Crop conditions, planting pace for Ohio farmers
A new USDA report details the progress of corn and soybean planting compared to their averages across Ohio, along with the overall condition of winter wheat and pasture/range.
As of the week ending May 4, 22 percent of Ohio's corn acreage had been planted, compared to 23 percent planted by the same time last year and a 5-year average of 15 percent.
Soybean planting shows 23 percent of the crop in the ground, versus 18% last year and a 5-year average of 13 percent.
This year, 40 percent of oats have emerged, up from 30 percent in 2024.
The latest crop weather report indicates that only 2.8 days were suitable for fieldwork in the past week, down from 4.6 a week earlier.
The latest report indicates varied soil moisture conditions across Ohio for the week ending May 4.
For topsoil, the majority is adequate (52 percent), with some areas reporting surplus (46 percent) and a small percentage being short (2 percent). Subsoil moisture is also primarily adequate (70 percent), with some short (5 percent) and surplus (25 percent).
The condition of winter wheat in Ohio is reported as 11 percent excellent, 50 percent good, 33 percent fair and 4 percent poor.
Pasture and range conditions in Ohio are reported as 8 percent excellent, 67 percent good, 22 percent fair and 3 percent poor.
The report is from the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.