In the month of July, Extension rainfall reporters recorded an average of 2.85 inches of rain in Hardin County. Last year, the average rainfall for July was 7.4 inches. With the exception of three townships, this past month was a dry month as rainfall was 1.31 inches below the 10-year average rainfall for the month of July.

July rainfall by township is in attachment.

Phil Epley, in Liberty Township, received 4.66 inches of rain for the month, the most of any of the township sites. The least rain in July, 1.92 inches, was collected in Marion Township by Mark Lowery. For the growing season from April 15 through July, the average precipitation in the townships was 14.1 inches, with a range from 12.27 to 17.18 inches.

Rainfall was variable around the county during the month of July. After a cool, wet June the
month of July brought drier periods. The weather cooperated for wheat harvest, where yields were good. Some wheat yields averaged 85-95 bushels per acre with little evidence of disease.

This type of weather also allowed for soybeans to improve root systems and nodule
development to produce nitrogen. As a result, soybeans showed improvement in growth
entering flowering and pod development. The drier month of July also kept disease problems at lower levels in the crop.

Corn utilized the nitrogen applied to the soil and also made progress in development.
Currently, many corn fields are firing, using up the available nitrogen from the ground up
through the plant. Because of later planting of corn in the county, there may be some issues of fields not reaching full maturity before frost. Depending on the weather, this later maturity
could present higher moisture levels at harvest time, increasing drying costs.
Editor: See attached table for your use.