BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — April has brought record-breaking rainfall across our area, saturating the soil and setting the stage for a crucial period in agriculture.
Farmers are preparing for the planting season, facing both the promise of fertile ground and the challenge of unpredictable weather patterns.
After weathering a record month of rainfall throughout April, farmers are now rolling up their sleeves and pushing ahead to get ready for this year’s planting season, but farmers say they are not too concerned just yet.
With fields struggling to dry up and the planting season right around the corner, farmers are getting anxious to get out in the field and kick this season off.
Right now, the weather has yet to have a major effect on things when it comes to planting, according to Nick Eckel, an agriculture and natural resources educator at the Ohio State University extension in Bowling Green.
But if these weather patterns keep up, they could be stuck waiting for a bit.
"Really, that first week of May is really a sweet spot of what guys really try to shoot for to get corn planted," Eckel said. "We’ve been pushing the envelope on planting soybeans a little bit earlier into April. Obviously, we’ve pushed that back a little bit now."
Although there are not many complaints about the recent rain showers, there are other factors farmers might have to deal with before planting.
"I think the biggest challenge with the rain is we’re going to have large weeds to contend with," Eckel said.
To deal with large weeds, farmers will need to till or use herbicides.
"So it might be a challenge, especially if the weather isn’t conducive and if we're not timely in getting that controlled," Eckel said.
When it comes to weather patterns farmers do not want, Eckel said there is still potential for adverse conditions.
"If it would stay wet and cool, it would be tough to really dry that soil out so if we go on a cool stretch, which we've been known to do sometimes in late May," Eckel said.
So even with the record rainfall in April, is the original planting date still circled on every farmer's calendar?
"Most producers would look at trying to get beans planted towards the tail end of April," Eckel said. "And then, usually, guys have a date where they like to flip the switch to start to switch over to corn. Usually, it’s the first week of May up until Mother’s Day, usually, by the 15th."
But some farmers are already at work. Fostoria-area farmers are planting beans and it has been pretty active south of Route 30 down I-75, Eckel said.
As we bid farewell to April, a month marked by record rainfall, we are reminded that amidst the challenges, there is a sense of resilience and determination among our farming community as they gear up for the planting season.