Hardin County Crop Conditions - June 27

Weather - We have had at least ten rainy days during the month so far, 6.8 inches on my farm for the month to date, and more reported in the northern part of the county. Field work days have been hard to come by and very valuable. There were several reports of hail damage with the severe storms that moved through.

Corn- Most of the corn has been in the ground for more than a month by now, and is starting to look much better. Most of the replanted corn is up and filling in thin areas of fields. Looks like half of our corn may be "knee high by the Fourth of July", but a large acreage will not make it by that date. Side-dressing is well along, but two rainy days this week has stopped all field operations.

Soybeans - There is a wide variety of conditions in soybean fields. The earliest planted beans are beginning to bloom, and look very good. There were not many fields planted in April here. Most fields with early May planted beans have been replanted, in part or in whole. We may have replanted nearly half of the soybean acres in Hardin County due to poor emergence and wet spots. Several reported planting some spots a third time, trying to get an acceptable stand. Possibly 25 % of soybeans are just emerging or have not yet emerged. Growers still have the soybean drill ready in case there is an opportunity to double crop some of the wheat acres.

Wheat - Hardin County wheat has looked quite good, with tiller numbers and head size indicating potential for a good crop. There are some reports of head scab. We have had some growers spraying wheat for armyworms.

Hay - Weather has made it difficult to harvest dry hay. Much of the alfalfa type hay has been over mature when it was harvested. Grass and other mixed hay has also been harvested late, resulting in lower quality forage. Second cutting growth is coming on, and has benefited from a rainy month of June.

Gene McCluer
OSU Extension Educator, Agriculture & Natural Resources
Hardin County, Ohio