Fair / 52° F
Rain, storms hindered Grant County crops [UPDATED]
Published 10:35am Friday, October 28, 2011 Updated 12:36pm Friday, October 28, 2011The corn has been harvested in Grant County, but for many farmers their yield was only 60 percent to 70 percent of what they usually harvest on an annual basis.
“The wet weather and storms really took its toll on crops in our area,” said Elbow Lake Co-op Grain Manager Al Mashek on Thursday. “Hopefully, we’ll have a better year in 2012.”
Things were even worse, southwest of Elbow Lake, in the Herman area of Grant County. As much as 40 percent of corn acreage was never planted, due to heavy rainfall earlier this year.
Yields in both the Elbow Lake and Herman areas are below average for 2011. Officials at New Horizons Ag Service in Herman echo the sentiments of Mashek, saying that 2011 was a very challenging year.
Drown-out spots took place, even where corn was able to be planted.
“We just had way too much moisture,” said Mashek. “Add in the wind damage, and you can see why area farmers had a very frustrating year.”
Farmers were forced to replant in many areas of Grant County. Several farmers registered for insurance claims while others waited until the fall harvest was completed.
Some farmers, especially in the Elbow Lake area, had their wishes come true with a decent fall, weather-wise, so that the harvest could go well. Many said that what looked like a disastrous year for corn turned out to be not too bad.
The quality of the crops, however, was an ongoing concern this year in light of the rainstorms and strong winds in late July that had a negative impact on corn crops.
“We all look forward to better weather, and better crops this coming year,” said Mashek.
