Mid Missouri weather can be a mixed bag for farmers
Posted: 10.28.2011 at 2:36 PM
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RUSSELVILLE -- It's been a roller-coaster ride this year in mid Missouri as far as the weather is concerned.

 

Over the winter there was a record amount of snowfall, with a very wet spring and an extremely hot and dry summer with the threat of flooding looming overhead.

 

We spoke with local farmer, Kelly Forck, to find out if the weather extremes have hurt this year's fall harvest.

 

Forck, with Forck Farms in Jefferson City, said for the agriculture industry the weather ups and downs can be a double-edged sword.

 

He said the drought in the summer was helpful for them in one way because it didn't add anymore water to the already flood-prone areas around the Missouri River.

 

But at the same time they've seen lower numbers in their harvest this fall because of excessive seep water in the river bottoms.

 

As far as the heat excessive heat goes, it was sometimes helpful, but became a burden when it caused drought, which strained crops.

 

"Based on predictions of the river this summer we didn't expect to be harvesting what we're harvesting this fall, but also due to the drier climate, some of those earlier maturing crops have diminished yields," Forck said.

 

Forck said overall they're happy with what they've managed to harvest so far this year since the markets are strong.