Farmers Recovering From Floods Now Dealing With 'Drought'
Lack Of Rain Leading To Dry, Crumbling Cropland
Posted: 5:30 pm CDT July 3, 2008Updated: 12:43 pm CDT July 4, 2008
MADISON, Wis. -- On the surface, this dry spell may seem like great news for those who have been affected by last month's flooding.But there are always two sides -- believe it or not, farmers are talking using the word "drought."
VIDEO: Watch The ReportLife-long farmer Dennis Lund said it's been a season like none other. Even with 13 inches of rain last month, he's using the word drought. He pointed out the light circles in his soybean fields, that keep growing and growing, WISC-TV reported."That's the indication of a drought," Lund said. "Our neighbors always talk about watching the circles -- when them (sic) things start to appear, then they know it's getting dry."Sixty percent of Lund's 3,200 acres is now bone dry -- the soil is like concrete, baking in the sun. The other 40 percent is too wet. In fact, much of it is still under water. Lund already knows percent of his crop has been destroyed."You've kind of got two worlds here," Lund said. "You've got where you're flooded out, and you got where you're drying up on the hills. It's kind of a situation you hope you never have to see, but it's unfortunate that it had to be the way it is."Lund, like many farmers, has given up on the hopes that his land will dry out. He said he wants rain -- to help save the remaining crops that survived the flooding and standing water. But history, he says, is not on his side."I've been fearful of this 20-year drought for some time, and they said it's never missed the mark. It's always been once every 20 years, and we're right on the 20th year right now, And it's like, 'oh no, not this year,'"The U.S. Department of Agriculture says roughly 24 percent of crops in south central Wisconsin are water-logged -- or, too wet to do any work on. Seven percent is too dry -- and that number continues to increase dramatically, WISC-TV reported.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportLife-long farmer Dennis Lund said it's been a season like none other. Even with 13 inches of rain last month, he's using the word drought. He pointed out the light circles in his soybean fields, that keep growing and growing, WISC-TV reported."That's the indication of a drought," Lund said. "Our neighbors always talk about watching the circles -- when them (sic) things start to appear, then they know it's getting dry."Sixty percent of Lund's 3,200 acres is now bone dry -- the soil is like concrete, baking in the sun. The other 40 percent is too wet. In fact, much of it is still under water. Lund already knows percent of his crop has been destroyed."You've kind of got two worlds here," Lund said. "You've got where you're flooded out, and you got where you're drying up on the hills. It's kind of a situation you hope you never have to see, but it's unfortunate that it had to be the way it is."Lund, like many farmers, has given up on the hopes that his land will dry out. He said he wants rain -- to help save the remaining crops that survived the flooding and standing water. But history, he says, is not on his side."I've been fearful of this 20-year drought for some time, and they said it's never missed the mark. It's always been once every 20 years, and we're right on the 20th year right now, And it's like, 'oh no, not this year,'"The U.S. Department of Agriculture says roughly 24 percent of crops in south central Wisconsin are water-logged -- or, too wet to do any work on. Seven percent is too dry -- and that number continues to increase dramatically, WISC-TV reported.Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
