During the month of August, Extension volunteer rainfall reporters received an average of 2.36 inches of rain. The most rain for this month, 3.91 inches fell in Washington Township as measured by Randy Preston. The least rain reported during the month, 0.95 inches was reported in Liberty Township by Phil Epley. During the same month last year, an average of 4.34 inches of rain fell.
The rainfall recorded in August over the past ten years averaged 3.59 inches.
For the growing season since April 15, the average precipitation in the townships was 14.92 inches,ranging from 11.72 inches in Blanchard Township to 17.75 inches in Pleasant Township. The growing season average rainfall was 4.85 inches below the ten-year average for Hardin County through August. County rainfall in August was lower than normal for every township of Hardin County except Washington.
Farmers were counting on rain to complete ear fill and to produce soybean pods. Since most of the county experienced a dry month with corn and soybean crops needing rain for kernel and pod development, yields may be lower than expected. Field checks in some areas of the county showed evidence of drought stress with corn ears shorter than normal with tip die back. Some soybean fields showed promise with new pod development, but dryer conditions may cause bean seeds to be smaller.
Fall armyworms did damage to some forage fields in August while hybrid specific tar spot disease threatened corn yields and stalk strength in some fields for the first time in Hardin County since the disease was first reported in Ohio back in 2018.
Harvest has begun in the county with both corn and soybean fields reaching maturity. Dry down of grain has been quick in area fields with the dryer weather. Corn was harvested for silage and manure has been applied to some area fields.
Cover crops have been seeded in the county but may have slow growth due to dry conditions. Fertilizer is being applied and winter wheat is being planted in some fields where soybeans have been harvested.
