Wisconsin corn crop at risk

OUTAGAMIE COUNTY - For area farmers who've battled dry conditions much of the summer, the wet weather arrived just in time.

"You know if it would have pollinated a week or ten days ago in the heart of those dry conditions then you'd be really nervous," farmer Mark Petersen said, pointing to his corn crop.

Petersen depends on that crop for silage, to feed his cattle. This year he's expecting yields will be average at best.

"We need some time to get it ripe," he said. "That's our main concern right now."

Petersen says corn needs hot weather, ideally 80 degrees, to mature. With the summer season passing quickly, he's running out of time. Petersen says a frost before Oct. 10 could be a disaster.

"You look at the calendar and there's plenty to be nervous about," he said.

Outagamie County agriculture agent Kevin Jarek says the economic impact would be significant.

"How the corn crop comes in for silage to take care of our dairy industry is really going to have a huge impact on the farmer's bottom line," he said.

Whether their crop is for cows or the dinner table, Jarek says mother nature hasn't been kind this year.

"You always keep your fingers crossed, certain things you have no control over and weather is one of those," Petersen said. "So you just keep a smile on your face and pray."

He says optimism never hurts.