Drought, heat affect corn crop

Months of extreme heat and dry weather have already damaged a portion of the Wabash Valley’s corn crop and could lead to lower yields, experts said.

This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture lowered its projections for corn yields this year by 12 percent: from 166 bushels an acre to 146 bushels an acre.

Jim Luzar, Vigo County Purdue Extension educator, said the unusual summer weather limits the ability of corn plants to pollinate. He said heat and wind can make it hard for tassels to deliver pollen, and he said lack of rain can hurt the silks which receive that pollen and form kernels.

“One field may be robust and may be good pollination and healthy, while another field may be … a total loss,” Luzar said. “At this point, you can look across the field and it’s waist-high, and it’s brown and parched, turning white. It’s not going to make anything.”

Some farmers report they are considering cutting down their corn for silage and planting something else given the damage to their crops.

Meanwhile, corn prices are also projected to rise in the coming months as high as $5.40 or $6.40. Luzar said those price increases could affect both livestock growers and the ethanol industry, given the reliance of both upon corn.