INDIANAPOLIS—"Knee high by the Fourth of July," is the old saying to describe a healthy corn crop.
The Fourth of July has come and gone in Indiana and most corn is not knee high. In fact, a drive in rural areas reveals no crops at all in many fields.
Too much rain over most of Indiana this year has left many Hoosier farmers hurting.
As a result, Governor Eric Holcomb Friday requested a U.S. Department of Agriculture disaster designation for 88 of the state's 92 counties.
"Heavy and persistent rainfall has saturated fields across the state, hurting Indiana crops and our farmers," the Governor said. "As I continue to monitor this situation, Hoosier farmers can rest assured that we will keep a close eye on the long-term effects of these relentless rains."
The designation, if approved, would allow emergency low-interest loans to be made available to farmers.
How wet has it been? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the 12-months from June of last year through May of this year have been the wettest 12-months on record in U.S. history.
A disaster designation can be requested when at least 30-percent of one crop is damaged or lost in a county. 88 of the state's 92-counties meet that threshold at this time.
