Louisiana Corn Crop Suffering From Lack of Moisture

By Don Molino, The Voice of Louisiana Agriculture Radio Network

Louisiana farmers planted a lot of corn this season across the state. That's the good news.

LSU AgCenter Extension Service Corn Specialist Dr. Dan Fromme

The bad news?  LSU AgCenter Extension Service Corn Specialist Dr. Dan Fromme at the Dean Lee Research Station just south of Alexandria reports this years corn crop is right now growing at various ages "simply because of all the cold, wet weather during March.  We had a lot of corn that was planted in April so it hasn't been a rally good corn year so far."

The  last couple of weeks have turned warm and dry throughout Louisiana which is causing some more problems with a lack of rainfall.

"We're seeing a lot of corn being irrigated at this time," said Fromme. "You can drive across the sate where there is no irrigation, which is causing concern about those acres.  Some of the corn is starting to roll up and wilt in the middle of the day. Right now I am not too optimistic about the corn crop.  We sure could use some rain and we'll just keep our fingers crossed."