Heavy summer rains pose yet another threat to central Wisconsin farmers

PLOVER, Wis. (WSAW) – We’ve certainly had a rainy summer so far and while the rain may help some of our farmers, it can also impact them negatively. Especially when flooding happens in their fields.

Okray Family Farm in Plover has 130 acres of potatoes, and Irrigation Manager John Deltor says out of all their crops affected, the potatoes were hurt the most. The farm hasn’t had to water their crops as much with the amount of rain we’ve had, but they are still running into obstacles.

“Flooded areas,” Deltor said. “Even flooded areas after you plant, cause then it’s just going to drown out your crop. Wet areas have been the biggest obstacle.”

Deltor says the worst has already been done. Now he’s hoping for a drier second half of the summer.

“All your wet areas are already drowned down. If it continues to rain like it has, you’re going to lose more and more,” Deltor said. “Diseases will really start to take an effect.”

If the rain continues, it will affect their harvest season which usually starts after Labor Day.

“This field we’re anywhere from 20-30% of this field’s not going to be able to be harvested,” Deltor explained.

Another crop that was impacted was peas.

“They’re a lot closer to harvest,” Deltor said. “They were planted a little later, so they haven’t seen that effect yet as much.”

So, whether it’s a field of potatoes or a field of peas, Deltor says one of the biggest things he and his team have learned this summer was how to adapt to muddy and rainy situations.

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