WOOSTER, Ohio — Four days of warmer temperatures and drier conditions last week helped Ohio farmers get back in the fields to wrap up corn and soybeans, as well as get a good, but late, start on first cutting hay.

 

But they are also battling armyworms and slugs in the process, according to Rory Lewandowski, Ohio State University extension educator in Wayne County. Lewandowski said farmers have been moving quickly to control slugs, laying out bait before they do damage to the crops. Rain across Ohio has been spotty, with the northern part of the state receiving more moisture while the southern portion has been drier. In spite of more arid conditions in most areas, many producers are still struggling to get their first cutting hay out of the fields. 

 

And according to the statistics from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistic Service (NASS), they aren’t much ahead of their fellow producers across the this region, with most states ranging between 26-35 percent of the first-cutting crop harvested, and behind Illinois – which has 74 percent of its first-cutting hay harvested and about 2 percent of the second cutting already in the barn.

In spite of the weather conditions and harvesting times, much of the hay and pastures still remain in good condition across the region. Some farmers are concerned the late harvest for first cutting will slow down regrowth, especially if the rain slows or stops. They are concerned that this may limit the number of cuttings of hay they will get off of the fields, making supplies tight later in the season.

As of the June 4 reports from NASS, winter wheat across the region is pretty consistent in most states, with much of the crop in good or excellent condition. Illinois numbers are lower, with 5 percent of the crop in very poor condition and 11 percent excellent. Michigan reports 60 percent of its wheat crop is in good condition, with 14 percent excellent. 

 

And according to the statistics from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistic Service (NASS), they aren’t much ahead of their fellow producers across the this region, with most states ranging between 26-35 percent of the first-cutting crop harvested, and behind Illinois – which has 74 percent of its first-cutting hay harvested and about 2 percent of the second cutting already in the barn.

In spite of the weather conditions and harvesting times, much of the hay and pastures still remain in good condition across the region. Some farmers are concerned the late harvest for first cutting will slow down regrowth, especially if the rain slows or stops. They are concerned that this may limit the number of cuttings of hay they will get off of the fields, making supplies tight later in the season.

As of the June 4 reports from NASS, winter wheat across the region is pretty consistent in most states, with much of the crop in good or excellent condition. Illinois numbers are lower, with 5 percent of the crop in very poor condition and 11 percent excellent. Michigan reports 60 percent of its wheat crop is in good condition, with 14 percent excellent. 

 

Other regional states are on track with last year, with Illinois at 90 percent of the corn crop emerged, Indiana at 74 percent – slightly behind last year at this time – Iowa at 90 percent, the 83 percent for Kentucky on track with last year at this time,

Michigan’s 66 percent just slightly behind last year’s 69 percent and Tennessee, at 95 percent, about the same as in 2016. Soybeans continue to run slightly ahead of last year, with Iowa setting the bar at 91 percent of the crop in the ground, and about 62 percent emerged. Drier conditions also helped Illinois farmers, as they have 85 percent of their soybeans in the ground with 62 percent emerged.

Michigan has 75 percent of its soybeans planted and 46 percent emerged; Indiana is at 75 percent with 47 percent emerged.