Farmers feeling wet weather

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Knee high by the Fourth of July - that's what farmers used to aim for. With modern technology and demands chest high is more common. Recent weather, however, is reminding farmers of the past. (Herald photo by Heidi Terry-Litchfield)

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Local farmers are watching their fields hoping mother nature is a bit more cooperative than she has been so far this year.

"The farmers are six to eight weeks behind because of how wet our spring was," said Tasha Bunting, Manager Grundy Farm Bureau.

In the 40s and 50s farmers in Grundy County were happy to have their corn knee high by the Fourth of July, today's farmers are used to their corn being chest or neck high by the Fourth of July.

Mark Wills, Pioneer seed distributor and local farmer said technology has made the difference in crop expectations.

"Knee high was the norm, but they didn't have the bio technology we have," said Wills. "Today's modern farmer doesn't want it knee high, they want it neck high."

He said 50 years ago farmers had to wait out the insects and other weather conditions that don't affect the engineered corn being planted today to resist those same pests.

Bunting said over the years the variety of corn being planted has changed and in the 50s and 60s the growing seasons were shorter.

"They didn't have the equipment and time we have," she said. "They brought in a lot fewer bushels per acre than today's farmers are."

Bunting said according to the American Farm Bureau today's farmer is feeding about 155 people, where as the farmer of the 50s and 60s was feeding maybe 20 to 30 people.

Both Wills and Bunting said it's still to early to tell what will happen with this years crops.

"Some farmers are replanting soy beans that were lost due to the rain," Wills said. "It's getting too late to replant corn."

He said farmers in this area are normally in the fields planting in April and are done by the end of the month, this year farmers were planting the entire month of May.

Rain not only prevented many farmers from getting in the field it damaged the crops of those who were able to get in.

"Crops can't take the amount of rain we've had this year," said Wills. "They get yellow and stunted."

The Fourth of July is typically the time corn farmers start looking to the fields to see tassles and this year that won't happen locally.

Mother Nature caused the problem but it's also up to Mother Nature to tell the end of the story.

"If August is 90 to 95 degrees and hot with no rain the fields would be ruined," said Wills. "If we get an early frost we could lose the corn because it wouldn't be mature."

Bunting said the cool weather we are experiencing this week is great for us but bad for the crops.

"We need 80 to 85 degree weather with a rain shower each week to keep the ground watered," she said.

 Wills said on the other hand if weather cooperates the fields could turn a good yield.

"For myself it's not a disaster, it's a very stressful year," said Wills. "Every year we fight Mother Nature."

He said the risk is there all the time with crops, and points out most of the area corn is knee high.

"Last year southern Illinois had the same conditions and they had a tremendous crop," he said.

Bunting said the average bushels per acre in 2006 was 170 and she'd expect a 10 to 20 percent reduction locally this year.

Bunting and Wills both said local corn yields probably won't affect the local consumer at the market place.

"Corn prices were already higher," said Bunting. "A crop report Tuesday said the latest crop totals 87 million acres planted which is three million more than estimated and prices dropped."




 

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