WOOD COUNTY, Ohio — Most area farmers would like to be in their fields planting corn by early May, but record rainfall in April has delayed it.
As of this week, just 6% of Ohio’s corn crops are planted.
But there is still some wiggle room.
Last year, Ohio farmers planted 3.3 million acres of corn, producing a state-record yield of 198 bushels per acre.
As we sneak into May, farmers haven't fallen into a panic about it, but it does have their attention.
Nolan and Logan Chamberlin are a married couple who farm in Wood County near Bowling Green and operate Riker Feed Company. Since they tiled all their fields, the impact of the rain has not been as severe as elsewhere in northwest Ohio.
Having a farm is a crazy lifestyle. High expenses for equipment and supplies, not to mention long hours of hard work. And still, you have no control over the crops.
Mother Nature gets the last word.
"I've had a lot of sleepless nights," Nolan said.
The worst spring weather in recent memory was in 2019, and despite heavy rain, farmers still planted their crops as late as June.
Thanks to perfect summer weather the harvest was as good as ever.
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