Flood may leave lingering effect on farm land

The irrigation system at a sod farm just west of Shelbyville, on Highway 64 West, isn't needed today. (T-G Photo by David Melson) [Order this photo]

"Last summer, they'd have been praying for a rain like this," said John Teague, extension agent.

The problem the rains have brought is not so much washing away seeds or soil, but inviting in infection and infestation.

"The cool weather can cause some diseases of the corn that was already planted," he said. "Will it rot or will it come on up? Will there be conditions there that invite insects to damage the corn seedlings?"

Teague said the corn crops and wheat crops, most of which are already in the ground, could face a tough growing season. The rain and lack of sunshine at this crucial growing period make it easier for fungus to take hold than the seeds.

"The wheat crop is a real issue -- it can be damaged by cool wet weather," said Teague. "There are several fungus diseases that come into the wheat crop."

He said much of the corn crop was above ground when the rains came, so it could well survive.

A temporary setback

At Happy Valley Farms in Wartrace, where the strawberries are ripening daily, Nancy Edwards said they've been very lucky.

"We're doing pretty well, considering there's been so much rain," she said. "It's more of a temporary setback for us."

Edwards said they knew the weather was coming and picked as many of the ripened berries as they could. The "close picking" and the fact the berries are on elevated mounds of plastic-covered dirt kept the plants and berries from being too badly affected by the rain. If the heavy rains and flooding had come later in the season, when more berries ripened at the same time, they might not have been able to save them all, she said. "The customers were a little reluctant to come out because of the rain; although Saturday, we were busy as we could be. We just kept picking. Even in the rain, we kept picking.

"Of course, we had some damage to our hay crop because the water was over the road, but that was all," she added. "We are in good shape and I'm very positive -- but we'd really like for it to stop raining."

A matter of timing

Teague said the most obvious impact the weather will have on this year's crop right now is timing. While the cool, wet spring has been excellent for strawberries, it's been harder on other crops, such as hay and soybeans.

"Everything will probably get moved back a week or two," he said. "We can still get a soybean crop in the ground a little later, it will just be later than some people like. Most of the hay is cut in May and June -- we'd like to get on with that as soon as possible, but it will be delayed a couple or three weeks. When it does get dry enough, I bet everybody will be cutting at one time. It's going to be busy."

And all growers, whether they've got 100 acres in corn or a back yard in tomatoes, needs to keep an eye on their crops.

"Some of the leaf crops (lettuce, cabbage) can suffer fungus-borne diseases. Root rot diseases and leaf diseases can affect any of these crops when the weather is like it is -- too wet, cool, no sunshine. Crops like potatoes that are in the ground are obviously at risk. Those like tomatoes, they're at risk, too," he said.

There's not much that can be done now as far as prevention, said Teague, but there are treatments.

"Pay attention to what's out there. Keep an eye out for symptoms and signs -- there are fungicides that can help," said Teague. "Watch real closely for insects on the garden vegetables, because they can spread disease."