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Cool weather a worrying sign for Iowa farmersDES MOINES, Iowa (AP)--After heavy spring rains and record summer flooding, Iowa farmers are finding cold comfort as autumn arrives. September has started out chillier than normal, leaving farmers and agriculture experts worried that the cool temperatures could hurt an already stunted crop. "It's a big deal," said Tim Recker, a corn and soybean farmer in northeast Iowa. "We're just behind and we'll be behind. The cold weather doesn't help us catch up." Iowa is the country's largest corn producer and one of the leading producer of grain crops. But this year the state's farmers have been tested by an unusual barrage of bad-luck--starting with a soggy spring just as planting season began. Bill Northey, the state's agriculture secretary, said the delayed growth makes the cool weather especially risky for farmers. "The cool temperatures last week slowed crop growth. Hopefully we'll see more of the warm weather we need," Northey said Monday. Adding to the important of warm fall weather is that many farmers had to replant their fields because of the rain and flooding, Northey said. The state's climatologist, Harry Hillaker, said that it all amounts to a nerve-racking time for farmers. "We're just hoping the first freeze will hold off for awhile," Hillaker said. "In a typical year you wouldn't worry as much as you are this year. Temperature-wise as far as the whole season goes, it's been a relatively cool growing season." Normally farmers hope the first frost will hold off until the first week of October. But with low temperatures already in the 40s, farmers fret that the state could see an earlier than normal frost. Recker, who farms soybeans and corn on about 1,500 acres in northeast Iowa, said farmers were even more concerned about the weather this year because commodity prices are high enough that they can make a decent profit if they produce good yields from their crops. "It's always concerning seeing early cold snaps," Recker said. "But it's even more of a concern this year because of the high value crop--this is the year farmers should make some money, or should be profitable." Stepping outside and feeling the cool morning air, Recker said he worries that in a year many viewed as "can't miss" for profits, Mother Nature might play a cruel joke. "In my 22 years of farming, I haven't had a more stressful year," he said. "It's just kept us on pins and needles more--getting crops in late, the weather, now it's cooling down. "It's just when you're that strung out it concerns you, because the quality's got to be there this year." If frost comes early, Northey said it could cause tremendous damage to crops, especially soybeans. The quality of crops and the yield can be diminished, and in some cases cold weather can destroy a crop. Farmers looking for relief are out of luck, though. Hillaker said the cooler-than-normal weather is expected for at least the next two weeks--with average temperatures dropping a degree every three days as October approaches. He said there is a real worry that frost could come early. "It's been quite cool, and it looks like we'll be that way for a while," Hillaker said. 9/22/08 Date: 9/17/08 Advertisement
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