Lake County Commissioners heard about the drought’s impact on area producers during their regular meeting this week.  Lake County Farm Service Agency Executive Director Zach Neises told commissioners that there have been three different weather events that have contributed to producers’ losses this year – starting with the heavy rain in early May. 



After that, Neises said that Lake County received 39-percent of what it normally receives for precipitation in the month of June, and just 18-percent in July.  Those figures, along with the prolonged heat, contributed to some projected more than 30-percent losses in the alfalfa crop this year. 



Neises told commissioners that the county’s producers’ corn crop is estimated to see a higher loss as well.



Neises said the high winds that hit the central and northwestern parts of the county in early August has added to the negative impact on crops in that area.
He said that a disaster designation for the county would open up emergency loan programs and other assistance for producers through the Farm Service Agency, but that designation has not been approved yet.