Ned Birkey

Soil compaction effects on crops might be showing up now as shorter, stunted plants, particularly in end-rows, high traffic or turning rows. Digging up roots may show fewer roots or roots growing sideways instead of down into the soil profile. Less root volume and shape will affect above ground growth and development, particularly now that plants are in the reproductive growth phases and yields can be estimated. Diagnosing soil compaction might lead to rethinking tire size and air pressure, tractor weighting and ballasting, wet soils and drainage tile and other management or agronomic changes in the future.

Farm lease renewal time for 2025 is here and now, before harvest, is a good time to chat with landowners.

National Farm Safety and Health Week is September 15-21, 2024. The theme this year is “Don’t Learn Safety by Accident.”

Temperatures are forecast to be very likely above normal and near to below normal chances for precipitation.

The agricultural weather forecast by the National Weather Service' Climate Predication Center 8-to-14-day outlook for October 3 to October 9, updated September 25, still hasn't changed much, despite some relief from higher temperatures this past week. Temperatures are forecast to be likely above normal and below normal chances for precipitation. Precipitation at the MSU Enviroweather station in Deerfield to date for September has been a microscopic 0.3-inch compared to a five-year average of 1.8 inches. Aaron Wilson of Ohio State shows drought conditions throughout Ohio and including southeast Michigan. Scattered rains in Monroe County over the past several days have only been about .4-inch total.

Now is a good time to evaluate 2024 and think ahead to any changes for 2025.

Fall and pumpkins go together. A pumpkin is really a squash and member of the Cucurbit family, which includes squash, cucumbers, melons and pumpkins. Pumpkins come in at least eight colors: white, tan, yellow, orange, brown, red, green and blue. They also come in various shapes and sizes. This year at the MCCC Student Ag Farm, the ag club planted seven kinds of pumpkins to sell as a club activity and fundraiser. Pumpkins varieties planted this year included corn cob, kettle corn, itty bitty, orange peel, green eggs and ham, moon whisper and warts galore, all from the Outstanding Seed Company.

Fall tree planting is better than spring as the warm soils allow some root growth before winter. Many people do not dig a large enough hole to accommodate the roots.

Michigan Right to Farm Act (Public Act 93) has been a law since 1981 and protects certain farm uses, operations, practices and products from certain disclosures under which a farm shall not be found to be a public or private nuisance, and provides for certain remedies for certain persons. The Right to Farm program is administered within the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and responds to nuisance complaints involving farms and will assess a farm operation at a farmer's request. Farmers following generally accepted agricultural and management practices (GAAMPS) are afforded a certain level of protection if a nuisance complaint is filed against them. Currently there are GAAMPS for care of farm animals, cranberry production, farm markets, irrigation water use, manure management and utilization, nutrient utilization, pesticide utilization – pest control and site selection. Drafts of the proposed 2025 GAAMPS have been released by MDARD. Persons with questions can email

At present, EPA is developing strategies to protect threatened and endangered species and their critical habitat from all types of conventional pesticides, including fungicides, insecticides and rodenticides. The other two steps include reducing spray drift and reducing runoff and erosion.