ASHTABULA COUNTY, Ohio—Ohio’s corn crop is taking a big hit this year.  It’s down 34 percent.

  • Ohio's corn crop is down 34 percent this year
  • Low yields are being blamed on an excessively wet spring
  • USDA data shows about 1 in 7 acres went unplanted in Ohio this year, which is the highest rate in the country

Some farmers say it’s a big problem — especially for those who couldn’t plant this past spring.

“We normally yield right around 200 bushels, this year, I’m hoping for 175,” said Jeff Magyar, Northeast Ohio corn and soybean farmer

For Ohio farmer Jeff Magyar he’s one of the lucky ones.

He’s a corn and soybean farmer in Ashtabula county. He farms in Northeast Ohio —the garden spot of the state.

“This corn will be ready to harvest in approximately 45 days,” said Magyar.

But corn farmers in other parts of the state won’t be as lucky.

Farmers in northwest Ohio weren’t able to plant this spring due to wet conditions.

Magyar, however was able to get most of his crops planted.

“The weather has really affected things this year because there was a lot of ground that was late planted, a lot of ground that did not get planted,” said Magyar.

Low yields are being blamed on an excessively wet spring.

USDA data shows about 1 in 7 acres went unplanted in Ohio this year —the highest rate in the country.

About two thirds of the corn grown statewide is in very poor condition.

“Not only are they gonna have a poor crop if it all, they aren’t gonna have money to buy inputs for next year, they could have trouble with their financing, I mean this is going to be a widespread problem,” said Magyar.

Magyar has been farming his whole life.

He farms on 3,000 acres of land.

He says this is one of the worst years he’s seen — even more so for his soybean crops.

“This is going to be a very difficult this year and next year. This will affect all farm economy clear to the local diner,” said Magyar.

Magyar is hoping for warmer temperatures for the rest of September and through October.

That will help the crop catch up.

If a frost is forecasted in the next few weeks, he could lose even more yields.

“Farmers are the eternal optimist, you can weather one, two, three years, but you don’t farm if you’re not an eternal optimist,” said Magyar.