The annual Pro Farmer Crop Tour, which will run Aug.16-19, provides insights into potential corn and soybean yields in seven Midwestern states.
On Aug. 16, scouts will sample fields in Ohio. What will they find in the Buckeye State?
“Generally, corn looks great across Ohio,” says Harold Watters, Extension field specialist, agronomic systems at The Ohio State University. “That’s due to planting date and generally adequate to excessive rains. I expect a slightly above-average crop.”
As of Aug. 1, 80% of the Ohio corn crop was in good or excellent condition, according to USDA. That compares to 72% of the total U.S. corn crop with those condition ratings.
In 2020, scouts on the tour logged a 167.7 bu. per acre average for corn in Ohio, based on 108 samples. The tour three-year average for corn yields in Ohio is 167.20 bu. per acre.
The final USDA corn yield for Ohio in 2020 was 167.69 bu. per acre.
Soybeans will be more variable and likely produce an average crop in terms of yield, Watters says.
“They suffered from the excessive rains,” he says. “They struggled to emerge at planting depending on freezing conditions and too wet of root systems. There are some good areas but the ‘less good’ pulls the average back down to an average crop across the state.”
For soybeans, 74% of the Ohio crop is in good or excellent condition. Currently 60% of the U.S. soybean crop has those ratings). In 2020, the average Ohio soybean yield was 54 bu. per acre, per USDA.
As of early August, only a few small pockets of the state are experiencing abnormally dry conditions, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Watters is encouraged by the current pest threat level.
“Insects and disease are generally at low levels, so I don’t expect any yield hits there on corn or soybeans,” he says. “Weed control is generally good with Enlist, Extend and Liberty soybeans so I don’t expect any yield hits there either. Corn weed control is generally good, but I have reports of giant ragweed above the crop in many places.”
Join one of the Pro Farmer Crop Tour events!
In 2021, Pro Farmer Crop Tour gives you the opportunity to watch online from wherever you are or select your tour stop in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio or South Dakota.
Register and attend nightly meetings in person or watch the nightly broadcast live at 7 p.m. Central each night where you’ll receive daily results, scouting observations and historical comparison data from our tour leaders.
Pricing
- Online Nightly Broadcast – Free
- Attend In-Person Tour nightly meeting - $40 per person (includes 2 drink tickets and dinner)
