Wet Harvest Dampens Louisiana Corn Crop

Corn harvest is finally in full swing across Louisiana. That includes Franklin Parish farmer, Scott Wiggers. He explains that this August hasn’t really gone as planned thanks to above average rainfall on his farm. “We’ve kind of had a staggering start. Stumbled out the gate. Rains every day or so and we just barely get started and have to quit. Moisture has been running high.” Even with cloudy skies, Wiggers is optimistic about getting the rest of his crop out soon. “Actually, the last two or three days have been the best drying weather we’ve had, and we’re having a real good run now.”

By Karl Wiggers, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation

BATON ROUGE -- Corn harvest is in high gear across the state, as Louisiana farmers try to cut their crop while the sun shines.

Franklin Parish farmer Scott Wiggers explained that this harvest has not gone as he planned because of above average rainfall at his farm.

“We’ve kind of had a staggering start. Stumbled out the gate. Rains every day or so and we just barely get started and have to quit.” Wiggers said, “Moisture has been running high.”

West Baton Rouge Parish farmer Donald Schexnayder said this harvest is almost as challenging as the harvest in August of 2016 when record rains fell in the Baton Rouge area.

“Right now, we’re having one of the wettest corn harvests we’ve had, ever,” Schexnayder said.  “We’re trying to get it out. Tractors are having a tough time, so its leaving ruts in the field. It’ll be a lot of tillage work to do in the fall.”

Following the rains in August of 2016, Schexneyder said his field was full of damaged corn and flood water.  So far, 2017 has delivered a lot of precipitation, but Schexnayder said he hasn’t seen nearly the damage he did last year.

“With our weather events, we’ve been having the rain almost every day. We haven’t had strong winds with it to lay much of the corn down, so we’re kind of lucky for the most part.” Schexneyder said, “It could be a lot worse.”

LSU AgCenter Extension Climatologist Jay Grymes said that most of the state has already exceeded average annual rainfall totals for the year. 

“The problem is, Mother Nature really has not turned off the water works,” Grymes added. “The last five months, there’s a large part of the state that’s running roughly double the normal amount, and some places have seen three times the normal rainfall totals, especially over the last 60 days.”       

Despite the wet harvest season, Louisiana farmers agreed this year’s corn crop is producing impressive yields. 

“It may be our best corn crop ever,” Schexnayder said. “It depends on how this field cuts, because its close. Its going to be in the top three corn crops already.”

With more rain in the forecast, Wiggers said he is getting help to hopefully finish harvesting his crop this week.  

“Actually, the last two or three days have been the best drying weather we’ve had,” Wiggers said, “and we’re having a real good run now.”