By JIM LANGHAM

Feature Writer

In the midst of one of the most severe droughts to penetrate northwest Ohio in many years, area farmers got a pleasant surprise last week when they went to the fields to bring in their wheat harvest. Early speculation had been that the local crop would be less than usual, but in fact, it turned out to be one of the best crops in some time.

Dan Recker at Mercer Landmark Elevator in Payne said that this year’s crop was surprisingly good with very good quality. Recker credited area farmers’ high management practices for the crop’s success.

“High management practices served to pay off,” said Recker. “There were multiple applications of fertilizer and good use of fungicides.”