There was little progress made on corn planting last two weeks due to persistent rains and saturated field conditions. As prospects for a timely start to spring planting diminish, growers need to reassess their planting strategies and consider adjustments.

FINDLAY — The Ohio Farm Bureau and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRSC) joined forces to give the area news media a bus tour of farms in Hardin and Hancock counties which have made changes to control the chemical run-off from their fields into area water supplies.

For the time period of April 15-30, Extension rainfall reporters recorded an average of 3.16 inches of rain in Hardin County. Last year, the average rainfall for the same time period was 1.46 inches. Rainfall for the April 15-30 time period is 1.12 inches more than the 10-year average rainfall during the same dates.

It’s that time of year again for the Master Gardeners of Hardin County to host their 14th annual plant sale. It will be held on Saturday, May 13 at the fairgrounds’ Arts and Crafts Building.

Heavy rains over the weekend resulted in saturated soil conditions across much of the state. Excessive rainfall in some areas have resulted in localized ponding and flooding of corn.

Austin Heil’s family has had its roots firmly planted at a Pleasant Township farm for six generations and the Kenton High School graduate is diversifying from the traditional farming work to guarantee the future of the homestead. Heil was featured recently on the Growing Our Generation email newsletter produced by the Ohio Farm Bureau for being the sixth generation to farm the same land.

The Hardin County OSU Extension office is trapping armyworm and black cutworm in the county this year as a way of determining the level of activity in the area. This trapping is being done in the spring months in addition to the western bean cutworm traps that are set around the county in the summer.

Underwood Stock Farms (Sullinger Farm) will serve as the location for the Hardin County Pasture Walk on Wednesday, May 3. This program will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in a pasture located at 18917 County Road 155 near Ridgeway.

Six small farms were visited as part of the Auglaize and Hardin County New and Small Farm College on Saturday, April 8. The New and Small Farm College was an eight-week short course held at the Ohio State University Lima campus in February and March.

Brian Searson, 15, of Kenton and a student of Kenton City Schools, will serve as the 2017 Beef Ambassador for Hardin County. His selection was announced at last month’s Beef Banquet but he was unable to attend due to a previous engagement. Also on the team are Makenzie Jolliff and Madisen Jolliff.