Dry pattern hurting county’s farmers

No rain in more than three weeks has Morgan County’s farmers flirting with disaster as far as the prospects for corn and soybean production are concerned.

“We’ve got to have a good rain this week or next or it’s going to be a long year for corn and soybean producers,” said Ronald Britnell,  Morgan County Extension coordinator.

“We have a number of farmers who want to follow what has been a good wheat harvest with no-till soybeans,” Britnell pointed out. “But to do so would be taking a big risk because the seed won’t come up without rain.

“Rain is just as critical for corn farmers whose crops got off to a good start but are now suffering for the lack of moisture at a critical time in their growth. This is unfortunate because corn is bringing a good price at a time when corn production in the Midwest has been adversely affected by massive flooding.”

Although Morgan County wasn’t listed as being in a drought by the U.S. Drought Monitor last week, Britnell said the lack of a good rainfall could affect the harvest of this year’s crop.

“This is probably the earliest in a year when we’ve had crops begging for water,” Britnell stated. “Usually, it’s July and August when we have temperatures in the upper 90s and the best hope for rainfall is a pop-up shower.”

Britnell said the dought is also detrimental to hay crops, gardens and lawns.

“I’ve had people who’re growing home gardens tell me their tomatoes are not fruiting up as they normally do even though they’re being watered. This could be caused by the heat, My suggestion to them is to keep plant food in the soil and give them a deep water soaking twice a week.”

There is a 30 percent chance of showers on Wednesday with little or no chance after that through next Monday, Temperatures are expected to remain in the 90s.

Because of the dry weather, Gov. Robert Bentley issued a no-burn order that is effective until the dry weather subsides.