Farmers waiting on dry weather

By Ken De La Bastide

Everyone likes to complain about the weather, but for area farmers, the wetter-than-normal spring is preventing the planting of the 2009 corn crop.

The National Weather Service said central Indiana — the state’s prime corn growing region — had its wettest April in 45 years, with 7.23 inches of rain, or nearly 4 inches more than normal, falling in the Indianapolis area.

The wet weather has not slowed any in May.

“Stressful,” is how Miami County farmer Mike Morris described this spring. “We’re running out of time for our better yields.”

Morris said he has been able to plant 300 acres of corn in lighter soil, but other fields are still too wet to work.

The planting of corn is two weeks behind, he said.

“We need the sun to draw the moisture out of the soil,” he said. “Compaction of the fields because of the wet conditions is a concern.”

Morris said the entire state and most of the surrounding states are behind in planting the 2009 crop, which could drive prices up.

Howard County farmer Dick Miller said, as of Friday, he planted only 20 percent or 1,100 acres because of the weather conditions.

“This may not be the worst spring,” he said, “but we have accustomed ourselves to planting by the first of May.”

Miller said the newer seeds can stand an earlier and colder fall than in the past, so there is still hope for a good harvest.

“After May 10, the experts say there is a percentage loss in the yield for each day that passes,” he said. “Farmers pray a lot because there are so many things out of our control.”

Miller said the planting of soybeans can take place in June.

He explained there are three different ranges for soybeans and six ranges for corn when it comes to early, middle or late maturity. Miller said the longer duration crops generally produce a little more yield.

“I have been able to plant some beans,” Miller said, “but the ground is still too wet for corn.”

The rainy, cool conditions forecast for today won’t help, he added.

“I need four days of 80 degree weather with a breeze,” Miller said. “That would allow me to get into the fields on Friday.”

Miller also said considering a switch from corn to soybeans in some fields is mostly out of the question because nitrogen fertilizer has already been applied.

“I still have one option,” he said. “There is one field with no nitrogen. If I switch, I lose money on my investment.”

Since the wet weather is impacting much of the cornbelt, Miller said he expects the prices to jump, but the increase has not been dramatic.

Agriculture futures advanced on the Chicago Board of Trade Friday morning with July corn gaining 7 cents to $4.19 a bushel and July soybeans rising 5 cents to $11.07 a bushel.

“The weather is out of our control,” he said.

Ken de la Bastide is the Kokomo Tribune enterprise editor. He can be reached at (765) 454 -8580 or via e-mail at ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com

Safety tips

With the onset of farm planting season, Indiana State Police reminds motorist to be cautious for slow-moving large farm machinery on rural roads. Motorists should be prepared to slow or stop to avoid a collision with a farm machine turning into a field or driveway.

ISP offers the following planting season driving tips:

• Farm machinery can unexpectedly turn onto a public road from a field or driveway. It is important for everyone’s safety to have patience and share the road.

• Farm machinery travels slower than normal traffic, often at speeds of 25 miles per hour or less. Automobile drivers must quickly identify farm equipment and slow down immediately to avoid rear-end crashes.

• Slow-moving farm machinery, traveling at less than 25 miles per hour, are required to display a slow-moving vehicle emblem on the back of the equipment. This is a quickly identifiable sign to other motorists. All lighting should be working properly and be highly visible.

• Slow-moving vehicles are required to pull off to the right when three or more vehicles are blocked and cannot pass on the left.

• Machinery that is half on the road and half on the shoulder may suddenly move completely onto the road. Machinery may take up more than one lane to avoid obstacles such as road signs.

• Before passing farm machinery check to be sure that machinery is not turning left. Look for left-turn lights or hand signals. If the machinery slows and pulls toward the right side of the road, the operator is likely preparing to make a wide left turn. Likewise, sometimes to make a right turn with wide equipment, the driver must fade to the left.

• Determine if the road is wide enough for you and the machinery to safely share.

• Look for roadside obstacles such as mailboxes, bridges, or road signs that may cause the machinery to move to the center of the road.

• Be sure there is adequate distance for you to safely pass.

Source: Indiana State Police

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