August rains provide some relief for farmers

Ran on Saturday, August 25, 2007

August rains provide some relief for farmers

By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff

The scorching, dry days of much of the summer in many parts of the Chippewa Valley may be a foggy memory for some people, amid the recent gloomy rain.
But that's not the case for area farmers who welcomed the needed rain on their crops.

"It was spotty, but most places showed signs of being too dry (before the recent rains)," said Trempealeau County UW-Extension agriculture agent Jon Zander.

Herman Boettcher, who farms in Bloomer with his wife, Patricia, son, Marc, and Marc's wife, Diane, said half his crop was damaged from the drought and the other half is of fair to good quality.

"The rain came later than we would have liked to see it," he said. "But it helped immensely."

Boettcher grows corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa on his dairy farm. He said corn and alfalfa took the biggest hit, bringing in 10 percent of normal yield for the earlier harvest.

The recent rain, however, should bring in a strong fourth crop of alfalfa in October, he said.

For much of the corn crop, the rain came too late for farmers who planted on light soil, said Jerry Clark, UW-Extension crops and soils educator.

On the other hand, soybeans got the rain at a good time, he said.

"It helped the soybeans fill up their pods if they weren't mature yet," Clark said.

Much of what is harvested is used to feed livestock.

"From a dairy farm standpoint, the key is the feed lasting though the winter," Clark said

Even though the recent rain has helped, some farmers may have to buy extra hay to feed their cows.

Boettcher said he may squeak by.

"We may have to buy some haylage; it just depends on our fourth crop," he said.

Despite milk prices being high, the extra profit for many likely will be offset by the extra expense of having to buy more feed, Clark said.

Schmidt can be reached at 830-3203.