MONROE - Despite unpredictable weather throughout the summer, crops in Green and Lafayette counties are still on track for healthy harvests.
Green County agriculture agent Mark Mayer said that, despite frequent rainfall and a pair of tornadoes that struck the county in June, few farmers have reported significant wind or hail damage to their crops.
"Our county actually does better than others in wet years," Mayer said, citing Green County's hilly landscapes.
Mayer said most recent analyses of the county's crops found that 75 percent of the county's corn and soybeans are rated "good" or "excellent," which Mayer said was approximately average for this point in the season.
A U.S. Department of Agriculture report filed on July 31 revealed that 70 percent of all corn throughout the state is rated in good or excellent condition. No crop statewide has more than 10 percent rated "poor" or "very poor."
"We may even have a potentially above-average yield this year," Mayer said.
Mayer said only weather-related risk to crops in Green or nearby counties is from flooding, with some low-lying field crops taking on too much water.
Kriss Marion, owner of Circle M Market Farm in Blanchardville, said that, of all her various crops, only her tomatoes have sustained significant damage from the weather.
"The constant dampness has been causing blights," Marion said. "They'll be our biggest loss."
However, Marion said the remainder of her crops, ranging from lettuce to broccoli to potatoes to herbs to watermelons are still healthy and on track for a good harvest.
But Marion pointed out that the actual cost of recent inclement weather was to time management: Marion and her husband have less time to do everything that needs to be done on the farm in between rain showers.
"It's difficult to stay on top of the weeding," Marion said.
Mayer said the biggest concern for crops in the area is whether there will be enough sunny days to bring the remainder of the corn crop to maturity.
Because of rainfall earlier in the season, some farmers delayed planting corn, meaning some crops may struggle to reach maturity before the weather turns cold. Currently, 68 percent of all corn in the south-central agricultural district - where Green County is located - has reached the silking stage, a sign that corn is nearly ready to be harvested.
By this time last year, 85 percent of corn in the district had reached the silking stage, although 2016 saw record-breaking harvests after nearly perfect weather conditions.
"Having more rain has its pluses and minuses," Mayer said. "But I think it'll be okay."
Green County agriculture agent Mark Mayer said that, despite frequent rainfall and a pair of tornadoes that struck the county in June, few farmers have reported significant wind or hail damage to their crops.
"Our county actually does better than others in wet years," Mayer said, citing Green County's hilly landscapes.
Mayer said most recent analyses of the county's crops found that 75 percent of the county's corn and soybeans are rated "good" or "excellent," which Mayer said was approximately average for this point in the season.
A U.S. Department of Agriculture report filed on July 31 revealed that 70 percent of all corn throughout the state is rated in good or excellent condition. No crop statewide has more than 10 percent rated "poor" or "very poor."
"We may even have a potentially above-average yield this year," Mayer said.
Mayer said only weather-related risk to crops in Green or nearby counties is from flooding, with some low-lying field crops taking on too much water.
Kriss Marion, owner of Circle M Market Farm in Blanchardville, said that, of all her various crops, only her tomatoes have sustained significant damage from the weather.
"The constant dampness has been causing blights," Marion said. "They'll be our biggest loss."
However, Marion said the remainder of her crops, ranging from lettuce to broccoli to potatoes to herbs to watermelons are still healthy and on track for a good harvest.
But Marion pointed out that the actual cost of recent inclement weather was to time management: Marion and her husband have less time to do everything that needs to be done on the farm in between rain showers.
"It's difficult to stay on top of the weeding," Marion said.
Mayer said the biggest concern for crops in the area is whether there will be enough sunny days to bring the remainder of the corn crop to maturity.
Because of rainfall earlier in the season, some farmers delayed planting corn, meaning some crops may struggle to reach maturity before the weather turns cold. Currently, 68 percent of all corn in the south-central agricultural district - where Green County is located - has reached the silking stage, a sign that corn is nearly ready to be harvested.
By this time last year, 85 percent of corn in the district had reached the silking stage, although 2016 saw record-breaking harvests after nearly perfect weather conditions.
"Having more rain has its pluses and minuses," Mayer said. "But I think it'll be okay."