As Hardin County farmers get ready to plant this year’s corn and soybeans, crop yields from the 2018 growing season have been released from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service.  

Although these crop production numbers are based on estimates, they are used for crop insurance and government reporting purposes.

According to a recently released report, 94,000 acres of corn were planted with 87,500 acres harvested in the county in 2018.  The county average yield was 190.0 bushels per acre, compared to 150.6 bushels per acre in 2017.  There was a total of 16,625,000 bushels of corn produced this past crop year in Hardin County.  

Corn

Area county yields for the same year were:

• Hardin - 190

•  Allen – 196.9, 

• Auglaize – 210.0, 

• Logan – 195.1, 

• Union – 192.1, 

• Marion – 209.7, 

• Wyandot – 182.8, 

• Hancock – 183.9

• The state corn yield average was 187.0 bushels per acre.

Soybeans

County soybean production data showed that 119,500 acres of soybeans were planted with 119,400 acres harvested in the county in 2018.  The county average yield was 61.9 bushels per acre, compared to 42.0 bushels per acre in 2017.  There was a total of 7,395,000 bushels of soybeans produced this past crop year in Hardin County.  

Area county yields for the same year were:

• Hardin - 61.9

• Allen – 62.8, 

• Auglaize – 66.3, 

• Logan – 61.2, 

• Union – 58.0, 

• Marion – 64.7, 

• Wyandot – 60.4, 

• Hancock – 61.3 

• The state soybean yield average was 58.0 bushels per acre.

Wheat

Wheat acres in the county were 10,200 acres of wheat planted with 9,500 acres harvested in 2018.  The county average yield was 71.1 bushels per acre, with 73.6 bushels per acre in 2017.  There was a total of 675,000 bushels of wheat produced this past crop year in Hardin County.  Area county yields for the same year were:

• Hardin - 71.1

•  Allen – 82.4, 

• Auglaize – 83.9, 

• Logan – 75.0, 

• Union – 73.3, 

• Marion – 79.1, 

• Wyandot – 76.4,

• Hancock – 83.1 bushels per acre.  

• The state wheat yield average was 75.0 bushels per acre.

Overall

Overall Ohio had a great corn crop, out-yielding the 2017 10-year high by 10 additional bushels per acre in 2018.  West central, southwest, and central Ohio were the highest corn yielding regions of the state.  

Soybeans in Ohio yielded 3.5 more bushels per acre in 2018 compared to a 10-year high set in 2016.  Highest soybean yielding regions of the state were west central, northwest, and southwest.  

Locally in Hardin County, weather played a role in delivering high corn and soybean yields, but provided a challenging fall harvest.  Wheat acres increased substantially in the county from 2017 with a slightly lower yield.  Statewide, the average wheat yield of 75 bushels per acres was lower than the 10 year high of 80 bushels per acres set in 2016.  Highest yielding wheat production in Ohio came from the west central, northwest, and north central regions. 

The annual average grain price received by Ohio farmers was similar for corn at $3.64 per bushel compared to $3.61 per bushel in 2017.  Soybeans were priced at $9.38 per bushel in 2018 compared to $9.62 per bushel 2017.  The average annual Ohio wheat price was about 10 cents higher in 2018 at $5.00 per bushel compared to $4.90 per bushel in 2017.