MONROE - Farmers throughout Monroe and all of Green County are experiencing a severe decrease in rain, bad news for planters who count on revenue from corn and soybeans.
Mark Mayer, University of Wisconsin Extension agriculture agent in Green County, said an optimistic outlook at the beginning of summer morphed into a negative one as July ended in dry conditions which continued into August. The current month generally produces just over 4 inches of rain on average, but as of last week, the total was estimated at just 1.8 within the county.
"That really long stretch without rain took the luster off the crops," Mayer said. "We are definitely seeing some strain on the corn and beans."
Rainfall was promising at the beginning of June for pollination. The month boasted more than 5 inches of rainfall, and if rainfall had stayed on track with numbers from the beginning of the summer, it would have been a prosperous planting season for area farmers. But a gap from mid-July to mid-August, which produced only half the usual moisture, caused problems for what Mayer said could have been the best crop season in 30 years.
Still, the harvest doesn't look as bad as it has in previous years.
"We took multiple bushels off the projected yield list, but it's not a major drought situation like 2012 or 1988," Mayer said. "The rain we have coming could still help."
Despite drought conditions which have caused a loss of crops along 2 to 3 percent of land per day, estimations are still positive. However, the numbers could affect farmers and their hopeful returns. Those who planted earlier may have, for the most part, escaped the damage dealt in a month without precipitation, but dry weather has caused issues for all planters. If unable to meet 56 pounds per bushel of corn, yields decrease from their anticipated price. Those who planted earlier in the year, with more critical pollination support due to heavy rain in June, will most likely be less impacted.
"Our corn and beans probably looked as good as they had in the last 30 years, but the rain just shut off," Mayer said. "It's still going to be a good crop, but it won't be as good as it could have been."
Aaron Digman, an area farmer and district sales manager for NuTech Seed, expressed a patience for the year's growing season even as he acknowledged the figures will not be as high as crop producers had hoped.
"I'm not real optimistic, but it's not a disaster by any means," Digman said.
Digman planted corn, soybeans and wheat. He said the lack of rain has impacted his beans the most, though his corn has taken a hit as well. While the corn has experienced tip back, the malformation of the tip of an ear of corn which causes yield numbers to be lower due to a lighter product, soybeans have taken the most damage.
"It really takes rain in August to make beans and there really hasn't been rain in August," Digman said.
Soybeans on his acreage have experienced a common problem among the crop which occurs if water supplies are low. The pods, which are the essence of the plant, do not form and instead the stalk simply flowers without a product to show for the time spent growing. Digman said this has been a common problem for soybeans when they are given less moisture, which is what fuels pod growth.
Estimates by Digman place his crops at average or slightly above the anticipated corn yield, while soybean figures may be flipped; slightly below or possibly meeting the average yield.
He pointed out the trouble planters go through to ensure planting season is successful. Disappointment can also be a part of that process.
"You do everything you can," Digman said. "But in the end, Mother Nature has the final say in your yield."
Mark Mayer, University of Wisconsin Extension agriculture agent in Green County, said an optimistic outlook at the beginning of summer morphed into a negative one as July ended in dry conditions which continued into August. The current month generally produces just over 4 inches of rain on average, but as of last week, the total was estimated at just 1.8 within the county.
"That really long stretch without rain took the luster off the crops," Mayer said. "We are definitely seeing some strain on the corn and beans."
Rainfall was promising at the beginning of June for pollination. The month boasted more than 5 inches of rainfall, and if rainfall had stayed on track with numbers from the beginning of the summer, it would have been a prosperous planting season for area farmers. But a gap from mid-July to mid-August, which produced only half the usual moisture, caused problems for what Mayer said could have been the best crop season in 30 years.
Still, the harvest doesn't look as bad as it has in previous years.
"We took multiple bushels off the projected yield list, but it's not a major drought situation like 2012 or 1988," Mayer said. "The rain we have coming could still help."
Despite drought conditions which have caused a loss of crops along 2 to 3 percent of land per day, estimations are still positive. However, the numbers could affect farmers and their hopeful returns. Those who planted earlier may have, for the most part, escaped the damage dealt in a month without precipitation, but dry weather has caused issues for all planters. If unable to meet 56 pounds per bushel of corn, yields decrease from their anticipated price. Those who planted earlier in the year, with more critical pollination support due to heavy rain in June, will most likely be less impacted.
"Our corn and beans probably looked as good as they had in the last 30 years, but the rain just shut off," Mayer said. "It's still going to be a good crop, but it won't be as good as it could have been."
Aaron Digman, an area farmer and district sales manager for NuTech Seed, expressed a patience for the year's growing season even as he acknowledged the figures will not be as high as crop producers had hoped.
"I'm not real optimistic, but it's not a disaster by any means," Digman said.
Digman planted corn, soybeans and wheat. He said the lack of rain has impacted his beans the most, though his corn has taken a hit as well. While the corn has experienced tip back, the malformation of the tip of an ear of corn which causes yield numbers to be lower due to a lighter product, soybeans have taken the most damage.
"It really takes rain in August to make beans and there really hasn't been rain in August," Digman said.
Soybeans on his acreage have experienced a common problem among the crop which occurs if water supplies are low. The pods, which are the essence of the plant, do not form and instead the stalk simply flowers without a product to show for the time spent growing. Digman said this has been a common problem for soybeans when they are given less moisture, which is what fuels pod growth.
Estimates by Digman place his crops at average or slightly above the anticipated corn yield, while soybean figures may be flipped; slightly below or possibly meeting the average yield.
He pointed out the trouble planters go through to ensure planting season is successful. Disappointment can also be a part of that process.
"You do everything you can," Digman said. "But in the end, Mother Nature has the final say in your yield."