Crops

Continued from page 1 percent of the corn did not get planted this year due to saturated fields

"If you drive around, you'll see all these empty fields," said Jack Norman of

Norman Farms

With wheat crops being planted in October or early November If it's not planted by November 15, the farmers cannot get crop insurance The corn needs to be planted around March 15 to April If it's planted after mid-April, the odds of producing a good product diminishes The Normans were fortunate to get 90 percent of their wheat and corn planted this season which is well above average Eric Akins, who has grown wheat and corn in the area says he's never seen a wet season like the one we've had since September The rain took their productivity to 50 percent wheat planted and 50 percent corn planted which is about the norm for Grayson County farmers this season

"I've had some years where maybe we didn't quite get both of them (corn and wheat) in, but not this much," said Akins "There have been years where we couldn't get been hard getting in the fields "

Wheat farmers in the area gathered in a local wheat field to review some varieties of wheat that could be good for planting in October Each farmer uses more than one variety of wheat each year to protect themselves if one particular variety fails A wheat variety can fail due to a number of circumstances including some that may be more inclined to being taken over by insects, and some can be favorites of wild hogs

Norman says that they use four to five different varieties each year in different fields to protect themselves and almost every year they experiment with a new variety of wheat

"We eliminate one and pick one that is recommended," said Norman "Every five years, there's an improvement "

But for improvement to continue in the local wheat and corn industry, the weather is going to have to cooperate The greatest wheat variety of all-time still has to make it to the ground Hopefully, for local farmers, October will shine