HARDIN COUNTY __ With the help of fifteen volunteer rainfall reporters, Ohio State University Extension in Hardin County has collected unofficial township rainfall data for the past thirty-two consecutive years. The 2024 growing season was challenging with the extended drought which led to crops maturing much earlier than normal this year.

During the growing season, from April 15 through October 15, average rainfall across the county was only 19.85 inches. This is 3.24 inches below the ten-year average growing season precipitation, but 2.70 inches more of rain than last year’s growing season. The most rainfall reported during the growing season was 25.59 inches in Buck Township recorded by Heritage Cooperative in Kenton. The least rainfall in the county was reported in Hale Township by Travis Ramsey with 15.88 inches for the growing season. The ten-year average for total growing season rainfall in Hardin County is 23.09 inches.

Complete rainfall data for the 2024 growing season can be found at www.hardin.osu.edu/ under the Agriculture and Natural Resources program area tab. Rainfall reporting will resume in April 2025.