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Northeast Indiana farmer weighs planting vs. moisture concerns amid drought

A northeast Indiana farmer says he’s concerned that on-going drought may impact the start of this year’s growing season.   

Don Wyss says it’s a toss-up when the region will see the most beneficial moisture for crop development. “Whether or not we want it to rain a lot to catch up on our moisture needs or let’s stay dry for a while and get everything planted and then get some nice rains through the growing season, but we don’t want anything to flood.”

But, he tells Brownfield, some producers have been able to get a jump start on field work. “They’re doing some cover crop burn down and applying some preplant anhydrous into some of these fields around us, but all in all, we won’t start until the first part of April.”

He says dryness developed late last fall and has intensified over the last several weeks without any significant relief.