Ag Beat: Spring near perfect, but it's a long season

BUCYRUS – If local farmers have a summer and fall as ideal as the spring they've just experienced, north central Ohio could be in for a bumper crop of grains this year.

But as perfect as this planting season was across the region, agricultural producers are already identifying potential issues.

"Scattered showers occurred over the past week. However, many areas haven't had much rainfall in recent weeks, contributing to a growing seasonal deficit," the Ohio field office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service said in its latest crop weather report for the state.

"Increased humidity is bringing concern for disease development in wheat. Prevailing humidity, cloud cover and cool temperatures yielded little opportunity for curing of dry hay, and most fields that were cut went to silage or baleage."

Good news

Still, the news so far this season is almost uniformly good.

The USDA said 87 percent of Ohio's corn crop had been planted as of Sunday, well above the 66 percent that was in the ground at this point last year as well as the five-year average of 70 percent. Of the planted corn, 68 percent had emerged, nearly double the 36 percent of last year, while that five-year average is 48 percent.

The USDA has issued its first condition report for Ohio's corn crop this year, and it's exceptional, with 68 percent of the corn rated good and 19 percent in excellent shape.

Meanwhile, 71 percent of the state's soybeans have been planted, more than twice last year's 32 percent, while the five-year average is only 47 percent, according to the USDA. Thirty-eight percent of beans had emerged as of Sunday, compared with 10 percent last year and the five-year average of 23 percent.

North central Ohio's winter wheat got off to slow start this year thanks to a delayed spring, but it's gradually catching up to where it should be. As of Sunday, the state's crop was 36 percent headed, slightly ahead of last year's 31 percent but still behind the five-year average of 53 percent, the USDA said.

The condition of the wheat crop isn't great, but it's been slowly improving for the past few weeks. Fully 52 percent of it is now in good condition, with 28 percent still rated only fair.

Although 71 percent of the state's topsoil had adequate moisture as of Sunday, 14 percent was short, with 15 percent in surplus. Across the region, precipitation levels since April 1 were close to normal in Mansfield, Marion and Fredericktown, while Bucyrus was harboring a deficit of 2.24 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

Storms on Tuesday and Wednesday this week brought needed rain to the area, although coverage was anything but uniform.

Clean Water Rule finalized

In a widely anticipated move, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, along with the U.S. Army, finalized its Clean Water Rule this week, aimed at more clearly defining tributaries that influence the health of downstream waters. The rule says a tributary must show physical features of flowing water — a bed, bank and ordinary high-water mark — to warrant protection.

Agricultural interests were quick to slam the rule, even before this week's announcement.

The Ohio Farm Bureau said the rule, which takes effect in 60 days, will increase federal authority over intrastate waters, and was "created under the auspice of providing certainty but instead has left many farmers confused and worried about increased regulatory liability," wrote Jack Fisher, Ohio Farm Bureau executive vice president, in a letter to members of the Ohio House.

But others said the rule completes another chapter in history of the Clean Water Act.

"This rule responds to the public's demand for greater clarity, consistency and predictability when making jurisdictional determinations," said Jo-Ellen Darcy, assistant secretary for the Army (Civil Works).

The U.S. EPA said the rule does not regulate most ditches or groundwater, shallow subsurface flows or tile drains. Nor does it make changes to current policies on irrigation or water transfers, and does not apply to field erosion. The agency said no new permitting requirements will be required of farmers, and that a Clean Water Act permit will only be needed if a waterway is going to be polluted or destroyed.

thill3@nncogannett.com

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Twitter: @ToddHillMNJ