News

Wet weather helps relieve ongoing drought, delays spring fieldwork for Ohio farmers

A west central Ohio farmer says recent wet weather has delayed the start of spring fieldwork.

Patty Mann tells Brownfield, “It looks like it won’t be until mid to late April until we can get in the fields. “That’s looking good for getting some fertilizer spread and some burndown work done.”

According to the latest USDA crop progress and conditions report, Ohio corn is one percent planted. Soybeans are one percent planted. Winter wheat is rated 65 percent good to excellent.  Oats are 10 percent planted. 

Mann says timely rains have helped replenish soil moisture.

“We have been below normal in precipitation ever since last fall,” she says. “We’re getting a little recharge now and I think we’re about where we should be for this time of year.”

Topsoil moisture is 95 percent adequate to surplus and subsoil moisture is 80 percent adequate to surplus.

Mann raises corn and soybeans in Shelby County.

AUDIO: Patty Mann