Farmers across the Cedar Fork valley are bringing in a mixed harvest this fall, with corn yields down noticeably after a stretch of hot, dry weeks in midsummer while hay and pasture ground held up better than many expected.
Several growers told the Record that fields on the lighter, sandier soils near the river took the hardest hit, while bottomland acres with deeper moisture came through closer to a normal year. The variation, they said, was often visible within a single farm.
Weighing the season
Producers pointed to a few factors shaping this year’s results:
- A rainless second half of July that arrived during corn pollination
- Cooler nights in August that helped stabilize what remained
- Strong first and second hay cuttings taken before the dry spell set in
Livestock producers said the decent hay year is a relief, since it eases the pressure to buy feed at higher prices heading into winter. Grain farmers are more cautious, with some saying they will lean on crop insurance and hold back on equipment purchases until they see next year’s prices.
The local elevator reported steady deliveries but lighter test weights than last fall. Managers there said it is too early to call the full picture until the later-planted fields come off.
Related: Business & Farms · Cedar Fork trout restocking
Further reading: About drought
