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 Corn crops in Northwest Ohio were highly affected by this year’s drought.
During this past growing season, Northwest Ohio counties have endured some extreme weather, leading to lower crop yields of apples and corn. The late spring frost in April, which killed or stunted the flower buds on apple trees during their peak bloom, and the drought conditions led to decreased crop output and smaller fruit.
Corn crops were highly affected by the drought throughout the summer months. The early fall freeze has stagnated soybean production. Abundant localized rain has postponed taking off soybeans and in turn, the planting of winter wheat.
In Van Wert County, apple, corn, soybean and wheat crops have all been adversely affected by the weather.
“Some fruit tree growers anticipated the extreme weather and used thinning practices to aid in the production of higher quality apples,” Van Wert County Extension Educator Curtis Young explained. “Corn production was dependent on soil moisture content, therefore, very dry soils yielded 20 bushels or less and moisture-rich soils yielded 100-120 bushels. In addition, soybeans survived the drought well and produced excellent crops. The second planting of soybeans, prior to the earlier freeze, were very green but have since stopped progression. Those crops have yielded respectable pods and good bean production.”
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