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Southwest Indiana farmer prepares for harvest as excess rainfall raises questions about crop potential

A southwest Indiana farmer says he’s about a week away from harvest.

“We’re anxious to get out there and see what we really have,” he says.

Ben Kron says crop conditions have varied throughout the growing season.

“We’re not completely sure how much we really lost due to water,” he says. “There may be some corn or beams standing there, but what the yield in those areas is and how much dry down we going to have is really the question right now. It’s one of those years that 2 inches of elevation is going to make all the difference.”

According to the latest USDA crop progress and conditions report, Indiana corn is 91 percent in the dough stage, 48 percent dented, and rated 62 percent good to excellent. Soybeans are 93 percent setting pods, 3 percent dropping leaves, and rated 63 percent good to excellent.

Kron says the warmer temperatures expected this week should help harvest progress quickly. 

Kron raises corn and soybeans in Gibson, Posey, and Vanderburgh counties.

AUDIO: Ben Kron