Story by Mark Badertscher - photo by Monty Siekerman.
What a difference a week of warm weather makes. 

Soil temperatures are warming up and fields are starting to dry.  Sprayers and fertilizer trucks are starting to roll.  Spring planting season is almost upon us, providing the rain forecast later this week doesn’t slow things down. 

It is still early, and for northwestern Ohio, the probability for optimal yields occurs when corn is planted between April 25 and May 10. 

After this date, yields generally decline because of a shorter growing season.  Corn planted before this time period will often have weakened or poor stands because of extended cool and wet conditions.

Pictured are some of the 60 anhydrous ammonia tanks at Heritage Cooperative on Township Road 55. They are lined up waiting for the spring farm season to begin.

The 1,000 and 1,500 gallon tanks will soon be making their way to nearby fields. In the spring, some farmers also spread, potash, phosphorous, and row starter to get better yields.