GIBSON COUNTY, Ind. (WEHT) – The lack of rain in the last several weeks has placed a good portion of the Tri-State under a severe drought. That severe drought is now placing stress on local farmers while raising questions on their Fall harvest.
Dry soil, brittle crops and clouds of dust. Those are the scenes of this year’s harvest across the area. From August first through September 19, the Evansville-metro received less than two inches of rain. This has led to a moderate to severe drought across the entire Tri-State. Abby Heidenreich with the Gibson County Purdue Extension office says the drought has lowered moisture levels in some areas, which is leading to lower weights in yields.
More burn bans issued for Tri-State
It is also causing a burden for farmers, who are engaged in a busier than normal harvest. “Overall, what we’re seeing is everything is just, it’s all getting ready at the same time, so everybody’s kind of rushing to get through some things and get things harvested,” explains Heidenreich. “But, in reality, we should be a much more staggered maturity date.”