Corn and soybean crops at Randy Smith’s beef cattle farm in Washington Township are expected to produce the best harvest he has seen in several years.

Recent light rains are preventing him from harvesting his oats and from taking a second cutting of his hay. He said he might not harvest either one and leave them in the field.

Overall, he said the rainfall this summer has been “perfect for making stuff grow.”

Total rainfall in Butler County has been above average this year and has included several storms that resulted in localized flooding.

The county normally receives a little more than 43 inches of precipitation per year and most of it comes in June through September, when rainfall averages a little more than 4 inches per month.

Rainfall totals this year vary from different sources.

According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the county received 4.47 inches of rain in June, 4.83 inches in July and 3.88 inches so far this month.

The National Weather Service has not had a weather observer in the county since 2020 and relies on civilian observations reported on websites. One of those sites indicated the county received 3.90 inches in June, 4.73 inches in July and 4.13 so far this month.

Storms with heavy rains that have caused flooding in parts of the county this year have avoided the Washington Township area. Smith recalled a July storm that resulted in flooding in Slippery Rock, but brought only about a half-inch of rain several miles east in Washington Township.

He said he hasn’t seen much rain so far in August, but the rain that has fallen is helping his crops.

“The benefits are so great. Our corn and soybeans, we’re looking at the best harvest we’ve had in the last four years,” Smith said.

He said he’d rather have too much rain than too little because it helps his corn and soybeans. July and August last year were extremely dry, he added.