Farmers prepare
for late start
to season

By Jody Norwood
Tribune-Courier News Editor
jnorwood@tribunecourier.com

MARSHALL COUNTY – With water over the roads in some areas of the county, local agricultural producers could be facing a later start than normal. More rain is expected this week as the Clarks River remains swollen and covering parts of the fertile land along its banks in the south end of Marshall County.

The bottoms land provides hundreds of acres of rich farmland for local agricultural producers, but the trade-off can be dealing with flooded areas.

“In the bottoms, we don’t normally plant in April,” said local farmer Bobby Boggess. “We know the water is going to rise.”

Boggess said approximately 80 acres of the land he farms was adversely effected so far, but he had held off planting all of it. Other area farmers have had similar losses as they head into a busy planting time.

“The worst thing for us in Hardin has been the roads,” Boggess said. “It’s been worse on the roads than it has been on crops. Overall, it’s been a blessing we didn’t get more damage than we did.”

On Friday, Gov. Steve Beshear requested on behalf of Kentucky’s farm families a disaster declaration from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, in response to severe storms and flooding that occurred. The declaration could take between 60 and 90 days for approval, but would offer low interest loans or grants to area farmers.

The flooding’s effect on the county’s agricultural production may not be known for the next few weeks. Expected rains may continue to push back optimal planting dates.

“One thing that has occurred will be delayed plating in the bottom fields,” said Lincoln Martin, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources. “Past May 15 is kind off the cut-off date for planting.”

Martin said planting beyond the next week increases the chances for adverse effects on corn crops.

“The risk is, the later you get the crop planted, the more likely it will be trying to pollinate during a hot, dry part of the year,” Martin said. “There’s also an increased chance for insect damage.”

While continued flooding of bottom land could have a negative impact on local farmers, Martin said in the overall picture Kentucky is nationally a small grain producer. The shift will soon be getting soybeans planted, Martin said.

When fields begin to dry out, motorists are reminded to use caution this time of year as agricultural producers will be on the roadways.

Information about USDA Disaster Assistance Programs and the Secretarial Disaster Designation process are available at www.fsa.usda.gov by clicking on the Disaster Assistance Program link in the left-hand column.