Franklin County Farm Bureau News

 By J. Larry Miller

Last week I reported that heavy rain was possible late last week and it certainly became a reality with as much as 5 inches falling in some areas of the county. Some of the readers of this article who are not farmers are wondering what this means and some of us farmers are wondering also.

Larry Miller, executive director Franklin County Farm Bureau

Generally, this is not a major setback but there are a few problems with this much rain at one time. Some fields that were plant previous to the rain, such as a day or two before the rain, could have some problems with emergence due to crusting of the soil surface. There is some water standing in fields and that situation will deplete the number of plants, reducing yield of the total field. An increased number of areas of water could reduce yield to the point of possible replanting in some parts of the field. This is what farmers hate to do – spotting in areas of a field. They would rather replant an entire field than replant portions of a field. It is one of those dreaded jobs like doing repair jobs in the house for the most important person in your life.

Some fields in low lying areas were completely submerged and will need to be replanted but this type of land has greater yield potential even if planted later. Most of the corn is planted and a large portion of soybeans but planting any more will have to wait until next week before any field work can be done. If your yard is wet – so is a farmer’s field!

Wheat fields have suffered from the heavy rain and caused some fields to have a lot of wheat to fall, the result of this will be reduced yields. Where this has happened and the amount of reduction of total yield will be in proportion to how much has fallen. Generally, the fallen wheat is a result of higher nitrogen rate which increases yield. It is a delicate balance. Yet, I believe that wheat yields will be better than normal if the rain stops and weather is good until harvest which is about 2 weeks away.

There is good news from Springfield, the General Assembly has adjourned! They passed concealed carry but it is not law as the Governor must sign the bill and I predict he will not. No new pension reform was passed as I expected and the budget crisis continues. The legislators continue to receive their paychecks as if they’re doing their jobs. Business as usual!

Remember we are farmers working together. If we can help let us know.