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Danny Johnston / AP
Farmers in Isaac's path, for better or for worse, include Randy Pettingill, seen here checking an ear of undersized corn near Plumerville, Ark., earlier this month.
Thousands of farmers in drought-hit states will be seeing rain from Isaac, but the question many are wondering is whether it will be a blessing, curse or both.
After deluging Louisiana and Mississippi, Isaac on Thursday reached into Arkansas, one of the driest farm states where too much rain could ruin some crops now being harvested.
Farmers ran combines overnight Wednesday, the farm extension service at the University of Arkansas reported — after earlier tweeting this advice: "Harvest in a hurry".
"If the corn blows over, it is next to impossible to get all of the corn into the combine," university agronomist Jason Kelley reported.
Nearly a quarter of the state's corn crop has yet to be harvested.
Across the parched central U.S., "pasture, grazing lands and winter wheat" will benefit from the rains over the next few days, Brian Fuchs, a climatologist with the National Drought Mitigation Center, told NBC News.
The rains might also help some soybean crops, added David Miskus, a meteorologist specializing in farm weather at the U.S. Climate Prediction Center. But too much rain could be bad news for corn and cotton.
The big benefit from the rains, Fuchs said, will be "helping to recharge soils going into next year."
National Weather Service
The forecast calls for several inches of rain across the central U.S. over the next few days due to Isaac.
In Indiana, Morgan County grain farmer Jeff Thomas told the Associated Press that farmers there are worried about too much rain too late in the growing season.
"If we get all this water they're talking about, we'll have to deal with flooding, especially in fields along rivers. The rivers just can't hold all of that water," he said.
But others have said even a flood would be more welcome than drought.
In Morrilton, Ark., farmer Randy Pettingill was among those desperate after running out of water for his fields.
"It's been a long summer," he recently told the extension service. "I'll take anything. I don't care if it comes a flood."
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Leave a Comment:
The rain should put much needed water in the Mississippi River for barge transportation.
nm
A friend mentioned this posibility to me today. Ya' ever seen a real heavy downpour in the rural SouthWest?
Farmers are in a no win situation. The drought kills their crops and potentially drives them bankrupt. A flood, if severe enough, could also destroy the home. At least insurance will pay for it...if they have flood insurance.
What happened to "God Bless America"------with the way things have been going on for us these past years---we might be better off if God blessed our enemies!!!
At last the Prayers of everyone were heard. But the Rain was plentiful. At least the ground will remain wet for a long time and there will be no drought. Due to the land remaining wet there will be growth of more trees and there will be greenery around and there will be no forest fires. There will be more crops and plentiful of harvest. GOD Bless the Americans. GOD BLESS THE USA.
Kevin Valentine Moraes
Mira Road (Thane)
Kevin?
I take it you've never been on a farm, let alone grown up on one?
You see, for farmers, too much water can be as bad as too little water, sometimes worse.
And too much water can lead to pollution run-off into streams and rivers (where do most cities get their drinking water?), water-born diseases and insects dependent on water to explode. Things that can affect even people who don't live on farms.
Mike?
You're the type of guy as my Uncle use to say ....
"You would complain about being hung with a new rope."
We want to believe that Nature is here for us, but in reality We are here because of Nature. Nature will always have to remind us of that fact.
I certainly wish all the farmers the best of luck! They rely on these crops for income and I know its been a tough year! My prayers and strength are with you all to make your timeline before the storm hits!
"blessing and curse"
It's the 21st century, please stop using made up words.
People are never satisfied, complain complain complain! I would rather have too much water than not enough anyday! And I worked on two farms in Pennsylvania! Yes we can have complications with too much rain also but it still better than not enough water! And you wonder why God hasent been blessing us?? Hahahah! He gets blamed for everything that goes wrong, Is judged continuosly by the people on this crazy world! They took Him out of schools and dont want crosses in public places, they dont even want Him on the dollar bill! And you wonder why God isnt blessing us?? Hahahahah! Fires in California,drought in the midwestern states, hurricane Issac!! Do people need house to fall on them to wonder WHY God isnt blessing them! If I were God I would have trashed this planet long ago and said forget it! Loool! Oh and dont forget the earthquakes too!
I'll Tellya WHATs a Blessing and a CURSE, This Next ELECTION! Damned ifya DO, Damned IFYA DON'T!