Crops not entirely ruined

By KRISTA KIELSMEIER

Herald-Index Staff Writer

A recent dry spell allowed local farmers to spray for weeds in fields once flooded.

Pounding rains on June 26 again forced farmers out of their fields, but the recent dry period provided a window for herbicide applications and other crop care.

"Hopefully, we'll get back out there sometime next week," Pat Printy, manager of the Farmers Cooperative in Altoona, said the morning after the storms. "Everything's so saturated."

According to a preliminary weather summary prepared by state climatologist Harry Hillaker, statewide average rainfall for the week ending June 22 was 0.25 inches, while the historical normal amount was 1.09 inches.

During that welcome break, Printy sprayed crops for weeds. He said most of the farmers in east Polk County had planted their crops before flooding hit the region. Printy noted that he knows a few people still planting soybeans, but he's heard little discussion of replanting crops.

A field crops report issued June 23 by the Iowa Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service showed that 8 percent of corn acres across the state were flooded, along with 7 percent of soybean acres. Acres replanted or to be replanted stood at 11 percent for corn and 12 percent for soybeans.

Iowa State University Extension Field Agronomist Aaron Saeugling said soybeans have a higher economic potential than corn when planted late. He said extension services have advised that corn shouldn't be replanted after the end of June, due to low yields for the crop.

Saeugling said soybeans could be replanted a bit later, but farmers must consider their herbicide and insurance requirements before making a decision.

To replant, farmers kill the current crop with herbicide or tillage.

"They're looking at added expense to replant, for a lower yield in the end," Saeugling said.

A June 10 USDA report projected that farmers would produce 11.7 billion bushels of corn this year, and that number was down 390 million from the previous month's estimate.

Farmers continue to face the rising cost of inputs, such as feed for livestock. Those higher prices will make their way to grocery store aisles.

The impact could be felt at the gas pumps, too.

Ethanol giant VeraSun Energy has delayed the launch of three of its plants, including one in Iowa, citing the volatility of the market as corn prices topped $7 a bushel.

Farmers still don't know how much the flooding will impact their yields, but they're doing what they can to help their crops rebound.

From Saeugling, the advice is simple.

"You have to grind it out and deal with things you know," he said.

That means there's no secret strategy to salvage crops. Instead, he said, farmers should focus on crop protection and apply their herbicides.

Saeugling said farmers had few ways to secure themselves financially from flooding.

"Basically, all a grower can do is look at their crop insurance," he said.

Saeugling serves Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Polk, Poweshiek and Warren counties and said that whole area "is pretty much in the same scenario."

He said farmers likely will be two to three weeks behind in their harvest, and the flooding probably will lead to more of a disease and insect presence.

"The biggest thing right now is trying to get their applications on," Saeugling said.