Drought takes its toll on bean and corn crops

by Peter Jakey– Managing Editor

The 2007 summer drought could be one of the worst dry spells in recent memory. Rain was in the forecast for the middle of the week, much as it was last week, and that had residents crossing their fingers that the moisture will finally make its return to northern Michigan. When people haven?t been doing rain dances, they could be found staring at Internet satellite images, just hoping a storm system had its bullseye set on northeast Michigan — anything to save languishing crops and gardens, or improve unwatered lawns, which have turned an ugly shade of brown.

A WILDFIRE FUELED by the drought already has led to the destruction of 18,150 acres near Newberry. Locally, it has devastated bean and corn crops. In 45 years of farming, it has been one of the worst years Chuck Rhode of Rhode Farms has seen. With prolonged days of temperatures above 90 degrees, coupled with the lack of rain, he doesn?t expect much of a yield from the fields of his 345 acres. ?The beans are going to be small, and there isn?t going to be many of them,? said Rhode. Rain would help some, but he?s not optimistic. Since early July, there has been less than two inches of rain at his farm in Bismarck Township. Rhode measured 9/10 of an inch July 5, 3/10 of an inch July 16, and about one-quarter-of-an-inch a week ago Sunday. If there had been more rain at the beginning of the month, the crop would have had time to improve. Instead, there was 10 days of more intense heat. ?That?s what cooked us out,? said Rhode.

ON THE SCHALK Brother?s farm south of Rogers City, what?s left of the corn is now being used as expensive cow feed. The first ear of corn Jack Schalk tore from the stalk had a quarter of the corn missing. ?There?s no saving it now,? said Jack Schalk. At the roadside produce stand along County Road 451, a sign states, ?Sorry, because of the dry weather our?s (corn) is all done for the season.? Schalk said he has been getting the corn from the Richard Strzelecki farm in Posen. Jack has been planting and growing corn for decades, initially to buy clothes for his children, but he has never seen it like this. ?Not even the worms are interested in it,? said Schalk. He operates the farm with his brother William and father, Raymond, 91.

AT THE GERALD Diederich farm at the dead end of Darga Highway in Pulawski Township, a lush crop of corn and other produce has created the opposite effect. Gerald is having a difficult time keeping the animals away. Gerald wakes up in the middle of the morning to chase the deer away, because the animals are not finding much else to eat. The Diederichs, who have been frequent visitors to the county?s farmers? markets, use a unique drip irrigation system, which keeps their well running 24 hours a day, but their produce in fine shape. With the coating of dust on th

e watermelons, it was easy to see that there had not been a significant rainfall in quite some time. One of the county?s largest cash crops is potatoes. Fortunately for Randy Styma, 70 percent of his fields were irrigated. Planted in the other areas was a drought resistant-type, but without rain, they won?t make it either. At the farm in Posen, they?ve measured 7/10 of an inch of rain since June. Like Rhode, Styma has watched the storm systems stay to the south over the last few weeks. Styma compares the ?07 drought to the 1988-89 season. He added that it already rivals some of worst conditions he?s ever seen.

Styma still believes he?ll have an average crop. Other farmers wish they could say the same.