Summer drought crop concerns

  

Finally, some soaking rain today, but with agriculture a major industry for Ohio drought conditions are already costing farmers money. Soybeans are Ohio's most valuable field crop and corn is second. Together, they pump more than $2 billion into the state's economy. But local farmers are watching their profits dry up this summer. One week ago, 13abc visited with Wood County farmer Harold Weihl. His cornfields were so dry that the ground had cracked. He did get rain Tuesday and Wednesday, nearly three-quarters of an inch, but he needs more. Nearly all of Ohio is in a moderate drought and it's taking a toll.

Corn is in a critical development phase right now. Ohio State University extension agents estimate a quarter to a third of farmers' yield may already be lost. Corn is trying to hang on. Statewide, 73 percent of fields are in fair to excellent condition. Still, that's down significantly from 92 percent last summer when rain was abundant.

Extension agents say everything is dry, but conditions vary from county to county, even from one mile to the next. The hardest hit right now is Hancock, Putnam, Wyandot and Allen counties. Some farmers already report damage and say their corn has stopped developing. Without major rainfall it won't recover. Others remain hopeful, but wetter states like Illinois and Iowa expect bumper crops, news that sent corn prices down last week. That means even smaller profits, if any profit at all.

Rain today plus nearly an inch last week helped, but all of western Ohio is still five to ten inches below normal. We wouldd need an inch per week for the next month to end the drought.

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