Just over a year ago, farmers were dealing with the struggles of drought.
Now, some have good wheat crops ready to cut, but the ground is too wet.
A local farmer who said they aren’t quite ready to harvest in Wichita County, but they soon will be. if it dries out.
Rain is usually very welcomed among farmers…. but too much of a good thing can be detrimental for their fields.
Dwayne Peirce has been farming for close to 25 years and says it is likely that many farmers will have sleepless nights for the next couple of weeks.
“We are always nervous for the next two weeks. This is crunch time. This is the time where we have the potential to lose everything in the wrong kind of weather event,” Peirce said.
The potential for rainfall in the next couple weeks has many farmers feeling uneasy.
Peirce says if it continues to rain and the wheat gets prolonged moisture, the grain will sprout incorrectly , making it unsuitable for human consumption and that cuts the value down by almost half.
As far as damage from recent storms, some farmers are dealing with the fear of the unknown.
Some Texoma wheat growers have suffered extensive or total loss from hail.
And because of the muddy dirt roads, many are unable to get to their fields and assess the damage.
Although the heavy rainfall brings concern, Wichita County county extension agent David Graf says one thing working in the farmers’ favor is the mild temperatures we’ve had this spring.
“That has been a huge plus for this year in comparison to most, most years we just get hot winds when it starts and then it just really really changes the way the maturity develops,” Graf said.
Graf also says this year has been a good wheat growing year and as long as a dry spell comes at the right time, wheat growers should be okay.
But for farmers like Peirce, that doesn’t end the nervous wait.
“You can have one of your best crops today and wake up and have nothing,” Peirce said.
Although Peirce says you never know what the next day will bring says farmers are some of the most optimistic people in the world.
They are always looking for a better crop next year.
(Information from TexomasHomepage.com)
