I am glad I am not a meteorologist.  We finally had winter this year, spending the majority of January and February with snow on the ground.  It now seems that we are going to bypass spring and jump straight into summer.  The 80-degree weather we have had the last couple weeks has accelerated growth of our small grains, hay fields and pastures.  There are reports that some parts of southern Ohio could be cutting hay next week and they are seeing wheat begin to head.  Being further north, we are still a little behind them, but our turn will be coming up quickly.

This period of late summer into early fall is a critical time to be out scouting for weeds in pastures and forages

Two common weed questions we get this time of year concern poison hemlock and “that yellow weed in my fields” which is cressleaf groundsel

As crops mature and we get to see a little deeper into the fields, you may be able to better see a few of the weed escapees that have been hiding among the crops all season long