Grains Oilseeds

[earthfarm]

CORN: Up to 20% of Iowa crops lost to flooding, IFB economist says

Friday, June 13, 2008, 5:42 PM

by Julie Harker

Iowa Farm Bureau economist Dave Miller says up to 20 percent of Iowa grain crops are lost to the floodwaters. Miller says the latest estimates show more than one-million acres of corn and up to two-million acres of soybeans are affected. Unlike the last big flood, in 1993, Miller says more acres were planted this year when the flooding hit – meaning farmers have put a lot more resources into a crop that is “now under water.”

He says how much of a total crop loss in Iowa depends on the flooding of other states. As for replanting, if the flood waters recede, it’ll take a week to 10 days for the ground to dry out enough to replant. And if that’s the case, Miller says there’s a short window of time for faster maturing corn to be planted… and soybeans can be planted as late as July 2nd. Then the concern will be frost and other crop risks.



http://www.brownfieldnetwork.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=8417C5A5-C73D-F91F-9E745563BCA334E1