DRY FIELDS: Workers set tobacco at Rick Imel’s farm on Ryker’s Ridge Road on Wednesday. Imel also has corn and soybeans on land near Brooksburg. He said the corn has not grown evenly due to the lack of rain in the area. “The corn ought to be waist-high by now,” Imel said. “It’s almost too far gone now.” Imel said it is also close to being too dry for his tobacco to grow but he can’t wait any longer to get it planted. The area did receive almost one-tenth of an inch of rain today, far short of what farmers say they need. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie)
By EMILY TAYLOR and SARA DENHART, Madison Courier Staff Writers
Because of the lack of substantial rainfall in recent weeks, Hanover farmer John Shelton may be forced to sell part of his cattle herd.
"We're looking at cutting numbers (of cattle) down to what the hay will support," Shelton said.
In Brooksburg, Rick Imel's pastures aren't growing either, forcing him to feed his cattle hay that normally wouldn't be used until October. That means he will likely have to buy hay locally in the fall, if there is any available.
"It's been an awful streak," he said. "Everybody's been having problems. We need a good general rain."
Shelton and Imel are not alone. The lack of substantial rainfall in recent weeks has many farmers concerned about their fall harvest.
Since the beginning of the planting season the Madison Courier-area is behind nearly five inches of rain for the year, and the area is about six or seven weeks ahead of the typical dry season in late August.
As of today, southern Indiana and north-central Kentucky are experiencing a moderate drought, according to the National Weather Service in Louisville, Ky.
From May 1 though June 13, less than four inches of rain fell across central and southern Indiana, with all of central Kentucky receiving less than average rainfall.
The U.S. Drought Monitor, produced by National Drought Mitigation Center, classifies droughts on a scale ranging from the lowest severity of D0 to the highest of D4. A moderate drought, or D1, includes potential damage to crops and pastures.
Because of the lack of rain in Kentucky, Carroll County Extension Service agent Tim Hendrick said corn and tobacco plants are stressed and may produce less yield than typically expected. Hendrick estimated a substantial yield loss for next year with corn and soybeans, and about farmers producing about half as much hay as previous years.
Imel also grows tobacco and corn while producing hay for his herd of dairy cattle on his farm in the Brooksburg area. All of his crops are starting to show signs of stress due to the dry conditions. His tobacco plants have been hit especially hard and are turning yellow due to a lack of moisture.
"Everybody that raises tobacco really had a hard time this past two-and-half to three weeks," he said.
When it comes to his corn plants, about 70 percent to 80 percent of the seeds have germinated. Those that haven't already sprouted probably won't, he said.
"When you don't get rain, everything is affected," Imel said. "If we don't get any rain in a week to 10 days, we'll really be hurting on our yields."
Lonnie Mason, extension educator with the Jefferson County Purdue Extension Office, said he has talked to many farmers who are concerned about a dry spell this early in the summer. Much of the area's hay crop is below average and many pastures are short, he said.
Because of the lack of rain so far, most of the pastures in the area have dried up. The pasture grasses cannot grow fast enough without rain in order to feed the animals.
Shelton's first hay cutting of the season in Hanover only yielded about half the normal amount. In addition to a lack of rain, that shortage was also due to a late freeze in the spring. But subsequent cuttings look to be as bleak.
"We're just not getting any regrowth," Shelton said.
The lack of rain also presents a problem with watering of the animals. Without adequate rainfall, Hendrick said, farmers will have about a 30-day supply water in ponds for the animals. And, the rate of evaporation in the ponds is increasing as the temperature rises.
"We're in dire straits," Hendrick said. "There's no water out there."
With all possible yield losses, insurance agents, like David Mathis of Shelby County, Ky., who insures many farmers in the Courierarea, are concerned with the predicted yield losses.
Mathis said the lack of rain has brought some farmers into his office with replanting claims. Local tobacco plants are being reset - as much as seven acres at a time - and soybean replant claims are being processed by crop insurance companies because of the lack of the rain.
Mathis said insurance rates should not be affected by the dry weather conditions this year because the insurance rates are figured by using several year's worth of data and how many claims were filed during that time period.
"A good soaking rain could change all of this," Mathis said. "Right now, we are hoping and praying (for rain)."
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