News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Local & Bistate

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable as well as posts that are attacking other users. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
comments powered by Disqus
August 3, 2012

July rain rescues some Indiana corn

Tom Coyne Associated Press

SOUTH BEND — In the desolate landscape that Indiana has become, there’s an oasis of green. Rain suddenly started falling two weeks ago in northern Indiana, turning what had been an arid summer into South Bend’s eighth wettest July on record and salvaging some corn fields.

While the rain was too late for most traditional farms, it was right on time for some “muck” farmers who grow crops on what used to be marshlands. Muck farmers plant later and harvest later — sometimes as late as Thanksgiving — so the precipitation dovetailed with the corn crop’s pollination.

“We benefitted a lot from this rain,” said Joe Burkus, manager of the Martin Blads Farm in South Bend. “It was very, very beneficial.”

He said the corn crop on the 3,000- acre muck farm was just developing ears when the rain began to fall on July 14. The National Weather Service reported that after no measurable rain through the first 13 days of July, South Bend received 6.48 inches of rain — 2.48 inches above normal. Two storms each dropped more than two inches.

The rest of the state wasn’t as fortunate. Five cities combined— Terre Haute (0.59 inches), Indianapolis (0.83 inches), Lafayette (0.91), Bloomington (1.46) and Muncie (1.94) — had less rain than South Bend.

Indiana’s drought is deepening. The U.S. Drought Monitor report released Thursday shows that the area of the state in exceptional drought, the worst category, grew from a little less than a fifth of the state to almost a quarter of the state. That parched area runs from near Terre Haute to Indianapolis and then south to the Ohio River about 30 miles east of Evansville.

Fifty-nine percent of the state is in extreme drought, the second worst category. Nearly 85 percent of the state, which includes the extreme drought section, is listed as being severe drought.

The lack of rain was exacerbated by the heat. The National Weather Service says it was the hottest July ever for Indianapolis, with an average temperature of 84 degrees. That broke the previous record of 82.8 degrees set in July 1936. The temperature topped 90 degrees on 28 days, 95 degrees 19 times and 100 degrees seven times.

South Bend wasn’t the only area to receive relief from the drought. Al Shipe, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis, said the town of English in Crawford County, about 40 miles west of Louisville, Ky., received about 10 inches of rain in July — about twice the normal amount.

“The rain was distributed fairly evenly through the month; it rained an inch or so every three to six days. Unfortunately, it’s kind of hilly there, so I don’t think we raise a lot of corn or soybeans down in the area,” he said.

English is surrounded by the Hoosier National Forest. Judi Perez, a forest spokeswoman, said the rainfall was spotty and wasn’t enough for the forest to lift its ban on campfires, charcoal grills or wood stoves. She said the ban will likely be in effect through fall.

The town of Fortville, northeast of Indianapolis, also got above average rainfall, Shipe said, receiving 6 inches of rain in July.

Back in South Bend, Burkus said the corn is developing well.

“Right now, we’re thinking we’re going to get a pretty good crop,” he said.

———

Indiana drought report: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DM—state.htm?IN,MW





 

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local & Bistate
Latest News
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
AP Video
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge Wind Energy Push Leaves Trail of Dead Eagles Raw: Germany Protestors Picket Barbie House Horse Saved From Slaughter, Goes on to Win Big Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics Music Therapy Bonds Parents and Preemies Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday Tensions As Israel Targets Syria in Airstrikes Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting Raw: Spacewalking Astronauts Hope to Stop Leak Obama: 'Couldn't Be Prouder' of Jason Collins Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree Officials Arrest Man in Idaho in Terrorism Case Today in History, May 6th Raw: Child, Stroller Falls Onto Pa. Train Tracks
NDN Video
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Coffee Stop Leads To Arrest Of YouTube Sensation Wanted For Murder Bearded Dragon Reunited With Owner Marine Reunited with Warzone Companion Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Beyonce Is Pregnant! SF baseball player overpaid $500,000 RETURNS money -- and team says KEEP IT $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest Dad returns from Afghanistan, surprises family during Rays' first pitch See Jennifer Lopez's New $10m Hamptons Mansion Woman tricked into taking abortion pill Emma Watson Goes Pantless IRS scandal: Republicans seek to tie Obama to agency's woes Play of the Day: Flipping to Safety Pregnant Kim Kardashian Squeezes Her Swollen Feet Into Stilettos Top Videos of the Week: Angry Taco Bell Guy, Glacier Moves on House, Dog Hates Baths Cindy Crawford Stuns At Cannes Raw: Marines Come to Obama's Aid in the Rain CUTE: Monkey shares lollipop with dog, then HITS pooch on head with it Miranda Kerr Looks Sexy in a Bikini Photo Shoot
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

     

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News