Crops flourish amid cool summer

WAUSEON, Ohio - A wet, cool spring provided a shaky start for Fulton County farmers, but ideal summer weather allowed corn and soybean crops to rebound and grow strong.

Of course, while yields are generally expected to be good, results are not going to be uniform in all areas.

"I think we'll see a lot of variability across the county," Ohio State University Extension agent Greg LaBarge said. "In some areas the rainfall was good, in some, not."

In any case, yields won't disappoint, thanks to several soaking rains in August and more moderate temperatures, LaBarge said. The five-year county average for corn is 164 bushels per acre. Although area yields are typically above the state average by 15 to 20 bushels per acre, that will not happen this year, he said.

The county record for corn was 178 bushels per acre in 2006. The county's growers annually plant about 80,000 acres each of corn and soybeans.

County yields will be somewhat affected by crop location. Some areas have not received as much rain as others following dry conditions earlier this summer. Yields may also be affected by delayed planting due to the cool, wet conditions that dominated spring weather.

But cooler conditions throughout the summer cut down on insect infestations and diseases. LaBarge said that contributed to hardy corn and soybean plants.

"As a whole for Fulton County, I think our corn crop and soybean crop are looking really good," said Roy Norman of the area four-county Farm Bureau. "We hit the rainfalls right."

He predicted above average county totals, since rainfall was adequate and cooler temperatures assisted with successful pollination.

Statewide, the corn crop is projected to be the second largest on record, just under a record-breaking 541 million bushels in 2007. And that's with 500,000 less acres planted than two years ago.

"The weather's something we can't control, (but) it's been a very good season," said Dwayne Siekman, executive director of the Ohio Corn Growers Association.

Although a lot of growing season remains, "the rains we've been getting across the state have been very beneficial," Siekman said.

Disease has been minimal, and there are no indications of an early frost, he said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is predicting an average yield of 165 bushels per acre for Ohio.

Soybeans are faring as well in the state, despite some late planting dates, Ohio Soybean Council spokesperson Jamie Butts said.

"Some areas may lag behind but things are looking good," she said. "Of course, areas in northwest Ohio may be drier than others."

Approximately four million acres are projected to yield an average of 43 bushels per acre.

Some counties reported early cases of root rot, and some soybean fields had to be re-planted. There have also been reports of aphid infestation.

However, neither problem has been significant, Butts said.

Lawrence Onweller farms 1,300 acres of corn and soybeans in Delta. He won't produce record crops this season "but it will be close. I'm optimistic," he said. "With this rain we just got, it should finish them off good."

In Metamora, Keith Truckor finished planting his 1,200 acres of corn and soybeans the last day of May, about two weeks behind schedule. But a relatively dry summer, mixed with mild temperatures has produced average to above average crops.

"In general, the summer's been relatively mild, temperature-wise. The crops fared well due to the below-normal temperatures," Truckor said.

LaBarge said at this point the only real danger to yields would be an early frost.

"That would be the only thing that would make a really dramatic difference, and I don't see it happening," he said.

(The Fulton County Expositor is a FOX Toledo News media partner)