Tagged: weather

The hot, dry summer has taken a toll on Kentucky's corn crop, which could result in the lowest yields in nearly 30 years.

A government report issued Friday predicts an average statewide corn yield of 65 bushels an acre. That's down 74 bushels from last year's crop. And it would be the lowest yield since the 1983 crop produced 48 bushels per acre.

Corn production in Kentucky is forecast at nearly 97 million bushels, down 46 percent from last year.

Despite scattered thunderstorms during the past week, parts of Indiana and Kentucky remain in a drought. That condition is hitting corn and soybean farmers particularly hard.

Half of Indiana’s and nearly half of Kentucky’s corn crop are in jeopardy, rated as “poor” or “very poor” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Purdue University agricultural economist Chris Hurt says once a crop is rated “very poor,” there’s not much that can be salvaged.

“Probably getting close to virtually gone. Very little yield potential left in that corn,” he said.

Kentucky officials have declared a water shortage watch for 27 counties, mostly in central and western parts of the state.

Nearly all of the state outside of Jefferson and nearby counties is in some degree of drought. Many have been classified as abnormally dry, but central and northern Kentucky are in a level one drought, and the entire western part of the state is in a level two drought. That means in some places, water is becoming scarce.

The state issues water shortage watches when drought conditions could possibly threaten the availability of drinking water supplies.