High temperatures leave Warren County crops in need of rain

Bowling Green, KY.- Last month areas of North Warren County and Butler County saw significant flooding in cropland, and with continued heat that same land needs rain.

Corn can withstand heat when getting water, but with no water, heat puts stress on the crop and the plants cannot complete all of the functions it needs to. The corn then diverts it’s resources in a variety of ways, like making less pollen or not producing extra foliage. Under the stress heat causes, the crop can not perform all functions at the same time, stressing the plant even more.

Colby Dye, with the Warren County Cooperative Extension Office, says, “A lot of the northern side of town, their corn is just getting started because they had to push back the planting a little bit with all of the water. When there are other parts of the county where the corn is already up and out of the ground and a couple of feet tall. Even right here in Warren County alone, just a few miles difference can make a whole different situation based on how much rain we got in the last month and where we are now.”

Farmers will continue to monitor crops and use irrigation systems when needed. If you are operating any equipment with motors, like lawnmowers or tractors, be aware of overheating and cautious of your safety.