COLUMBUS — A stretch of sunny, dry weather is giving Ohio farmers a welcome chance to catch up on harvest work that fell behind after heavy rains earlier this month.
Forecasters say dry conditions should hold across much of the state through Wednesday, allowing combines to roll through corn and soybean fields that were too wet to work in recent weeks.
As of Sept. 20, only about 2% of Ohio’s corn and 1% of its soybeans had been harvested, both behind the five-year average pace, according to agricultural reports. The good news is that the crops themselves are in solid shape, with 69% of corn and 65% of soybeans rated in good or excellent condition.
Farmers across the state are expected to take full advantage of the dry window before the next round of unsettled weather arrives.
Agricultural officials say the dry spell comes at a critical time, as harvest delays can lead to field losses and quality problems if crops sit too long. With favorable conditions forecast through midweek, growers have a clear runway to make up for lost time.