Continued wet conditions and the approaching warmer weather have left Central Texas corn farmers at a crossroads.

Rodney Schmalriede, who farms near McGregor, said he plans to devote 600 of his 1,800 acres to corn, with the rest set asidefor wheat and milo.
Jerry Larson/Tribune-Herald

They need to decide whether to change their crops or risk decreased yields of corn.

Rainfall has prevented farmers from getting into their fields to plow, fertilize and plant. The work is best done in early March so the harvest can occur in early July.

Later planting risks pushing the crop into the hottest, driest part of the summer, which harms the quality and affects the quantity of the ears of corn.

Most farmers diversify and grow more than one crop so they can shift to other products.

Corn, though, gives the biggest payoff, said George Caldwell, associate director for commodities activities for the Texas Farm Bureau.

With mid-March nearing, farmers will have to choose whether to chance a lower yield with corn or shift to another crop, such as milo, Caldwell said.

Another option is to go with a corn variety genetically designed to need a shorter growing season. That type, Caldwell said, doesn’t produce as well.

A gash is cut into a field near McGregor to aid in the drainage of stagnant water.
Jerry Larson/Waco Tribune-Herald

The National Weather Service reports that by Thursday, 2.85 inches of rain fell since March 1. The area has had 11.6 inches of rainfall since Jan. 1 — more than twice the normal amount of 5.1 inches.

“This is a real rare situation,” Caldwell said.

Besides corn, crops grown in McLennan County include milo, cotton and wheat.

According to the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, corn was a $9 million business in McLennan County last year. The crop made up about 11 percent of the county’s agriculture business, including livestock farming.

Rodney Schmalriede, who farms near McGregor, picked up corn seed Thursday. He plans to devote 600 of his 1,800 acres to corn, with the rest set aside for wheat and milo.

Whether late planting will diminish a yield depends on more than dropping seeds after March 15, Schmalriede said. A cooler summer, for instance, can offset the effects of late planting, he said.

“If conditions are right, it can still bring a good yield,” he said.

Farmer Rodney Schmalriede loads a pallet of corn seed in his trailer as he gets ready for planting this year’s crop.
Jerry Larson/Waco Tribune-Herald

Decent corn yields bring gross cash amounts of $300 to $350 an acre, with a profit of $30 to $40 an acre, he said.

Kevin Huffman, who farms on 3,800 acres between McGregor and Moody, intends to plant corn on 3,200 acres, leaving the rest for wheat.

“For the most part, they’ll stick with corn and hope we get a late season altogether,” he said.

Still, it’s riskier than what farmers are used to, Huffman said.

“I really hate to plant after that, but I really don’t have a choice,” he said.

bteeter@wacotrib.com

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