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Thumb farmers are losing their patience with Mother Nature. And
if rain continues to pound Tuscola, Huron and Sanilac counties, they
may lose a good portion of their crops as well.
While a serious drought continues in much of the Southeast,
Southwest and the Plains states, Thumb farmers have received more
rain in the last month than they know what to do with, and certainly
more than crops can handle.
"The last month has been ridiculous," said Richard
Starkey of Fairgrove. "There are parts of this country that are
completely dried up, but here, we're soaked. If we could just figure
out how to share, everyone would be all right."
According to the National Weather Service, there is a 30 percent
chance of showers in the Thumb area tonight and a 40 percent chance
of showers or thunderstorms on Tuesday.
Starkey reports more than 6 inches of rain has fallen in the
Fairgrove area since mid-July and crop conditions in the saturated
fields are quickly breaking down.
"We're looking at a 20 percent reduction in our dry bean
crop," said Starkey, who serves as president of the Tuscola
County Farm Bureau. "There are some spots where the crops are
OK, but others where they are just drowned out."
In Huron County, Wally Gremel, who farms in Sebewaing, reports
receiving around 9 inches of rain during the last few weeks. He said
corn and sugar beet crops are quickly deteriorating while dry beans
are nearing the point of no return.
"We farm around 350 acres of dry beans and I'd say 80
percent of them are shot," Gremel said. "The plants are
basically dead."'
Gremel said his sugar beets are mushy inside and the leaves have
turned yellow and shrunk to ground level.
"If we don't get some dry, cool weather, we'll lose a lot of
the beets as well," Gremel said.
Sandusky farmer Carl Germain, who farms around 3,000 acres, said
even corn - a crop that can typically stand up to wet conditions -
is in trouble in some areas of Sanilac County.
"Our corn can't take much more rain," said Germain, who
reported 10 inches of rain in the last 30 days.
The Harbor Beach area may be the hardest hit area in terms of
rainfall during the past month. Gerald Kramer, a farmer there, said
he has measured nearly 15 inches since mid-July.
He said his crops were some of his best ever this year before the
rain came. Now, he can't even get into his fields to save those that
are rotting.
"There's not much I can do," Kramer said. "My
fields are too wet. The tractor just sinks in to the soil. I'll
definitely see a reduction in my yields."
Kurt Anderson, dairy agent for MSU Extension in Huron County,
said he thinks 10-15 percent of all crops could be destroyed by the
wet conditions and some farmers could lose 100 percent of certain
crops.
"Right now, things are still a bit spotty," said
Anderson, a resident of Caseville. "But things are getting
worse, not better, and the fields stink because all of the roots are
rotting."
Anderson recalls concerns about a drought in the spring.
"Earlier this year, we were praying for rain, now we are
praying for it to stop," Anderson said. "We just need it
to stop."
Ed McAlpine, of the Jack D. McAlpine Insurance Agency in
Fairgrove, said he is already receiving calls from Thumb farmers in
regards to probable crop losses.
McAlpine said most crop insurance policies require an adjuster to
examine damaged fields prior to harvest in order to determine the
potential yields. He said most policies are based on realistic
production estimates.
"It's good that farmers are calling now," McAlpine
said. "It is good to get the lines of communication going as
soon as possible. You don't build a fence after the cattle have left
the field."
Starkey said this year's abundance of rain reminds him of 1986,
when nearly 30 inches fell in the Thumb from Sept. 8 to Oct. 1.
"That was the worst disaster I've ever seen," Starkey
said. "We plowed under 80 acres of beet fields that year.
"This year is not that bad, but it will be very serious in
terms of survival," Starkey said. "We will see many
farmers in the Thumb cutting back, taking losses or even going out
of business."
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