Rain can be a blessing and a curse for Faulkner County farmers looking to tend to their spring crops, and the recent weather is proving to be the latter.

Hank Chaney, county agent with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service of Faulkner County, is among agricultural officials in the area taking in the outcome of rainfall.

About 6 inches of rain fell from May 7-11 in Conway, according to the National Weather Service in Little Rock. Smaller amounts fell this weekend and more chances are expected on Monday as well as later into the work week.

The problems being seen right now from recent rain: a likely loss in yield in quality for certain crops in Faulkner County, especially corn, milo and rice.

“So far, we’ve lost some acres of corn and milo,” Chaney said, adding that his office is still gathering data to determine the full magnitude of crop impacts. “We don’t know what damage is being done to the wheat.”

Soybeans, the biggest crops in the county economically, are underwater and will likely have to be replanted in some areas of the county, Chaney said. He added that there is still time to replant or plant soybeans.

Corn and milo fields could also see the need for replanting, given that herbicides were applied prior to the extensive rainfall.

“We’re not getting any relief,” he said, adding that some producers can’t get into their pastures to bale hay with what he called a “deluge of rainfall.”

Chaney said farmers are running out of time in terms of planting certain crops, following delays in crops coming out of dormancy this spring after a cool and wet winter.

Rice and corn are among the crops nearing a planting deadline for this spring. Chaney estimates that rice yields could decrease by 30 percent this year.

“It becomes a matter of do I plant or not,” he said.

Wheat crop farmers, with many having to deal with flooding, are facing the unknown as well.

“About last week, we were really needing a shower and then we got all this mess,” Chaney said.

Any rain in the forecast is now troublesome for farmers as they hope for runoff and drying on fields.

Though Chaney said a drying off period is essential, he added that he is afraid of going “from one extreme to another.”

“Right now we’re in a wait and see mode,” he said, describing the potential for disaster area declarations and any upcoming weather impacts.

Lighter rain fell in Faulkner County on Saturday and more showers are expected Sunday and Monday, though river levels are expected to keep dropping in the area with the flood risk decreasing.

For some, the flooding is the worst they have seen in the area all together, and to others the rainfall totals they see as just shy of being the worst are by no means a welcome sight.

Chaney said the farmers he has talked to remain optimistic about their crops.

“You can’t get into this game and be a pessimist,” he said, adding that while things may be tough right now, “You have no control and have to have a lot of fortitude.”

The rainfall is taking its toll on another aspect of the agriculture industry – local orchards.

Marcie Garis, co-owner of Collins Round Mountain Orchard at 159 Mill Pond Road in Conway, said the orchard, which plans to be open for one last year, is experiencing later blooms and a likely delay in fruit crops.

“We can’t get into the garden area to plow and plant,” she said. “Everything bloomed later this year. It will be mid-June to the latter part of June for our first crops.”

Collins Round Mountain Orchard typically opens in early June. Marcie and her husband, Racy, sold the orchard to Rush-Hal properties last May, though the orchard will remain operational for one more year.

While this year will be the end of their orchard, the owners are still striving to keep customers coming for one last round of items such as peaches, nectarines, plums, blackberries and a variety of vegetables.

Peaches are Marcie’s primary concern right now, as Collins Round Mountain Orchard has had problems regrowing peach trees in recent years where they were planted before. The recent weather certainly didn’t help their efforts, she said.

Marcie said she is unsure of how many vegetable varieties – squash, cucumbers, eggplant and peppers – the orchard will have this year.

“Our goal is to have what we’ve been having,” she said.

Source - http://thecabin.net