Farmers Struggling with Hot & Dry Conditions

It has been a tough season for farmers across Northeast Louisiana. Hot and dry weather hit at a crucial time for corn crops, and it’s expected to effect yield and profits come August harvest time. Rain is a priority during planting and pollination of the corn. Because of the lack of rain during that time, the size of the crop is expected to be smaller. Adam Faulk has been farming in Franklin Parish for 14 years. He says this season is one of the worst. “On a scale of one to ten, one being the worst. I’d give this season a two or a three,” says Faulk. It is not just the size of the crop that has growers worried, it is also the amount of money they have had to spend on irrigation. Thanks to the arid weather, more irrigation is needed to keep crops healthy and alive. Money spent on irrigation will show up in profits. “"The higher your expense the lower your profit margin is. The profit margin is pretty tight as it is," says Faulk.