Farmers look to the 2013 season

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - Seeds are being shipped to farms in anticipation of planting season. Last year good moisture and high temperatures allowed farmers to plant a month in advance.

Farm Rescue Instructor Steve Wettschurack said it looks like planting season will begin as normal this year. That means farmers will start around April or May. He said after last year's outrageous weather, farmers are being cautious.

"They all have the same comment," Wettschurack said. "Hopefully we get those rains this spring that don't come in large amounts, and spread them out in the planting season."

The drought's effect on crops can't be reversed. However, meteorologists said its effect on the land can be.

"We had exceptional and extreme drought status across the entire state [last summer]," Meteorologist Jessie Hawila said. "This fall and winter we have really gotten rid of that. In fact, we are sitting right around average and there is no drought status."

However, that extra moisture has caused some farmers to worry.

"I think some of the concerns are we didn't have have a solid freeze this year," Wettschurack said. "It makes things pretty spongy as we're seeing right now."

Wettschurack said looking on the bright side of this planting season, some farmers may have more time. He said many finished farm projects after the harvest.

"Since it was a harvest where there weren't a lot of bushels per acre in some areas they were able to get some farm work done," Wettschurack said. "Some field tile work was done that has been put off for years."

Hawila agrees with Wettschurack. He expects planting season will begin as normal. Hawila said preliminary data shows it will be a wetter and warmer spring than average.