Heavy rainfall over the weekend brought much-needed moisture to Wabash County, but local farmers are now dealing with flooded fields and crop losses in some areas.
During Wednesday's Valley Update on WSJD, Wabash Valley Service Company certified crop advisor Mike Wilson said many parts of the county received between 8 and 10 inches of rain, with some locations seeing even more. While the rain effectively ended drought conditions, Wilson said the excessive rainfall has taken a toll on low-lying fields and creek bottoms.
Wilson said crops that remained underwater for more than 24 hours in the recent heat likely won't survive.
He says it's now too late in the growing season to replant most flooded acres. Even soybeans planted this late would produce too little to cover the cost of seed, leaving farmers with few options.
Wilson said growers will likely harvest what they can from damaged fields, while others may plant a cover crop simply to control weeds through the remainder of the season. He noted that modern spray drones can help manage weeds in flooded areas without damaging standing crops.
Despite the localized losses, Wilson says the rain has also produced positive results. He said the drought has been broken, drainage tiles are flowing again, and crops on higher ground have responded well to the moisture.
Wilson believes Wabash County was among the hardest-hit areas in the Wabash Valley, with the heaviest rainfall stretching from the Lawrence County line into Gallatin County. He also noted the storm washed out roads and culverts in several locations, keeping road crews and farmers busy with repairs throughout the weekend.