VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – According to the National Agriculture Statistics Service, at this time in 2018, 86 percent of corn and 70 percent of soybeans were planted in the state of Indiana.
In 2019, these numbers have decreased dramatically to 14 percent for corn and seven percent for soybeans. It’s a trend that local farmers say they have seen firsthand.
“On our farming operation we’ve got about 20 percent of our corn planted and about 15 percent of our soybeans,” said Brad Burbrink, Vigo County Farm Bureau board member.
“We’re over a month behind. So that’s a month’s loss of growing potential,” said Brent Hultz, owner of Hultz Farms.
Burbrink says last year there was a surplus of corn but the market is now evening out, but if rain continues it could start impacting costs.
“With these issues at hand with the weather, we’re probably going to see a reduction in inventory which should lead to stronger corn prices,” Burbrink said.
Burbrink also says weather is a problem that farmers across the Midwest are facing. While it is unlikely, continued rain could cause serious problems in the corn industry.
“If it would stay wet for another 10 days across the Midwest, if we don’t get more planted than we have planted now, there could very well be a corn shortage,” Burbrink said.
Farmers say there isn’t much that can be done to the fields while rain is present but Hultz says being prepared is key.
“When you have a good day to go, you go all day and you’ve got to be ready for that day to happen,” Hultz said.
Crop insurance is available to farmers to help offset some of the costs of prevented planting but both Burbrink and Hultz say it’s not very profitable.
