Farmers Racing Against Mother Nature

Cool, Wet Weather Causing Problems For Soybean Farmers

Updated: 12:33 pm CDT October 22, 2009

The recent rainy and cool weather is throwing area farmers into a race against Mother Nature.

Farmers said if the weather doesn't start cooperating, the soybean crop could be in jeopardy.

Farmer Kory Kalscheur, of Pine Bluff, said he thought he'd be done harvesting his field weeks ago.

"It's been tough to get out here. We've had a lot of rain. It's not letting us get out here and get our beans off so we can get started on our corn. The calendar is starting to get behind on us," Kalscheur said.

Rainy weather has prevented his 30-foot combine from even entering the field. Kalscheur said he then has to hope for the soybeans to dry enough so they can get through the machine.

"The corn you can do when the ground is damp and the plant is damp, but not the soybeans," Kalscheur said. "It's hard to complain about rain because that's what makes our crop, but now we need it to stop for a while so we can get our harvest in."

Dane County farmers are only 20 percent done with the soybean harvest. Typically by now, they'd be done.

"It is the most difficult harvest season that I can remember," said David Fischer, a Dane County extension agent. "The worst case scenario right now, if we continue to stay wet, we have a struggle getting the soybean harvest out. If it turns cold and we get some snow that would be the ultimate worst case scenario. Getting that harvest completed at that point in time is going to be difficult, if not impossible."

Farmers said they're hoping for a string of no-rain, 60-degree days. If the weather doesn't turn around, experts said the consumers could see some price jumps at the store.

"Vegetable oils, soy diesel, anything made out of soybean, we could see a price increase," Fischer said.

Farmer said the corn crop isn't in the best shape, either. The moisture content is still higher than most farmers would like to harvest it now.

Authorities said that anyone out on rural highways in the next few weeks should keep an eye out for farm implements and be aware that they're going to be moving around a lot in order to beat the clock.

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