ATLANTA, Ind. — Heavy rains the last couple of weeks have made a soggy mess of farm fields in parts of Indiana and other states.

Cornfields that have been overloaded with rain are seeing a lack of oxygen to the roots of the plants, said Denny Cobb, an area team agronomist for Beck’s Hybrids. That lack leads to browning and the beginning of death for those plants, he said.

"We’re starting to see tall spindly plants," he explained. "The growing point (of the plants) has been submerged and the plants are soaking up bad stuff, such as fungus. Those plants are dying."

If temperatures were cooler, plants might be able to survive a few days under water, he said. Plant death is accelerated with temperatures in the 70s and 80s. "It’s turned into a big swamp pond," Cobb said. "If they’re submerged within a five-day period, with this heat, they’re writing their own epitaphs."

Excess rain has been a concern in this region for the last few weeks. In addition to Indiana, parts of Kentucky, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee have had, or have been under threat of, flooding. Cobb’s sales territory includes parts of northern Indiana and southern Michigan. He said the problem is worse in areas with heavy clay soils, such as those near Auburn and Angola in northeastern Indiana.

"It’s been a frustrating situation for farmers," he noted. "In the northeast, there were delays in planting and delays in plant development. They had adverse growing conditions that weren’t good for plant growth. They’re very saddened about what’s happening now, but they realize it is what it is. It’s out of their control and there’s nothing they can do about it."

Farmers will have to wait to evaluate their options until after the soils dry out, which could take a week to 10 days after the rain stops, he said.

"We’re past the point of having the opportunity to replant," Cobb said. "I’ve had some farmers ask questions about planting soybeans by airplane into the saturated soils. That would be an exercise in futility."

Soybeans are beginning to be impacted by the wet weather, too, as some plants are losing their nice green color to a yellow-green tint, he said.

The situation is Michigan isn’t quite as bad, as farmers there were able to plant earlier and their crops are a little further along, Cobb said. The sandier soils in the area help drain the water better, he added.

This week will be crucial in determining the extent of the potential damage to corn and soybeans, said Bob Nielsen, a professor of agronomy at Purdue University. "In these temperatures, corn standing in water more than three to four days may be enough to kill the crop," he said. "Even if the water recedes, the soil is still saturated.

"The fields are so wet now, it may take at least a week to dry out, and then you’re pretty much at the end of the month. In northern Indiana, realistically, there are no viable replant solutions. We’re looking at lost acres."

Growers who have ponding in their fields and who are in areas where more rain was expected should contact their crop insurance agents, Nielsen said.

"It’s an emotional roller coaster every year for farmers," he stated.

"I respect these guys who do it. The most serious issue farmers are facing is an endless stream of rainy days. We’re just on a run of this non-stop rain."

East-central Illinois has had several inches of rain the last few weeks, said Steve Ayers, extension educator for local food systems and small farms for Champaign, Ford, Iroquois and Vermilion counties. Parts of Vermilion County saw in excess of 8 inches of rain in a six-hour period during storms earlier this month.

"It’s just been in the bull’s-eye," he said. "There’s nothing you can do about it. What happens, happens."

The area had been wet in the spring, making it difficult for farmers to get corn planted, Ayers said. "Your heart goes out to them. I don’t think anyone knows how extensive (the problem) it is. There are ponds where we haven’t seen ponds before."

The heavy rains could have an impact on grain markets, Cobb said. "Iowa has had similar problems, and Illinois is pretty saturated too. The situation in the ‘I’ states will get attention from the markets. I think we’re close to setting a bottom on market prices and very soon we’ll see a bump."