Farmers across southern Ohio are reporting disappointing corn and soybean yields as months of dry weather take a toll on fields. The prolonged drought has created difficult growing conditions, leading to significant variability in crop performance from one field to another. Ross County farmer Greg Corcoran says his early-planted soybeans fared relatively well, but later-planted fields suffered major losses. “We’re seeing some pretty below-average yields,” Corcoran said. “Some are so low, they’ll be insurance claims.”
The drought’s impact has been especially severe on corn, with many farmers observing smaller kernel sizes and incomplete pollination. Corcoran explained that the dry summer caused plants to cannibalize nutrients from their own stalks, leading to weaker stands and a higher risk of lodging as harvest approaches. These challenges are adding to farmers’ concerns about increased harvesting costs and reduced profitability in what was already a tight-margin year.
The situation has been compounded by an indefinite delay in the USDA’s weekly crop progress report due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. Without this crucial data, farmers and market analysts are left uncertain about the broader scale of drought impacts across the Midwest. As growers prepare for harvest, many in southern Ohio are bracing for one of their most difficult seasons in recent memory hoping that next year’s weather brings much-needed relief and recovery.
