Ohio’s agricultural sector is entering one of its most challenging autumns in recent memory as farmers contend with record-breaking dryness, mounting pest concerns, and uneven crop conditions.
The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Crop Progress report, released Monday, September 22, highlights how the state’s corn, soybean, and wheat fields are holding up amid these pressures, and what lies ahead as harvest accelerates.
Weather: Driest August in More Than a Century
The weather story is at the center of Ohio’s crop challenges. According to Aaron Wilson, state climatologist at Ohio State University, August 2025 ranked as the driest August since records began in 1895.
The first three weeks of September have offered little relief, with the entire state recording below-normal rainfall during the past 30 days.
This prolonged dryness has created significant strain on soil reserves. USDA rated topsoil moisture at 51% “very short” and 37% “short,” leaving only 12% considered “adequate.” Subsoil conditions fared similarly, with 46% “very short” and 37% “short.” Not a single acre of soil in the state was classified as having surplus moisture.
The parched ground, however, did provide farmers with field access. Growers had 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 21, an unusually high figure for late September. The coming week may mark a shift: rain is forecast from Tuesday through Friday, potentially changing harvest plans once again.
Corn: Ahead of Schedule, But Under Stress
Corn remains one of Ohio’s most valuable crops, with 3.2 million acres planted this year, according to the USDA’s June acreage report. That figure represents a decline of about 200,000 acres compared to 2024, as some farmers shifted to soybeans or other crops.
Development Stages
- Dent stage: 93% of corn acres had reached dent as of September 21, outpacing the five-year average of 86% and matching progress seen at the same time last year.
- Maturity: 51% of corn was mature, ahead of the five-year average of 42% but lagging behind 2024’s 58%.
- Harvest: 6% of corn had been harvested, beating the five-year norm of 3%, though short of last year’s 9%.
These numbers suggest that Ohio’s corn crop is advancing faster than typical but remains vulnerable to the season’s harsh conditions.
Pest and Disease Concerns
Farmers also face a mounting pest challenge. The Crop Protection Network has confirmed tar spot cases in nine counties, a fungal disease known for reducing yields and grain quality.
Additionally, monitoring traps revealed a sharp increase in fall armyworm moths, rising from an average of 3.6 to 13.4 per trap. While these pests do not overwinter in Ohio and won’t impact next year’s fields, their presence adds stress to this year’s crop.
Crop Condition
USDA’s latest ratings reveal a crop under pressure:
- 3% very poor
- 13% poor
- 40% fair
- 39% good
- 5% excellent
By comparison, across 18 major corn-producing states, 17% of corn is considered “excellent.” Ohio’s weaker ratings underscore the toll of limited rainfall and pest pressure.
Soybeans: Drought Damage and Harvest Complications
Soybeans cover even more ground than corn in Ohio, with 4.9 million acres planted in 2025, though that is down 150,000 acres from the prior year. This season, soybeans are facing perhaps the toughest road of all.
Development and Harvest
By September 21, 71% of soybean fields were dropping leaves, ahead of the five-year average of 56% but just short of last year’s 75%. Harvest is underway, with 10% complete, well above the five-year average of 4%, though behind last year’s 13%.
Also Read: Corn Growers Debate 20-Inch Rows as Research Shows Gains and Regional Challenges
Quality Concerns
The bigger issue for soybeans lies in quality. Laura Lindsey, soybean specialist with Ohio State Extension, warned in a recent podcast that conditions this year resemble 2024, when rain after prolonged dryness caused serious harvest complications. Dry beans that suddenly reabsorbed moisture sprouted prematurely in their pods, leading to quality losses.
This year, early-planted soybeans were most vulnerable. They entered maturity with lower moisture content, making them more susceptible when rains returned.
Farmers have also reported darkened stems, pods, and seeds, often tied to pathogens such as the Diaporthe/Phomopsis complex, Fusarium, Cercospora, and Alternaria.
To mitigate losses, Lindsey advised growers to harvest soybeans quickly once they reach 13% moisture. Delays could leave fields exposed to further sprouting and disease spread.
Crop Condition
USDA rated Ohio soybeans as:
- 4% very poor
- 15% poor
- 41% fair
- 36% good
- 4% excellent
That leaves only 40% of soybeans in the “good” to “excellent” category, well below the national average of 61% in the same range.
Winter Wheat: Slow Start to Planting
Planting of Ohio’s winter wheat is just beginning. As of September 21, only 2% of the crop was in the ground, trailing last year’s pace of 4% and slightly behind the five-year average of 3%.
While planting progress typically accelerates in late September and October, current soil moisture deficits may complicate establishment.
Pasture and Range: Drought Takes Its Toll
Ohio’s livestock producers are also feeling the effects of the dry spell. USDA rated pasture and range conditions at 37% poor, 23% fair, 26% good, and 14% excellent.
These ratings are worse than national averages, which show only 23% of pastures classified as poor and 26% as good. Limited forage growth may increase feed costs heading into winter.
Outlook: Uncertainty Ahead
With harvest underway for both corn and soybeans, Ohio farmers are entering a critical stretch. On one hand, the extended dry period has allowed for significant fieldwork without delays.
On the other hand, persistent drought has damaged crops, reduced soil reserves, and increased the risks of pest and disease outbreaks.
Rainfall expected in the coming week may help recharge soils, but it also raises the risk of further soybean quality issues if fields are not harvested quickly.
Farmers are being advised to monitor moisture closely, manage disease pressure, and take advantage of every window available for harvest.
The Bottom Line
Ohio agriculture is weathering a season defined by extremes: the driest August in 130 years, followed by sporadic rainfall that may do as much harm as good.
Corn appears to be progressing near normal, but faces quality concerns from tar spot and variable moisture. Soybeans are at greater risk, with both yield and quality threatened by drought, sudden rainfall, and disease. Meanwhile, wheat planting is off to a slow start, and pastures are struggling to support livestock.
For Ohio’s farmers, the coming weeks will determine whether 2025 goes down as a salvageable year, or one remembered for its costly combination of drought and pests.