Farm Estate
Planning
Planning
Many farmers spend a lifetime accumulating land and investing in their farms. Most farmers have a desire to transition their assets and operations to the next generation. It complicated and time consuming, so it take a team of professionals to help and give advice on farm transition planning.
Profitable Transition
to No-till
to No-till
Farmers and researchers often say it takes 3-5-7 years or longer to convert to no-till before the yields and profits are the same or return back to normal. When crop prices are low, that makes it harder to switch from conventional tillage to no-till crops. Soybeans and wheat are the easiest to convert, but for corn, the yield lag may be 10-20%, which makes the conversion unprofitable.
Short Corn Varieties
Harvest has started and farmers were making considerable progress until the recent rains. Most farmers welcomed the rain since we have been in a major drought. For most corn and soybeans crops, the rain is probably too late, but it may help on late or double crop soybeans (planted after wheat) and for new wheat or cover crops being planted this fall. Of course, fruit trees, lawns, and other vegetation needed the rain.
HOW NO-TILL IMPROVES YOUR LAND VALUE
Soil Nutrients
Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet
Converting to No-till using Cover Crops
To Till or
Not To Till
Not To Till
OUR STORY
Jim and Marlene Hoorman reside in Hancock County, Ohio south of Findlay at Jenera, Ohio on a 40-acre farm. They have a 19-year old son, Jonathan who is attending The Ohio State University as a Sophomore majoring in Ag Business and Economics with a minor in Agronomy. Jim has been working in agriculture and farming since he was 13 years old, first picking strawberries then working for Kleman Brother’s Farm as a hired hand. Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, Hay, Tomatoes, Sugar Beets, Cucumbers and Sweet corn were major commodities along with hogs and cattle.
Jim and Marlene Hoorman reside in Hancock County, Ohio south of Findlay at Jenera, Ohio on a 40-acre farm. They have a 19-year old son, Jonathan who is attending The Ohio State University as a Sophomore majoring in Ag Business and Economics with a minor in Agronomy. Jim has been working in agriculture and farming since he was 13 years old, first picking strawberries then working for Kleman Brother’s Farm as a hired hand. Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, Hay, Tomatoes, Sugar Beets, Cucumbers and Sweet corn were major commodities along with hogs and cattle.
Using Cover Crops as an IPM Tool for Managing Hard-to-Control Weeds
While herbicides provided an opportunity to expand many important soil conservation practices, overuse of glyphosate and the evolution of glyphosateresistant weeds poses one the greatest threats to conservation tillage as it has forced some farmers to revert to conventional tillage for effective weed control.
Weeds in Cover Crops: Context and Management Considerations
Cover crops are increasingly being adopted to provide multiple ecosystem services such as improving soil health, managing nutrients, and decreasing soil erosion. It is not uncommon for weeds to emerge in and become a part of a cover crop plant community.
Soil Nutrients
Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet
The availability of soil nutrients is dependent on three factors. One is the chemical form that it can be taken up by the plant. Two is the proximity to actively absorbing plant root. Three is the soil nutrient in a soluble form that can be absorbed by plant roots. Most plant roots require moist soil and water to absorb soluble nutrients.
Best of ‘22: No-Tilling in Wildly Different Regions, Encouraging Better Root Growth & More
Jim Hoorman, with Hoorman Soil Health Services discusses how micro-nutrients may be one of the best ways to improve no-till crop yields. Over the past 160 years, many farms have been tilled and due to soil erosion; lost soil, soil organic matter, and the attached micro-nutrients. Micro-nutrients are needed in small amounts to activate enzymes that increase not only soil health, but also improve plant growth and increase plant yield. Jim discusses micro-nutrient functions and importance, how to identify micro-nutrient deficiencies, and how to apply micro-nutrients to reduce nutrient deficiencies.
HUMIC, FULVIC and MICROBIAL BALANCE:
Organic Soil Conditioning
Organic Soil Conditioning
From the Amish of Ohio to the crops of California, through the documented research from universities around the world, explore nature's natural balance.
