By Mark Badertscher
As farmers finish up harvest for 2020, we take a look back on 2019 and how Hardin County crop yields were affected by the wet year which had the county 2nd in the state for prevented planting acres.

As Hardin County farmers finish this year’s corn and soybeans, crop yields from the 2019 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.

Corn
According to a released report, 48,000 acres of corn were planted with 42,000 acres harvested in the county in 2019. 

The county average yield was 138.1 bushels per acre, compared to 190.0 bushels per acre in 2018.  There was a total of 5,800,000 bushels of corn produced during 2019 in Hardin County. 

Area county yields for the same year were Allen – N/A, Auglaize – 160.9, Logan – 131.9, Union – 148.4, Marion – 164.4, Wyandot – 163.2, and Hancock – N/A bushels per acre.  The state corn yield average was 164.0 bushels per acre.

Soybeans
County soybean production data showed that 77,500 acres of soybeans were planted with 76,900 acres harvested in the county in 2019. 

The county average yield was 47.9 bushels per acre, compared to 61.9 bushels per acre in 2018.  There was a total of 3,686,000 bushels of soybeans produced during 2019 in Hardin County. 

Area county yields for the same year were Allen – 52.8, Auglaize – 48.8, Logan – 42.8, Union – 44.2, Marion – N/A, Wyandot – 47.7, and Hancock – 47.9 bushels per acre.  The state soybean yield average was 49.0 bushels per acre.

Wheat
Wheat acres in the county were 10,600 acres of wheat planted with 8,000 acres harvested in 2019. 

The county average yield was 52.6 bushels per acre, with 71.1 bushels per acre in 2018.  There was a total of 421,000 bushels of wheat produced during 2019 in Hardin County. 

Area county yields for the same year were Allen – 64.0, Auglaize – 48.9, Logan – 60.7, Union – 50.3, Marion – 51.5, Wyandot – 51.9, and Hancock – 56.7 bushels per acre.  The state wheat yield average was 56.0 bushels per acre.

Overall, Hardin County had a low yielding corn crop in 2019 and the county ranked 2nd statewide in prevented planting acres due to wet soils. 

Southwest, northwest, and north central Ohio were the highest corn yielding regions of the state.  Soybeans produced in Hardin County in 2019 were closer to the state yield average.  The highest soybean yielding regions of the state were southeast, southwest, and northwest. 

Wheat acres planted in Hardin County in 2019 compared to 2018 were similar, with but with less acres harvested in 2019.  The highest yielding wheat production in Ohio came from the southwest, south central, and central regions in 2019.