2012
LOGAN COUNTY FARM OUTLOOK MAGAZINE. LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com October 23, 2012
22
How did the drought of 1988
compare to the drought of 2012?
H
igh temperatures and lack of
rain are a combination that
farmers especially don’t like
to experience. These factors severely
threaten their efforts to produce grains
and livestock for a world market.
As tenuous as farming is, even in a
good environment, the impact of a slip in
production can have
a ripple effect in the
present and affect
future production.
Farmers in Logan
County have faced a
more unpredictable
future, which by
nature is what they
face every year, but the 2012 crop yields
have been more severe and unmanageable
than what was experienced during the last
major drought, in 1988.
“
This year has been especially rough for
everyone,” according to John Agee, who,
along with his son Justin, farm various tracts
in Logan County. “The difference in this
year’s drought from the one we had in 1988
is the high heat along with lack of rain,” he
said.
Justin also cited the fact that even though
corn is genetically engineered, some of it
doesn’t entirely come up to par. “We had a
bunch of seed corn that was supposed to be
produced to helpminimize situations like this,
but it didn’t live up to minimal expectations,’’
he said.
However,
his
father added: “If we
had the type of seed
engineered in 1988,
the situation would
have been much
worse.”
Agee and his son said they’re going to
plant next year and not think about doing
things differently. “It’s important to use the
right seed and fertilizers,” John said, “but
the important thing is the techniques used to
maximize growth for high yields.”
The ripple effect of drought can also create
hardships for other businesses, according to
Agee.