Published: June 30, 2015
By: Tyler Maffitt, WKVI
Extension educators from around the state gathered in
Indianapolis late last week to learn about the damage recent rains are causing
to area fields.
It’s estimated that Indiana’s crops have lost $300-million
in value due to the amount of rainfall in certain portions of the state.
Northern sections of Indiana have been impacted more heavily than other areas.
Purdue Extension Agricultural Educator Phil Woolery says
that to be eligible for federal disaster assistance, a 30-percent reduction in
yields for a single crop would have to be reported.
“So it’d be 30% of corn, not corn and soybeans, but for a
single crop, so the local people are evaluating the situation and investigating
right now,” says Woolery.
Those local people include officials with the Farm Service
Agency – who are currently investigating the situation prior to making the
application for disaster assistance. A press release from Purdue Extension
indicates that the full impact of the flooding isn’t yet clear.
In Starke and Pulaski counties, part of the problem is
saturated soil – which has caused low root growth and reduced nitrogen levels.
Woolery says farmers will have to make their own
assessments.
“If they think these crops can recover and if they would
benefit from supplemental nitrogen application because corn responds very well
to nitrogen and if we get some good weather,” says Woolery. “So there’s
different options for applying nitrogen, even to taller corn.”
State climatologists are predicting rains through July, but
whether they’ll reach June’s precipitation levels is unknown.
The window for replanting corn has already closed. July 3rd
is considered late to replant soybean crops.
No comments:
Post a Comment