USDA: Poor weather leaves Indiana farmers facing latest corn harvest since 1972
By APWednesday, December 9, 2009
USDA: Indiana’s corn harvest is latest since 1972
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Indiana’s farmers are facing their latest corn harvest in nearly 40 years because of a long stretch of bad weather that’s kept them out of their fields.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s final 2009 crop report shows that Indiana farmers had harvested an estimated 91 percent of their corn acreage as of Sunday.
The USDA’s Indiana’s Field Office says that means Hoosier farmers are now facing their latest corn harvest since 1972. But that year, things were considerably worse.
In 1972, Indiana farmers had harvested only about half of their corn acreage by early December due to poor weather and a late maturing crop.
Indiana’s farmers won’t be getting a break in the weather soon. Associate state climatologist Ken Scheeringa says precipitation and cold readings are expected into next week.
