BAY COUNTY, MI (WNEM) -
Drought-like conditions are starting to parch farm fields across Mid-Michigan.
Last year we received about 3 inches of rain in June. According to a spokesman for the Michigan sugar company, this year mother nature provided a little more than an inch of rain in early June in the Saginaw Valley. Corn and soybeans are also being affected by the lack of moisture.
"Every day that we don't get rain right now we're losing potential yield, so we're really anxious to see some rain. We keep on seeing those forecasts for maybe 20 or 30 percent, we'd like to see a forecast where it says we're going to have an 80 or 90 percent of rain and nice, substantial rain to go along with it", said Ray VanDriessche, a spokesman for the Michigan Sugar Company.
VanDriessche says wheat is being harvested right now, which means the yield won't be as great due to the lack of rain. Corn and soybeans prices could also be affected if there's a shortage due to continuing drought conditions.
Early this past spring extremely warm temperatures followed by a freeze wiped out a lot of fruit crops in Michigan. Vegetable farmers fear a lack of rain could create a similar situation for them.
VanDriessche says despite the recent drought conditions, sugar beet farmers can still bring in a real nice crop. "We have a potential that if we start getting some rains, we will continue to put on sugar tonnage right up to the day that we harvest, which will be in October," said VanDriessche.
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