By Leigh Ann Towne
Weeks of heavy rain and rapid snowmelt have flooded farm fields across Michigan, delaying the start of planting season and raising concerns about crop yields if conditions don’t improve soon.
In the past month, parts of the state have received more than 10 inches of rainfall — in some cases 400% more precipitation than normal — according to Jeff Andresen, Michigan's state climatologist.
He says most of the state typically receives somewhere in 30-40 inches of precipitation a year.
"We’re talking about a significant fraction of what would be expected on an annual basis occurring in just a few weeks," he said.
The deluge, combined with melting snow in northern Michigan, has saturated soils and overwhelmed drainage systems, leaving standing water in fields statewide.
“It’s just too much water and not enough time,” Andresen said.
For farmers, the timing is critical. Late April through May is typically the window to begin planting key crops such as soybeans and corn. But many fields remain inaccessible.
“I don’t think I’ve seen a single tractor even come close to attempting it,” said Steven Whittington, who works with farmers in West-Central Michigan, including Ionia County.
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