Farmers weigh drought options

After months of sparse rainfall and high temperatures, some Wabash Valley farmers are weighing their options.

Some farmers, particularly in Southern Indiana, report they are considering mowing down their fields of corn, turning those corn plants into silage and planting beans or other crops in the fields left behind.

“They’re thinking about risk management strategies, thinking about how their crop insurance is going to work,” said Jay Akridge, Agriculture Dean at Purdue University. “In some cases, they can use this corn for animal feed, and they have to be careful about how that’s approached.”

Ed Shew, who farms near Clinton, IN said despite chances of low yields, he is planning to keep his field corn and pop corn in the field through, in part to provide cover for ground and prevent erosion. Nevertheless, he said damage to corn had been remarkable.

“Quite honestly, I farmed through the ’88 drought, and I think this is definitely worse in my opinion,” Shew said. “I think it’s been more prolonged (with) higher temperatures.”

Meanwhile, Shew remains hopeful for the coming bean crop.

“Some of these beans … if they get an inch, inch-and-a-half (of rain) a week, they’ll make some beans and they’ll continue to grow,” Shew said.