Drought conditions continue to persist throughout the state, and some effects can be seen in Guthrie County. Guthrie County ISU Extension Field Agronomist Mike Witt says that drought conditions are worsening, and that these conditions will likely persist throughout the fall and harvest seasons.

Witt mentions that there’s an upside to the dry conditions though. He says that in Guthrie County, almost all soybeans and about 75-percent of corn has been harvested. Even with a couple of rainy days in the last month, Witt notes the ground has stayed dry enough for farmers to keep harvesting, getting about 6.7 fieldwork days per week.

Witt also mentions how the dry conditions are helping farmers keep a little extra in their pockets.

“I would say that a lot of farmers are saving money on some of their drying costs on corn by allowing them to stay in the field longer. And with that, they don’t have to pay for drying costs, they can make a little bit more profit when it comes to that.”

Witt says many farmers are putting fall fertilizer on their fields now, and that it’s almost perfect to do so. He adds that ground temperatures of 50 degrees and below and falling are the best time to be putting on anhydrous ammonia, a common crop fertilizer.