitrogen Application to Wheat, Urease Inhibitors, Soybean Seed Quality, IPM Scouting Program, Evaluating Forage Stands, Fertilizer Prices vs. Yield, Two New Insects, Grape Production 101, Wheat Virus, Crop Walk

Infobee Newsletter  - October, 2007

• Soil and plant tissue testing labs

We do not do soil testing, but we can help you interpret the report you receive after testing by any of these labs. DOWNLOAD A LIST OF LABS <PDF> 
NOTE: If you do not have a PDF reader installed on your computer, you can obtain a free download of Adobe Acrobat Reader by clicking HERE.

Environmental Protection Agency summary of major laws and regulations that could affect an agricultural producer <PDF>
NOTE: If you do not have a PDF reader installed on your computer, you can obtain a free download of Adobe Acrobat Reader by clicking HERE.

• Hot Topics

High-Speed Agricultural Equipment: The Ohio Legislature has recently passed new laws governing road use of the new tractors and other equipment that achieve higher speeds on the highway.  Read this analysis of the legislation to learn how it may affect you: Safety Symbol

Emerald Ash Borer Awareness: More and more Ohio countiesare under a quarantine for transporting firewood, thanks to a hitch-hiking pest called the Emerald Ash Borer. Read more about this pest and how we can prevent its spread in an article by Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Robert J. Boggs: Buy Local, Burn Local to Protect Ohio's Trees.

E. Coli (Escherichia Coli 0157) is in the news, causing illness across several states. This Ohioline Fact Sheet tells you "What You Should Know About E. Coli."  The Ohio Health Department offers this Disease Fact Sheet about E. Coli.  The Centers for Disease Control web site has updates on the recent spread of E. Coli.

• Links to Helpful Sites

Ohio State University Integrated Pest Management
This site includes a wealth of helpful information for controlling pests in your agronomic crops.

OARDC Weather Station
This site at the Ohio Agricultural Research & Development Center has weather data from 1982 to the present.

Pesticide Education Program
In order to obtain and spray certain pesticides, you must have and maintain an applicator's license issued by the Ohio Department of Agriculture.  OSU Extension offers classes every winter and early spring to help you qualify for a license or renew your current license. This site will help you learn what kind of license you need, how to get it, and locate classes in your area.