On December 3rd, several Ohio speakers discussed weather, Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agriculture, and precision soil sampling at the Ohio No-Till conference, Der Dutchman, Plain City Ohio. Here are their comments. First, Dr Vinayak Shedekar, OSU Ohio Drainage Management specialist spoke about weather, mainly drought and excess water. Nationally based on insurance claims; drought/dry weather cost farmers about $90 billion/year (43% of total) followed by excess water $52 billion (25%) with other insurance claims around $22 billion/yr (32%). Water is one of the most limiting factors to obtaining high crop yields. In Ohio, typically 70% of water related crop losses are due to excess water with 30% due to drought. Recently though, drought has been a bigger concern. Drought may cut corn yields 40 bushel/acre or more while typically too much water historically reduces corn yields 20 bushel or more. Corn needs about 28 inches of rain during the growing season (Late April to Late Sep...

  Farmers try to balance the big three nutrients for plant growth: nitrogen (N) phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) since they are known to increase crop yields. However, for good soil health and good plant health; the secondary nutrients: calcium (Ca) Sulfur (S) Magnesium (Mg) and micronutrients are also important. Calcium (Ca) is the third most plant abundant nutrient and is a major regulator of plant hormones for plant growth and yield. However, to get Ca into the plant, you need boron (B) a micronutrient. Boron (B) is like a bus driver hauling Ca into the plant. Unfortunately, there needs to be a soil balance because Ca ties up B and vice versa. So too much of either one or too little causes poor growth and low yields. Adequate Ca promotes more roots, bigger shoots, bigger leaves, more flowers, more pollen and ultimately higher yields. Sulfur (S) is another important nutrient especially for building critical plant amino acids. As an electron donor, S helps plants control light int...