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Rain keeping some farmers from bringing in fall crops

By Shawn Linenberger - | Oct 24, 2007

Rain normally is a welcome sight in Kansas.

But Michael Epler, Leavenworth County agriculture agent for Kansas State University research and extension, said the area is in need of some sunshine.

“At this point, it’s becoming too much of a good thing,” Epler said about the rain. “All the fall crops are ready to harvest for the most part. The rain just isn’t allowing them to come out of the field. It needs some sunshine.”

The main crop being affected is soybeans, which farmers are trying to harvest. Epler, who was out of the county last week, said he wasn’t certain but thought most corn has been harvested.

Epler said the recent heavy rainfall also could affect winter wheat.

“Anyone who hasn’t gotten it (planted) will want to soon but can’t because of the rain,” Epler said.

Epler said getting moisture in the ground in preparation for the spring can be advantageous, but again, some warmer weather and no rain in the coming days would be best.

“As far as carryover to next year, it’s good, but it’s just too much now,” Epler said. “You want to go into fall with some moisture, but you don’t want to be saturated all fall.”

According to the National Weather Service, sunshine is in the forecast the rest of the week, with the high each day being in the low 60s through Sunday.