By Mark Badertscher, OSU Extension Educator
Lower corn yields in the county were accompanied by lower corn prices.
Soybean prices were good, but yields were less.
In Liberty Township, where Ada is located, nearly 28 inches of rain fell during the growing season, according to local observer Phil Epley.
With the help of 15 volunteer rainfall reporters, the Hardin County Extension office has collected unofficial township rainfall data for the past 25 consecutive years.
The 2017 growing season (April 15-Oct. 15) began with a wet April as rainfall started to accumulate after farmers began planting corn. The end of April brought wet conditions and cool temperatures, causing planting to halt around the county.
The month of May brought an additional 7.21 inches of rain and more cool temperatures. Both corn and soybeans were replanted multiple times in some fields, causing stands that were either thin or growing in different stages.
Rain persisted most of the month of June, with precipitation occurring on several days. Some fields continued to pond and flood in low areas, areas with compaction, and other hard to drain soils. This constant rain kept farmers busy replanting crops, and delayed nitrogen applications in corn and herbicide applications in soybeans.
Because of the wet weather, later herbicide applications allowed for giant ragweed and marestailweeds to thrive.
July followed the pattern of a cool and wet spring, with rainfall continuing in high amounts, dumping another 8.23 inches combined with mild temperatures. Soils continued to be bombarded with rain events, not allowing much time for moisture levels to dry out. As a result, ponding continued in some fields, were drainage and compaction were issues. This also delayed field operations such as applying pesticides and manure.
Corn made much progress in growth during the month, with the extra rain and on occasion, warmer days. Later planted corn started to grow at good rates, except in areas where the corn was stunted and yellow from too much moisture.
After a wet, cool spring and early summer, rainfall in August was very low. Moisture in the soil helped to keep crops growing until drying out. Areas of low rainfall occurred after pollination in cornfields but during kernel fill. Soybean plants in some areas did not grow as high, resulting in fewer nodes where soybean pods attach.
During the month of September, Extension volunteer rainfall reporters only received an average of 1.77 inches of rain. The first half of October was similar to August and September, only adding a total of 1.33 inches of rain to the growing season total.
During the growing season, average rainfall was 28.25 inches, which made 2017 a wet year.
This is 4.90 inches above the 10-year average growing season precipitation, and 7.05 more inches of rain than last year’s growing season. The most rainfall recorded during the growing season was 34.69 inches in Jackson Township by Rick Weber. The least rainfall in the county was recorded in DudleyTownship by Dale Rapp, with 24.53 inches for the season. Even so, Dudley Township’s rainfall was higher than the normal average rainfall in Hardin County as measured over the past 10 years.
Corn yields have been variable around the county, depending on planting dates. However, moisture levels in corn were fairly dry at harvest time, reducing the need for running grain dryers as much as some years.
Overall lower corn yields for the growing season were also accompanied by lower corn prices.
Soybean yields were also lower this year due to drier weather during key growth periods, producing smaller plants. Soybean prices were good, but with fewer bushels per acre to sell compared to last year.
Winter wheat acres planted this fall in the county are off to a very good start with warm fall temperatures and adequate moisture. Herbicide, fertilizer, lime, and manure applications have happened in selected fields. Much fall tillage has occurred around the county with some soybean and cornfields still waiting on drier ground conditions in order to finish the harvest.
