Thu, Nov 26 2009
|
|
Published June 14, 2007 11:53 pm - COLUMBUS, Kan. — The region’s wheat crop is drowning after recent heavy rains. “The sad part is the price is good, and we have nothing to sell,” said Bob Epler, a Columbus farmer, who summed up what wheat farmers across the region face this year. Rain ruining area wheat crop By Mike Surbrugg
msurbrugg@joplinglobe.com COLUMBUS, Kan. — The region’s wheat crop is drowning after recent heavy rains. “The sad part is the price is good, and we have nothing to sell,” said Bob Epler, a Columbus farmer, who summed up what wheat farmers across the region face this year. Wheat on Wednesday was posted at more than $5 per bushel at area elevators on a day when the harvest should be in full swing. Rather than scrambling to keep up with the flow of wheat from farms to bins, elevator operators were far from busy. Mark Maneval, of Jasper, Mo., said his grain elevator was void of incoming wheat Wednesday. In a normal year, it would have been extremely busy, he said. In addition to soggy grain fields, a lot of hay has been cut and must dry before it can be baled. Baling improves the quality. A short wheat crop also means little straw. “Our farmers continue to be in a fight-to-survive mode,” Maneval said, noting that drought was the problem in 2005 and 2006. Said Epler: “We are as close to next to nothing as you can get. We have all the water we need. We had very little (wheat) to start with and even less now, and what was left is going down (because of the rain).” Epler Farms has managed to get some wheat harvested. The best field produced 19 bushels per acre, he said. A normal yield is 50 bushels per acre, and newer wheat varieties can produce up to 70 bushels per acre, Epler said. The weather normally cooperates by not sending a killer freeze in early April, following by flooding in June. Farmers and grain buyers alike are aware that every day that passes gives diseases more time to cause more losses in wheat. And, warm, humid weather can cause wheat heads to sprout. Disease damage and sprouting further lower the price for wheat. Many farmers plant soybeans in fields where wheat has been harvested. Epler said that as of Thursday, his farm was not far behind in terms of getting soybeans planted. 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Local News section
Canine ‘pawsengers’ take inaugural pet rescue flight Fourth Street scheduled to reopen Funeral for soldier killed in Afghanistan scheduled in Galena |
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
Photographer documents struggle with cystic fibrosis w/ slide show and link to National Transplant Assistance Fund page
 |
 |
: Special Offer For New Subscribers
:
 |
|||||||
|
|||||||
 |
|
|
Published by Newspaper Holding, Inc. 117 East Fourth Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Using our site is your agreement to the terms and conditions. News: news@joplinglobe.com • (417)623-3480 Advertise with the Joplin Globe Copyright © 2006 The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO All rights reserved. 
|
Popular Business directory links - Joplin Apartments | Joplin Attorneys | Joplin Auto Dealers | Joplin Auto Parts | Joplin Auto Repair | Joplin Beauty Salons | Joplin Car Rental | Joplin Dentists | Joplin Doctors | Joplin Flowers | Joplin Hotels | Joplin Insurance | Joplin Loans | Joplin Mortgages | Joplin Movers | Joplin Pizza | Joplin Realtors | Joplin Restaurants | Joplin Storage | Joplin Tax Preparation | Joplin Travel | Joplin Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |
