Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hasn't declared Kosciusko County in drought conditions so far, although the region is considered to be "abnormally dry."
With little rain fall crop yields will defenitely be down according to farm loan manager Tom Cleveland of the county's Farm Service Agency.
Most of the corn crop - 73 percent - is considered fair to very poor; 66 percent of the soybean crop is considered fair to very poor.
Corn yields are predicted to be 119 bushels per acre compared to last year's 156 per acre. The five year agerage is 139 bushels per acre.
Soybean yields are predicted to be down to 42 bushel per acre from last year's 50 bushel per acre.
The pastures are so dry many farmers have been feeding their livestock hay.
Feeding hay cuts into stores and many farmers will not get a third or fourth cutting of hay this year, according to the Indiana Agricultural Statistics Service.
"If there's no water, nothing is going to grow," said Kelly Easterday, Extension Agriculture Educator Friday. "Right now rain is not going to help, all it will do is keep the farmers out of the field."
Fall rain is essential for the soil to build up reserves for next spring's plantings, but there's none in sight.
"What we need is a slow gentle rain," Easterday said. "People who plant wheat for a spring harvest are going to be particularily challenged."
