Drought '99 Ohio State University Extension Drought Will Rob Ohio Corn Yields, Farm Income, July 15, 1999 By Steve Zolvinski COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Many Ohio corn fields could have major yield losses because recent scattered showers weren't enough to salvage the crop from season-long drought, said Ohio State University agronomist Peter Thomison. The projected yield loss would be "significant" in many parts of Ohio, particularly the parched south central region, Thomison said. Losses could exceed the 1988 drought, the worst in recent memory, he said. Although late July brought rain in 1988, corn yielded a disappointing 85 bushels per acre, and soybeans 27 bushels per acre. In contrast, Ohio's 1994-98 average yields for corn were 129.2 bushels per acre, and soybeans were 40.9 bushels per acre. The prospect of low yields combined with low crop prices could be a "double-whammy" for farmers in drought-stricken parts of Ohio, said Ohio State agricultural economist Allan Lines. "I think it will probably end up bringing Ohio farm income down, particularly in the grain sector," Lines said. "But in the livestock sector this could result in a little better net income because of lower feed prices." Corn in Ohio's drought-stressed areas need as much as one-third of an inch of moisture per day when the crop is entering tasseling, the peak demand period for water, Thomison said. "The recent showers helped some, but the benefits were short-lived," Thomison said. "With the high temperatures we basically used up that moisture in a day or two." Weed pressures are another drought-related variable that can cut into yields because some herbicides need rain to be effective, Thomison said. Also, drought-weakened stalks can set the stage for plant lodging problems, a condition that causes yield losses at harvest. To make things worse, many corn fields have uneven stands due to variable soil moisture levels, Thomison said. Poor pollination -- leading to ultimate yield loss -- occurs when plants are not at the same growth stage. There's still enough time for rain to help Ohio's soybeans because the plants' peak demand for water is a 70-day flowering and pod-fill period, said Ohio State agronomist Jim Beuerlein. "But at some point, July has got to have lots of moisture to make the pod and fill it out," he said. From April 1 though July 11, Ohio's northwest and north central regions were within 1 inch of average precipitation. The state's driest areas were central, south central and southeast, which are about 4.5-6.0 inches below average moisture. The rest of Ohio ranged about 1.0-3.5 inches below average precipitation. Overall, Ohio is averaging a 2.83-inch moisture deficit. The drought comes after a year of slumping corn prices, which could set back Ohio farmers' income for a second year in row. Thomison said most of the Corn Belt west of Ohio is expecting an outstanding crop year, which could increase grain surpluses and further depress already-eroded prices. He said Ohio only produces 5 percent of the nation's corn, so its yield losses will have a negligible effect on national prices. Farmers can get Ohio State specialists' recommendations for crop management during the drought by subscribing to "Ag Answers," a joint online service operated in conjunction with Purdue University. For information, send an e-mail message to Amy Raley at ahr@aes.purdue.edu or consult the Ag Answers home page at http://www.aes.purdue.edu/AgAnswrs/AgAnswers.html. Ohio State specialists also give weekly crop condition updates in the online Crop Observation and Recommendation Network (CORN) newsletter. To subscribe, send an e-mail message to corn-out-on@postoffice.ag.ohiostate.edu. If you have problems subscribing, contact your local Ohio State Extension office or send an e-mail message to labarge.1@osu.edu. -30- All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status. Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Adm. and Director, OSU Extension. TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868   | C.O.R.N. | Newsletter | Ohioline | Publications |