TRI-STATE (WFIE) -
Much of Southwestern Indiana, Western Kentucky, and Southeastern Illinois are declared drought disaster areas, and this disaster declaration means assistance to many farmers whose crops are dying.
A map released by the Ag Department Wednesday afternoon shows basically all the Tri-State area is under this disaster declaration. That means all the counties in red have experienced a severe or extreme drought for at least eight weeks during the growing season, part of the worst drought this country has seen in 25 years.
"I've farmed all my life and I've not experienced anything like this before, said farmer Ray Rexing.
Rexing is a longtime farmer and a lot of his fields have spots where a lack of rain and scorching temperatures have all but dried up any chance for a record harvest.
"This really is charting new territory for me. I've not been here before to where the drought has been this devastating," Rexing said.
While not all will be lost, many farmers across the Tri-State are preparing for below average yields. Rexing predicts some acres could produce as few as 20 bushels of corn. That's far less than the 200 bushels many predicted after above average temperatures brought an early planting season.
"Some places we're going to probably have 0, 10, 15, 20 bushels an acre and some places we'll probably get into that 100 bushel. Hopefully we're going to have some 100 bushel corn," Rexing said.
Economists are predicting a domino effect. Expected lower yields are already driving up the price of commodities which in turn could drive up prices at the store.
"I don't think the general public quite realizes how serious this really is because like I said, it's uncharted waters for me. I've never seen anything quite like this," Rexing states.
The Ag Department is also lowering interest rates on emergency loans for farmers and making more conservation land available for hay and grazing since less corn will be available for feed.
Like Rexing, many farmers reportedly have crop insurance to help them get through a tough year.
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