By Mark Badertscher
Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, OSU Extension Hardin County
Hardin County – As Hardin County farmers get ready to start planting this year’s corn and soybeans, crop yields from the 2023 growing season have been released from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service. Although these crop production numbers are based on estimates, they are used for crop insurance and government reporting purposes.
According to a published report, 87,900 acres of corn were planted with 83,600 acres harvested in the county in 2023. The county average yield was 188.8 bushels per acre, compared to 191.6 bushels per acre in 2022. There was a total of 15,784,000 bushels of corn produced during 2023 in Hardin County. Area county yields for the same year were Allen – 190.3, Auglaize – 194.4, Logan – 183.2, Union – 205.0, Marion – N/A, Wyandot – 199.3, and Hancock – N/A bushels per acre. The state corn yield average was 198.0 bushels per acre.
Solar storms have created breathtaking views of the night sky In Ohio and other parts of the United States that don't normally get a view of the Northern Lights. The NOAA Solar Radiation Storm Forecast for May 14 is 60% as compared to 99% on Friday evening. Here's a photo from Bluffton photographer Jamie Nygaard who noted taht it started about 9:45 and lasted until 11:30 p.m.
BLUFFTON __ The Ada High School boys track and field team finished fourth at the annual Northwest Conference championship meet in Bluffton University’s Salzman Stadium Saturday, May 11.
Columbus Grove captured the boys team crown with 162 points, followed by Bluffton (123) and Lincolnview (102). The Ada boys scored 71.5 points to beat Spencerville, Allen East, Crestview, Leipsic and Delphos Jefferson.
Grove won the girls team title with 173.5 points. Bluffton took second with 127 points, followed by Spencerville in third.
The Bulldog girls tallied 39.33 points to finish seventh, ahead of Crestview and Leipsic.
Ohio Northern University’s robotic football team delivered decisive defeats to rivals Valparaiso and Notre Dame to become national champions this spring.
LIMA __Ada junior Nathan Williams won his first three singles matches in straight sets at the Div. II UNOH sectionals in Lima to qualify for the Port Clinton districts next week.
Seeded third in the 30-player singles flight, the southpaw defeated Bath’s Carter Deppe 6-1, 6-2 in his first match Thursday.
In the round of 16, he knocked out Elida’s Alex Dunahay 6-1, 6-3.
Then in the quarterfinals, Williams eliminated Noah White of St. Marys 6-3, 6-2. This clinched a spot in the final four and thus qualified him for district competition.
On Saturday in the semifinals, he lost to top seed Isaac Wibbeler of St. Marys 6-4, 6-2.
