While the growing season for crops continues, the deficit in moisture could potentially bring yield impacts during harvest season.

Dallas County Extension and Outreach Field Agronomist Meaghan Anderson says there is the possibility of yield impacts once farmers hit the fields to harvest crops due to the dryness of the growing season.

“We are absolutely going to see yield impacts. It will be highly variable by field and by soil type even within fields but there are going to be yield impacts from this persistent dryness that we’ve had.”

Anderson tells Raccoon Valley Radio she’s encouraged despite the dry conditions so far this year. While there are good signs Anderson explains some of those potential impacts. 

 “I think we probably have smaller kernels perhaps than we would see in a more typical moisture year. So, that may turn out in yield that we are going to see less yield but it will be variable.”

Anderson says not only has lack of rainfall been an impact, pests have also played a role and could impact growing season next year.