Too Much Rain

This is the result of the heavy rains much of our listening area has received recently. This has been a very common sight the last 3 years. It is very frustrating to see this but you have to remember we don't control the weather. I know that this field has been tiled . There has been so much rain the water cannot filter through the soil fast enough to prevent killing the crop. There are even tile open intakes at the soil surface to help remove the water. Many times they are not real effective because the water level in the river or drainage ditch has to drop before they can drain the low area in the field.

Corn and Soybeans can survive under water for a couple days before dying. If the water is cool maybe a bit longer. If the corn or soybeans are not completely covered in water they can survive a few more days but eventually it will still die. I know of some farmers that have had areas like this and decided to let Mother Nature have the land back. They worked with the local Natural Resource Conservation Service and Soil and Water Conservation District and restored the wetland. There is a Federal Program with cost share money and I believe even a rental payment for the land. If this wet pattern continues we might see even more wetlands restored.