Hot, dry weather could impact corn crop and lead to high grocery prices
REED CITY -- Like most farmers in the Midwest, Robert Morlock is waiting for the rain. The dairy farmer relies on corn to feed his cows and he's worried that this year's yield won't produce enough to keep his livestock fed through the winter.
Good View Farms Owner, Robert Morlock says, "The corn is starting to show that it's burning up from the bottom. It's the lack of rainfall."
MSU Extension crop educator Jerry Lindquist spent Tuesday with Morlock and other farmers in the area assessing the damage. He says if the rain doesn't come soon, they'll be in trouble.
Jerry Lindquist says, "This is an ear that has potential to produce decent yield. It's going to be critical over the next three weeks to get at least an inch and a half of rain."
While there is still hope for Northern Michigan farms, great corn producing states like Iowa, Nebraska and Illinois have been devastated by the drought More than 1000 counties across the U.S. have been declared disaster areas.
The decreased production means increased prices for everyone at the grocery store. Food you eat everyday like cereal, milk, beef, and pop will be impacted.
Lindquist says, "When you impact the Corn Belt of U.S., that’s a main supplier of world's grain supply. It is going to cause an immediate increase in the price of food."
Corn prices have already soared about 40% percent in recent weeks closing Tuesday at $7.73 a bushel.
