Farmers experienced a mix bag of treats during the 2012 growing season with some crops flourishing and others having a below average year.
Pumpkin farmers are having a great year while local apples are hard to come by.
A unique aspect to the 2012 growing season was significant rain differences within Ashtabula County causing some areas to be much drier than others, said Ashtabula County Exten-sion Agent David Marrison.
“This year there were belts (of rain),” Marrison said of precipitation that doused some areas and left others, just miles away, dry.
Marrison said farmers in Ashtabula County did much better than those in other parts of the state that had a dreadful year. “We can stand a dry year better than a wet year,” he said.
“Pumpkins look awesome this year. There are pumpkins everywhere this year. Pumpkins like dryer conditions. They were in the flowering stage right when we were getting all the rain,” Marrison said.
Grape growers had a “pretty fair year,” but some specialty grapes, raised to make ice wines, had to be harvested early because of a late September hailstorm, Marrison said.
The apple growers had a terrible year, Marrison said. “Apple (growing) was nonexistent because they got frosted out. The apple crop took a big hit,” he said. Marrison said local growers have had to ship apples to the area from farms in New York state.
Many traditional crops had an average year with many farms having wide fluctuation of production.
“It wasn’t a bad year. It wasn’t a great year,” Marr-ison said. Some crops are still being harvested. “I know there are some guys still picking sweet corn,” Marrison said.
Fluctuations of field productivity were really visible in soybeans and corn, Marrison said. He said soybean harvesting is still under way with average yearly production being 40 bushels an acre.
He said area farmers were experiencing anywhere from 20 to 65 bushels a gallon. “Date of planting was crucial this year,” he said.
Corn productivity is averages about 150 bushels an acre with this year’s yields ranging from 80 to 200 bushels an acre, Marrison said.
Local News
Related Photos
-
WARREN DILLAWAY / Star Beacon AREA FARMERS had a mixed year with some crops doing well and others struggling. Ashtabula County farmers fared better than most of the state of Ohio.
Discussion
Growing season a mixed bag for area farmers
- Local News
-
-
New facility in Ashtabula Plaza offers digital X-rays, ultrasounds
People needed an X-ray need not look far, thanks to University Hospitals’ new, state-of-the-art imaging facility at UH Ashtabula Health Center, 2131 Lake Ave., in the Ashtabula Plaza.
-
Stretch of Rt. 193 open, another to close
A section of Route 193 in Sheffield and Kingsville townships closed for repairs has reopened, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation’s District Four office in Akron.
-
Ashtabula Brass Band presents free concert tonight
The Ashtabula Brass Band will present a free spring concert at 7 tonight in the auditorium at Kent State University Ashtabula.
-
Physicals today for Lakeside student-athletes
Any Lakeside High School or Lakeside Junior High School student-athletes who needs a physical can get one today during school hours.
-
Woman charged after stabbing boyfriend in arm
A Cherry Valley woman is being charged with felonious assault and domestic violence after allegedly stabbing her boyfriend Sunday night.
-
City to host Tire Amnesty Day June 1
The city will host Tire Amnesty Day on June 1 to help residents get rid of scrap tires, City Manager Jim Timonere said at Monday’s City Council meeting.
-
Final count begins for special election
The official outcome of the May 7 special election should be known by the end of the week.
-
White Turkey moving on without its beloved owner
Mother’s Day weekend saw the White Turkey Drive-In in Conneaut launch its 61st year in business, but nobody connected with the curbside restaurant felt like celebrating.
-
Bob Evans employee may face fraud charges
A Bob Evans employee could be facing fraud charges after allegedly engaging in a scheme to defraud customers through unauthorized use of their credit cards.
-
Kids injured in fire
Two children suffered minor second-degree burns in a kitchen fire downtown Monday, according to the Ashtabula Fire Department.
City firefighters said the fire sparked at 123 W. 43rd St. at about 11:15 a.m., the report said. - More Local News Headlines
-
