Posted: 3:11 PM Jul 24, 2012
Reporter: Cassie Anderson

Hot and Dry Conditions Continue to Wreak Havoc on Crops, Cassie Anderson Reports on 10/11 News at 6
Crops in Bad Shape - Cassie Anderson is On the Scene at 5

Triple-digit temperatures, day after day, it's taken a toll on Nebraska crops.

Rod Hollman is watching the situation closely on his farm near Martell. The damage to his crops hasn't been as sever, but he's not immune.

"Our hay crop is what is really hurting us the most. We are going to be short on feed and we may have to chop some corn just for that. It really hurts to chop corn that's worth seven dollars a bushel," Hollman said.

Most Nebraska Farmers are expecting a short crop this year. But their yields really depend on where they planted. That can been seen by looking at these two ears of corn. One of Hollmans field produces larger yellow ears, while other fields produce little less mature ears.

"We're going to make a decision here in a week or two on what corn, if we need to, to chop for silage. It may be more beneficial to us as feed than it would be to try and get grain out of it," Hollman said.

Many farmers are already cutting their losses and cashing in crop insurance. The Nebraska Corn Board says the short crop may not mean a major increase at the supermarket.

"There's very little cost of corn in your retail products. There's literally cents in a box of corn flakes compared to what you pay at the retail price," Kelly Brunkhorst with the Nebraska Corn Board said.

Even if the rain does fall, Hollman says it will have a hard time getting to the crops because of cracks in the soil, but that doesn't stop him from praying for rain.

"Farmers are always optimistic. We're not pessimistic. We always hope tomorrow is going to be better," Hollman.

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