Weather conditions could cause farmers to lose yield the later they plant

OTTAWA – Agricultural areas in LaSalle County lowlands are flooded, delaying planting for most farmers. With current heavy rainfalls and severe flood warnings by the National Weather Service, LaSalle County Farm Bureau President David Isermann says farmers are not happy. While there has been some planting in the county, Isermann says there’s potential that those seeds may not survive. He says the farmers that didn’t plant, are glad they waited. However, Isermann says if conditions continue to saturate farm grounds, it could be until late May by the time farmers have the opportunity to start planting. Data shows that farmers begin to lose yield around May 10th, which is the normal planting period preferred by farmers. Isermann says farmers are moving closer to a period that will not be prime for planting. Typically, half a bushel to a bushel a day can be lost the later into May corn is planted. According to Isermann, farmers could get to a point where they may have to think twice about planting corn this season.