Harvest accelerated during last week's sunny and dry days, according to Cheryl Turner, state statistician, USDA NASS, Ohio Field Office. Reporters in the northwest described vomitoxin concerns in corn fields.
Western and southern counties continued to experience dry conditions, with U.S. Drought Monitor showing moderate drought in 36.3 percent of the State, up from 7.1 percent during the previous week. Abnormally dry conditions or worse were observed in 73.4 percent of the State, up from 59.0 percent during the previous week.
Topsoil moisture conditions were rated 24 percent very short, 36 percent short, 38 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Statewide, the average temperature for the week ending Sunday was 52.8 degrees, 3.0 degrees above normal. Weather stations recorded an average of 0.28 inches of precipitation, 0.16 inches below average. There were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Sunday.
Field activities during the previous week included corn and soybean harvesting, fall tillage, and cover crop planting. Corn was 95 percent mature, and 56 percent of corn was harvested for grain. The average moisture content of corn grain at harvest was 18 percent. Corn condition was rated 61 percent good to excellent. Soybean harvest reached 87 percent complete, and the average moisture content of soybeans at harvest was 12 percent. Third cuttings of other dry hay were 89 percent complete, and fourth cuttings of alfalfa hay were 91 percent complete.
Winter wheat was 93 percent planted and 57 percent emerged. Winter wheat condition was rated 55 percent good to excellent. Pasture and range condition was reported as 57 percent good to excellent; minimal pasture growth since the end of September pushed some operators to feed hay to livestock sooner than anticipated.
Categories: Ohio, Harvesting