OHIO AGRICULTURE Farmers could see record corn yields

Freezing weather in late April hindered farmers in 2005.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ohio's corn crop is on track to set a record despite a mix of extreme heat and heavy rains that made it tough on some farmers around the state.
This year's average corn yield is predicted to be 160 bushels per acre, which would top the record of 158 bushels set two years ago, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Overall, the crop is in good shape because there isn't much crop disease this year and the weather has been good, said Peter Thomison, a corn specialist with the Ohio State University Extension.
A year ago, snowstorms and freezing weather in late April and May forced a large number of farmers to replant their fields. That hasn't been as much of a problem this year.
Keith Kemp, of West Manchester in Preble County, had to replant only 15 of 650 acres. He said he finished one whole day of planting, only to have it washed out by the rain.
"Every year we have one of those," he said.
Steady rains help
Steady rains all summer have helped the crop and kept him mowing grass. "You mow grass all summer and you're going to have a good crop," he said. "That's what my dad always told me."
About 90 percent of the corn crop is in fair to excellent condition, according to the Ohio Agricultural Statistics Service.
High temperatures in July took some of the luster off the crop, and in parts of northern Ohio farmers went three weeks without rain in August.
In those dry areas, the crop is showing signs of stress or starting to die, Thomison said. He said farmers should harvest those fields first.
"You don't want to leave corn with potential stalk quality problems in the field any longer than you have to," he said.
Gene Barto, a retired farmer in Seneca County, said he's noticed quite a bit of corn showing signs of nitrogen deficiency, which means the soil is dry and the corn can't get enough nitrogen. Still, most fields look pretty good, he said. "Overall, it's good to average," he said.
Kent Pickard, a Clinton County farmer, said corn conditions vary depending on where you are in the county. "There's some really nice corn out there," he said.
His farm took on about 4 inches of rain last week, but most of the corn has matured so that likely didn't hurt the crop. He is concerned, though, that storms and remnants of hurricanes in the coming weeks could destroy some of the crop.
Whether any state records are broken may depend on the weather.
"Mother Nature isn't through with us," he said. "Until it's been sold, you can never predict what your crop is going to do."