Farmers Anxiously Awaiting End to Rain and Cold

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Farmers Anxiously Awaiting End to Rain and Cold

By Dave Franzman, Reporter

By Dave Franzman

LINN COUNTY- Rain, wind and cold weather have Eastern Iowa farmers stuck and waiting to start the planting season.

Many farmers tell TV9 they're ready to go but the weather this year simply won't cooperate.

In 2007, many Eastern Iowa farmers began planting corn by the middle of April. This year, it'll take several weeks of sun and much warmer temperatures to even think about working in soggy fields. And getting a later start can present some problems.

One farmer, John Hofmann, said he's had plenty of time this spring to tinker with machinery in his machine shed. But what he's really like is spring-like weather to get out in the fields.

Hofmann started planting corn last year on April 19th. But before then, he was out in the fields getting things ready. Hofmann said if it were a normal year, he'd already have some jobs finished.

"If we were putting on spring ammonia, anhydrous ammonia, we would have that done or try to have that done by now...any oats seeded or waterways rebuilt...we'd try to have that done," he said.

There's still plenty of time for corn farmers to get those seeds in the ground. Planting corn by May 10th usually insures a full harvest in the fall. Soybeans can go in even later.

But the longer the weather waits to warm up and dry out, the more problems farmers could have with a "deadline pressure" to do everything at once.

Curt Zingula, Linn County farmer, said "The biggest concern for farmers is everything will get bunched up--it'll be difficult to get fertilizer and the number of hours we'll have to put in will mean long days to get things put in in time."

One potential bottleneck could be anhydrous ammonia farmers use to provide nitrogen fertilizer for corn. The price has doubled this year. But the biggest issue now is fields are too wet to apply any. If farmers begin calling all at once, there won't be enough tanks and trucks to handle a season's worth of demand in just a few days.

Farmers are looking at some of the highest grain prices ever as they start this spring planting season. And in a way that's adding to some of the waiting tension. With that much money at stake with the crop, you don't want any problems--especially with the weather.
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Friday, Jun 20 at 2:05 PM joan sapp wrote ...

You are a bunch of yankies, don't know a thing about farming. Try to put a tractor in mudd you'll see what happens. Try to put a seed in the dirt when it too dry it dose nothing.

Friday, Apr 11 at 10:05 AM City Slicker wrote ...

I'm no farmer, and I'll admit that I don't even know a real-life farmer. But from what I read every single year, it's either too hot, too cold, too wet or too dry. Then at harvest time they say "Wow, bumper crop this year!" Seems to me that farmers just worry a little too much, or make drama when there isn't any. I say, just plant the darn corn. Itll grow. Don't worry about it, it ALWAYS grows, and you ALWAYS have a good crop.This is Iowa. A "bad" corn year is still good compared to most places!

Friday, Apr 11 at 8:58 AM To Karen wrote ...

You talk about farmers complaining but what you don't realize is that their livelihood is directly linked to the weather. You and I may not like it when it rains on the weekend because it ruins our plans but to farmers if the weather doesn't cooperate it could mean financial ruin. I salute our farmers. They are some of hardest working people in our entire society. They deserve any financial reweards they are reaping with the high commodity prices.

Friday, Apr 11 at 6:08 AM karen wrote ...

if it was dry they'd be upset too. if it was sunny, then they would be upset it was too hot. Just take the weather and flow with it, and thank Joe Winters and the team for giving us great news. The corn will grow no matter what.

Thursday, Apr 10 at 8:10 PM deerefan wrote ...

I'll probably plant my corn in two weeks regardless of the weather. Good luck to all!

Thursday, Apr 10 at 5:01 PM anon wrote ...

Tension equals greed in costume

Thursday, Apr 10 at 4:43 PM Republican Citizen wrote ...

This wouldn't have happened if we had a Republican Governor. Poor Farmer John can attest that the GOP just wouldn't have let this happen. Just remember this come election time in November.

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