Water, water, everywhere and not a drop to drink. I had to use an internet search to refresh myself what famous piece of literature that quote is from. Water is the most essential element to life and for most farmers essential for their livelihood. Let's review the growing season of 2025 as we approach harvest.
From what I have gleaned from most reports in print, word of mouth and social media it has been a very wet summer for much of the row crop agricultural areas of the United States. Farmers, specifically hay producers south of the mid-point of Illinois north to south, as well as north of the Illinois-Wisconsin state, east of Ohio and west of the Mississippi River line have complained about too much rain most of the summer. My little slice of heaven in Manhattan, Illinois got caught in what my favorite weather man called the I-80 drought in May and June.
As a parched June rolled into July, I watched multiple storms develop and saturate areas along I-80 north of Laraway Road. My farm seemed to miss the drenching, and my grass-hay fields and lawn showed it. The process of baling hay was easy with little rain and lower humidity. I suspect by spring that hay supplies may become a little tight given some reduced yields from this summer’s heat and dryness.
By the end of July, the humidity soared and some rains came. After 3.5” of rain in 7 days in the middle of August, it looked like we were turning the corner. Our county fair was the recipient of the weather trend turning cooler, and unfortunately, dry again.
Now many areas of the Midwest are wishing for rain. As of this writing I am vacationing on a tiny Caribbean island surrounded by water, which I dare not drink. If the water/rain is not coming to me, I will have to go to it, even though this water cannot help my crops and the rain may be a hurricane. Hopefully, I will avoid any hurricanes before my planned return home; I have already been reminded how risky it was to plan and take this vacation during the hurricane season.
It will not be long before farmers start harvesting the crops and see what the weather and their management skills have produced. There is much rhetoric about this year’s crop producing amazing yields; low prices may indeed trend lower due to oversupply and trade disruptions due to tariffs. Or perhaps a late summer drought afflicting many in the Midwest and overestimated yields, combined with new trade treaties will bring a post-harvest rally. I recently filled out a yield survey stating I was anticipating 165-bushel corn and 55-bushel soybeans for an average this year.
Those yields would be significantly lower than the previous few years. As of now, I plan to be surrounded with water and soaking wet from swimming and snorkeling in the Turks and Caicos. Later this year I will give a report on my final yields and see if I am “all wet” with my earlier yield estimate.
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