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Warm, dry weather fueling harvest progress in Ohio

A west-central Ohio farmer says the 2026 harvest season is officially underway.

Owen Niese says yields have been encouraging.

“We’re not going to set any records, but I would say we’re right at average,” he says.

He tells Brownfield, “I’ve been shelling 20 percent moisture corn, and I’ve been pretty happy with that,. It’s going to be such a nice week that we’re going to get after it on soybeans and hopefully get most of those off by the end of the week.”

According to the latest USDA crop progress and conditions report, Ohio corn is 53 percent mature, 6 percent harvested and rated 65 percent good to excellent. Soybeans are 65 percent dropping leaves, 10 percent harvested and rated 69 percent good to excellent.

Niese says this week’s favorable weather conditions will help his operation make significant harvest progress.

He raises corn, soybeans, and wheat in Shelby County.