Rains pester farms

Source from:  By Scott Sisco, ssisco@bgdailynews.com  06/08/2004

Blue mold found in Logan County tobacco crops; corn, livestock also problem areas The large amount of rainfall recently has caused problems for farmers in the region and the state – up to 8 inches has fallen in some areas over the past two weeks. Some areas will have a chance to dry the next few days, but others might not, with the chance of scattered showers in the forecast. Blue mold was found in Logan County recently on a farm near the Simpson County border. The farmer destroyed the affected plants, said Chris Milam, Logan County extension agent for agriculture/natural resources. "He's buying some more plants," Milam said. The greenhouse atmosphere is very conducive to growing the blue mold, said Joanna Coles, Warren County extension agent for agriculture/natural resources. "We've had such wet weather that the farmers haven't been able to get their tobacco set," Coles said. Logan County is now under a warning for blue mold, while area counties Warren, Simpson, Allen and Butler are in a watch mode. Milam and Coles are urging farmers to spray fungicide on the plants weekly and to watch for the mold. "With all the wet weather and clouds, it's not uncommon, just a little early to have this problem," Milam said. "If you can keep it under control, it's not a problem." Blue mold showed up in Simpson County and sporadically in a few other counties in the region last year, but it was later in the season. It normally shows up in late summer. If a plant is set with blue mold, it can destroy the plant and spread to other plants. If it develops after the plant is in the field, it's not as bad. "The field environment isn't as conducive," Coles said. Tobacco isn't the only crop being affected. Chris Kummer, a farmer in Simpson County, said his corn yield may be lowered because of high amounts of rain. Corn and soybeans on high land and hills are doing well because the water is running off, but crops in flat fields are suffering, Kummer said. "They're drowning," he said. "They've got too much rain at this point." The water inhibits root development, Kummer said. "It weakens the plant and it will affect it throughout the year," he said. The problems aren't limited to crops either. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is warning cattle farmers about the dangers of lightning and high water to cattle after about 31 cattle on a Henry County farm were killed by lightning and more livestock were swept away from a Powell County farm last month. Livestock threatened by flooding should be moved to high ground before floodwaters rise. If farmers don't try to move cattle until rising water directly threatens, cattle may refuse to move, according to an ag department press release. Cattle that contact floodwater run an increased risk of diseases caused by bacteria that live in the soil. Farmers can vaccinate livestock against soil-borne diseases, such as black leg and tetanus, before storms. Flood emergency plans for the farm should include turning off power to electric fences and to buildings that might flood, and making standby feeding and watering arrangements. Dairy farmers also must make emergency plans to continue milking and to store and deliver milk. Farmers in southcentral Kentucky could see more rain this week. Marilyn Sholz, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Louisville, said there is a chance of scattered showers this week, with the chance growing stronger through the end of the week. The showers will be scattered and light, not like the drenching downpours seen in the last few weeks, Sholz said. "You've got two or three days here of drying out," she said. Kummer said he hates to complain about rain because often farmers need more rain. "Too much is just as bad as not having hardly any," he said. Enditem