Ohio Leads with Best Soybean Crop Condition in the US

Ohio is enjoying a prosperous soybean season, boasting 76% of its crop in good/excellent condition, as revealed by the Crop Progress report dated Aug. 28, 2023. This positions Ohio as having the country’s best soybean yield.

A combination of factors, including cool mornings, sunny days, and the right amount of rainfall, has favored the state’s soybean growth. Aaron Wilson, an atmospheric scientist at The Ohio State University, attributes these favorable conditions to the success of the soybeans.

The USDA’s recent figures for the week ending Aug. 27 show the health of Ohio soybeans as 1% very poor, 3% poor, 20% fair, 65% good, and 11% excellent. This marks an improvement from the preceding week. Additionally, 90% of the state’s soybeans are setting pods, a notable 8% rise from the previous week and just above the five-year average of 89%. The state, however, lags behind its five-year average of 3% for soybeans dropping leaves, with none reported so far.

Recent weather updates indicate an average temperature of 73.7°F across Ohio, which is 3 degrees above the usual. This period also saw increased rainfalls, especially in the northern parts of the state, averaging at 1.88 inches – 1.1 inches higher than the standard. These rains were particularly beneficial for the late-planted soybeans in southern Ohio.

Remarkably, the state has been mostly free from drought concerns. All its 88 counties are devoid of any active drought disaster designations as of the week ending Aug. 27. Only 8% of the state reported abnormally dry conditions, and it has been a month since any moderate drought conditions were cited. Topsoil moisture conditions are also largely positive, with 1% very short, 9% short, 71% adequate, and 19% surplus.

While July 2023 was ranked as the 21st driest July for Ohio since records began in 1895, this year is turning out to be the 57th wettest year for the state.