By Mark Badertscher
Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator
HARDIN COUNTY__ With the help of 15 volunteer rainfall reporters, the Hardin County Extension office has collected unofficial township rainfall data for the past 31 consecutive years. The 2023 growing season began with some early planting in April; however wet soil prevented much field work from occurring until late in May. Frequent rains combined with cool temperatures in early May slowed evaporation and kept field conditions wet. Farmers were able to finish planting crops in June that they didn’t get planted in May. June continued with cooler temperatures and dry weather which slowed early season growth.
Low amounts of rainfall across parts of the county occurred in July after a dry month in June. Rains were spread out throughout the month of July, which resulted in lower disease pressure in crops. Both corn and soybean crops grew slowly until the rains started in early July. August brought more needed rain for county crops after a dry start to the growing season. Farmers were counting on rain to complete ear fill and to produce soybean pods.
Field checks in some areas of the county showed evidence of pollination issues with tip back and smaller ears. Soybean fields showed promise with new pod development.
Disease pressure had been low in corn and soybean fields until later in the season. Late season moisture brought on gray leaf spot and tar spot in some areas, but after yield was established in corn fields. Soybean fields continued to have low disease pressure through August except for a few fields showing Sudden Death Syndrome. Insect pressure had been relatively low in area fields.
Soybean harvest in the county went well with above average yields with some farmers reporting averages of 60 bushels per acre. Corn harvest has been progressing slowly, due to high moisture corn that needs drying. Reported average corn yields were good, approaching 200 bushels per acre in some fields. Herbicide, fertilizer, lime, and manure applications have happened in some fields. Some fall tillage has also occurred around the county. Winter wheat stands look good and cover crops have been sowed after the late harvest.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS
The first half of October brought an average of 1.21 inches of rain to the county, which is slightly above the ten-year average 1.13 for the month.
Blanchard Township reported a low of 0.42 inches of rain for October 1-15, with Taylor Creek Township reporting the most rain with 1.64 inches for this time.
During the growing season, from April 15 through October 15, average rainfall across the county was only 17.15 inches. This is 6.27 inches below the ten-year average growing season precipitation, and 4.38 less inches of rain than last year’s growing season.
The most rainfall reported during the growing season was 21.03 inches in Pleasant Township recorded by George Ziegler. The least rainfall in the county was reported in Blanchard Township by Nutrien Ag Solutions with 13.50 inches for the growing season.
The ten-year average for total growing season rainfall in Hardin County is 23.42 inches.
