Future Weather
Outlook
Outlook
Hoorman Soil Health shares insights on the impact of recent weather trends and the outlook for 2025. With a tough drought season in 2024, soil moisture levels are low, and warmer, drier weather may continue.
Farm Bill
Update
Update
An important date for farmers has passed. The Farm Bill officially expired on September 30, 2024. What happens next? Various farm bill commodity support programs will be extended until the end of the year, but then they need to be replaced.
Alternative Farm Enterprises
Some small farmers may be looking at alternative farm enterprises to supplement their farm income. Regular commodities row crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat have a lower profit margin and farmers make money when they produce high volume or yield.
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.
