By Ed Lentz – OSU Extension, Hancock County
Agriculture in 2015 has had many bumps and bruises. I have listed nine events that affected agriculture in our area last year.
Grain Prices. Grain prices continue to remain low for another year. It is been projected that US farm revenue may be at its lowest level since the early 2000’s. Input costs have started to drop but not at a level to match the loss of income. Farm land values have slowly begun to drop as a result of lower farm revenue.
According to Guy Verhoff, Pandora, weather observer, February’s normal average temperature is 28.6 degrees. Not this year. February 2016 was a heat wave month at 32.2 degrees average daily temperature.
The high temp was 69 on Feb. 20 and the low was zero on Feb. 13. The only noticeable snow was five days with “traces” with a mere 3.6 inches on the entire month.
February’s normal average precipitation is 2.02 inches. This year it was 1.82 inches.
Blanchard Valley Hospital (BVH) was today named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals by Truven Health AnalyticsTM. This is the fourth time Blanchard Valley Hospital has been recognized with this honor, which has been awarded to BVH in 2005, 2011, 2015 and now 2016.
Truven Health Analytics identified the 100 top U.S. hospitals based on their overall organizational performance. The study found that the top performing hospitals in the country were able to improve outcomes while reducing overall expense per patient.
Bluffton will be hopping on the weekend of May 14-15.
As previously announced on the Icon, the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce's arts and crafts show is Saturday, May 14. Also, the farmers' market will be held on the morning of the 14th.
One other event bringing hundreds of people to Bluffton on May 14-15 is the Bluffton Soccer Club's annual tournament.
In recent years, this tournament has averaged over 50 teams. This event draws teams from around northwest and west central Ohio for a busy weekend of soccer.
Strong winds with gusts up to 60 miles per hour are possible in the Icon viewership area on Sunday, according to AEP.
Here's the statement from AEP:
"A strong jet stream will be in place across AEP Ohio on Sunday. As temperatures warm to near-record levels (60s F), some of these strong winds could mix down to the surface...resulting in strong wind gusts.
Sustained winds from the southwest of 30-35 m.p.h. and gusts up to 60 m.p.h. are possible Sunday afternoon across parts of AEP Ohio.
