We got .9 inches of rain yesterday & .5 inches of rain last week. Here in the corn, bean & hay belt it is going to be interesting.
I watered my sweet corn with 5 gallon buckets once a day since the drought started & cobs have formed but most without nubbins so don't know what the heat has done to the field corn ear development? The markets are talking $8.00 a bushel corn in September which means higher prices at the grocery stores. The corn can be made into silage but with less food value for the farm animals.
They are comparing this to the drought 1936. Our last drought in this area was back in 1988. The 1988 drought started with hardly any rain in May & June. Then the skies opened with rain that August. We have clay ground here so it holds the moisture like a sponge. Those that have a more sandy ground end up with burned corn. The larger operators that farm thousands of acres took out Federal Crop insurance to cover their investment. Hail also hit not to far from our area yesterday so hopefully those farmers have hail insurance. Some of it was golf ball size large enough to take leaves off of all the plants.
The drought will also have a big affect on trees. Old & young trees are being stressed severely. We have been watering the younger trees & have to haul water to quince their thrust. The gardens aren't as bad off for some reason. A drink of water in the mornings has helped the vine plants, etc.
I have talked to people from all over the country. Texas has had a drought for over a year & a half. Illinois farmers are plowing up their fields & every thing is brown. Minnesota has had monsoon season so plenty of rain there.
It sounds like the heat will be sticking around for a while yet. Am looking forward to winter!!
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