East-central Illinois farmer prepares for rain

News

A farmer in east-central Illinois says he could use some rain.

“The corn has already started to curl again.”

Champaign County-based Dirk Rice in Brownfield says June rains were sparse in his area.

“We have a farm and it’s been taken in the last week at least 2 ½ inches and it’s absorbed it.” He said, “There’s not a puddle anywhere.”

But he says most of his operations are running dry, and that’s a cause for concern.

“The first stalks of our planted corn are starting to come up nicely, so pollination is going to start here.” He says, “We really don’t like to see water stress combined with heat stress when we’re trying to pollinate.”

Rice says he’s less concerned about his soybean crop’s ability to handle the drought.

The July forecast for Illinois calls for warmer than average temperatures and average precipitation.

AUDIO: Dirk Rice – Farmer from Champaign County, Illinois

Photo: Archive photo