Here & Now

Farmers Struggle to Manage Crops with Widespread Drought

Frederica Freyberg:

In agriculture, southern Wisconsin has seen severe and exceptional drought, with spotty rain and high temperatures testing farmers’ patience, but they are holding on.

Sam Bibby:

Mother Nature seems to be keeping us on the edge of our seat this whole time. We’re get just enough spotty precipitation I think to just keep us guessing, keep us wondering if we’re going to — how things are going to play out, but so far, you know, I’ve been impressed with the crops. Modern genetics and management has really played a big role in the success that we’ve — or the — at least the lack of, you know, crop failure, I guess we’ve seen so far. You know, we have corn and beans drying up on the lighter ground that has been sort of unlucky with those spotty showers, but then we’ve got some ground that is just hanging on and you wouldn’t quite know we’re in a drought, at least from looking at it from afar. We’re just right on the edge there, I guess. … I don’t want people to worry yet. There’s no need for mass panic. There’s never a good time to have a drought, but if you have to have a drought, it’s good to have it in the early half of the season.