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| 06-18-03: Many crops under water |
By SHELLEY GRIESHOP
The Daily Standard
The deluge of rain Tuesday left many local farmers on pins and needles as
their crops became submerged in more than a foot of water in some areas.
Many area fields resembled small ponds and creeks this morning after
receiving more than two inches or more of rain in less than two hours Tuesday afternoon.
Farmers locally are hoping for dry days ahead, but not necessarily
sunny ones.
"If the sun comes out now and it gets good and hot, the crops will
cook if they're under water," said Todd Mangen, an agent with the Ohio State
University Extension Office in Celina. "Cloudy days with no rain would be best."
Mangen said area agents confer weekly, and it appears Mercer County
farmers are faring well compared to others in nearby counties. Many farmers got crops in
early enough this year before fields became too wet to plant, he added.
"We're pretty close to where we should be," Mangen said.
Still, the extra moisture that has plagued the area in the last few
weeks presents a danger to the roots of soybeans and corn, he said. Pythium, a common
plant disease known as root rot, is a real threat to crops right now.
"The (pythium) pathogens are always in the soil, but normally
plants grow fast enough that it's not a problem," he explained.
However, the recent lack of sun on the small plants has dwarfed their
size somewhat, making them more vulnerable, Mangen said.
The next few days could determine the fate of local crops as the
forecast is for dry days and plenty of sun, according to local weatherman Dennis Howick. |
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