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Ohio agronomists urge farmers to weigh harvest decisions carefully

A pair of agronomists with Beck’s Hybrids say farmers should weigh harvest decisions carefully this fall.

Northern Ohio-based Mike Hannewald says drought conditions across the state could cause the crop to mature at a faster rate. 

“I think this is the year where we’re going to go from 15 percent beans to 10 percent beans really fast,” he says. “If you do the math, it roughly works out to your drying charges and your shrink discounts on 15 percent beans are equal to your loss of yield at 10 percent beans, so don’t be afraid of those discounts.”

Southern Ohio-based Luke Schulte says some farmers have tough decisions to make.

“It’s only September and I’ve got good, warm weather,” he says. “I would rather let this crop dry in the field because I don’t have a lot of forgiveness when it comes to a budget standpoint. Many areas have gone through seven weeks of really dry weather. I don’t think it’s the year to allow stuff to stand, because I just don’t think it will.”

According to the latest report from the USDA, Ohio corn is one percent harvested and soybeans are two percent harvested.

Brownfield interviewed Hannewald and Schulte during the 2025 Farm Science Review in London, Ohio.

AUDIO: Mike Hannewald and Luke Schulte, Beck’s Hybrids