Extent of Rain Damage to Crops Still Being Assessed
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Chris Tulley and Jordan Fouts-
With multiple flood warnings, road closings, soggy sneakers and a probable spike in umbrella sales, summer 2015 has already seen its fair share of precipitation. May and June had a combined 11.5 inches of rain, and July already has accumulated 2.65 inches, according to the National Weather Service weather report for Kosciusko. It has rained 18 days in June and seven so far in July. There has not been a day this summer yet that has hit the 90-degree mark, but one night in late May did reach 35 degrees. June’s average temperature was only 68.3 degrees, which is 1.1 percent lower than normal for this area. July is currently 7.1 percent less warm than the past five years. The remainder of the summer is most likely going to follow suit with recent trends with an estimated 33 percent of days reaching 70 degrees and higher, according to the NWS. The rain is taking its toll on crops in Kosciusko County, but the extent of the damage is still being assessed. “We definitely have some spots in the county that have drowned out but I don't know what percentage that is,” Kelly Heckaman, Purdue Extension educator, said early this morning. “The north end of the county is sand-based soils and crops look excellent there but I know the south end of the county has more challenges, but I haven't been able to travel around much down there in the last week or so and can't give you a very good assessment at this time.” Throughout the rest of the state, Purdue University Agriculture Extension experts estimate that Indiana farmers have lost $486 million in corn and soybean production, according to the Associated Press. Purdue agricultural economics professor Chris Hurt says 21 percent of the state's corn is in “poor” or “very poor” shape. Hurt says in an update on Purdue’s web portal on flooding that Indiana’s estimated corn and soybean yield potentials fell by tens of millions of bushels since early June. Darci Zolman, program administrator with the Kosciusko County Soil and Water Conservation District, said she sees a difference in fields where no-till, cover crop and nutrient management practices are used. She said such practices can help soil better react to extreme conditions whether wet or dry. “If you look at the soil as a dynamic resource, these practices help build better soil structure – biotic activity, drainage and exchange of nutrients is better, while soil erosion is less,” she said. Better water quality is a side benefit, she noted. “Drainage is better, there’s no runoff and the fields are greener because of the nutrients. You can see evidence that the practices work,” she said.
