Wet spring, dry summer affects crops

PRINCETON — Wet spring planting conditions followed by a dry summer growing season will affect some Gibson County crop production this year.

The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture projected soybean production to be down 8 percent from last year.

Based on current conditions,   soybean yields are expected to average around 41.4 bushels per acre, down 2.1 bushels from last year.

Nationally, corn production yields are expected to average 153 bushels per acre, up 0.2 bushels from last year.

Based on USDA’s current predictions, Indiana’s corn crop would be the smallest since 2006. The soybeans would be the lowest since 2007.

Last week Gibson County farmers and employees from Gibson County Consolidated Grain and Barge conducted a county-wide corn yield survey.

Results from that survey predict county-wide corn production yields will average 149.6 bushels per acre, down 6.6 bushels per acre from last year.

Mark Caskey, facility manager with Consolidated Grain and Barge at Lyles Station,  said the wet spring put planting behind. “I would say 50 percent of the corn was late corn, then you have the hot, dry summer conditions that hurt pollination.”

Caskey said that more corn crops were hurt in South Gibson by from storm damage.

“We had some wind damage and stalks that were damaged from hail in the South Gibson area,” he said.

Caskey said local farmers were, on average,  two to three  weeks late in planting due to the wet spring conditions. “It will be a later harvest because crops are taking longer to mature, due to the late planting conditions.

“There is still time for the late planted crops to mature if we get a much needed rain,” he said.

Caskey said that across the board he still thinks it will be a average year.

“There will be lower yield,  but the prices will probably be higher. I still think some local farmers will be happy.”

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