Northeast Louisiana farmers working around rain this planting season
By Reggie Wells, KNOE-TV
CALDWELL PARISH, La. - Farmers in northeast Louisiana could be getting a late start this planting season. The heavy rain that has fallen over the past few weeks have made it impossible to get started for many.
"If we could miss the rain, the next day or two, I could be in the field planting by Thursday. I just don't see that happening right now. So, another wet year," says Drew Keahey, owner of Keahey Farm Venture.
"When the ground is already saturated, it doesn't take much to get it back too wet again. I didn't start planting last year until March 20. I planted it all in a hurry. We were rushed up to do it."
Keahey says most farmers try to get seeds into ground by the second week of March, but there's a process before that can happen. "There's a lot of preparation that has to go in place before. Killing the weeds that are already out there and then if you have leftover ruts from last year, that's a problem trying to get those covered up and put back into shape,” Keahey says.
LSU Ag Center county agent Keith Collins says it's important they're able to get started as quickly as they can. "Our economy is driven by agriculture. So, corn is one of our major crops, major commodities," Collins says. "80% of the corn planted in the state is planted up here. So, it's very important."
"Right now, I hope to be planting by next week, but it might be March 20 again before I get back to planting like I did last year," Keahey says.
"Getting your seed up is 90% of the battle of corn farming. Is to get it planted and get a consistent stand, the right number of plants per row per foot. Once you get that, then you're off to the races.”