RAY COUNTY, Mo. — On a day Tom Waters would typically spend planting his soybeans, he sat inside watching the rain.
The wet weather has further delayed him and other farmers around the metro.
“We’re already behind from the earlier rains and the storms we had. The river has been very worrisome for us all spring, so we’ve delayed our planting and that’s going to impact our fields,” he said.
Many of the fields around Ray County, Missouri, were flooded Tuesday. With more rain in the forecast for the week, Waters and other farmers worry it will set them back even more.
By now, they should have finished planting their corn and started planting soybeans.
“The longer we go without getting planted, the worse that impact would be,” he said, adding that he was thankful he finished planting his corn before the wet weather. “It’s frustrating, it’s worrisome. But it’s a gamble every year.”
The rain in combination with floods earlier in the spring could impact the prices people pay at the grocery store. Missouri farmers are among the nation’s top producers for corn and soybeans.
“We just try to take care of the things we can control and hope Mother Nature can take care of what she’s supposed to take care of,” Waters said.
He’s now hoping for some sunshine and wind to help dry the ground so planting can resume or begin.
