The Union County journal. [volume] (Marysville, Ohio) 1875-1951, 1947-05-01
INCESSANT RAINS
THROW FARMERS
3 WEEKS BEHIND
Oats Crop Hardest Hit.
But Only Is Percent
Of Spring Flowing Done

Union county's farmers have
already been thrown more than
three weeks behind in their work
by the near ar-inceSsant rains of the
past month, and every day that
it rains makes the situation just
that much worse, County Agent
Farnk R. Greeneisen told The
Journal today.
Most seriously affected is the
oats crop, of which less than 25
percent is in the ground. Mr..
Greeneisen declared. 1t is the
second most important livestock
feed crop in Union county, tnd
should have been in nearly a
month ago.
Only a very small amount of
the spring blowing has been done,
the Agent said. Probably less
than S percent of the fields have
been plowed, where the farmers
normally have so percent or
more done by this time.
Should Still Plant Oats
Generally, by May l, nearly
all of the corn ground will be
plowed up and many farmers
will have their soybean blowing
started" he added. "The little
blowing that has been done has
been for oats"
The rains have gone SO long
now that the few farmers who
were lucky enough to get oats in
ground are now beginning to
worry about them rotting.
while oats should be in the
ground in early April, l am
recommending to farmers who
ask me about it that they still
plant oats as late as May 10 if
the weather is favorable" Mr..
Greeneisen said. "This should be
done if at all possible in order
to keep up planned rotations, F"
he explained.
Use Plenty of Fertilizer
However, good supply of
fertilizer should be used on such
late paintings in order to give the
seed a good start" he warned.
One effect of the weather is
going to be an increase in the
amount of soybeans in the county,
Mr.. Greeneisen believes. Soy
beans can be planted as late as
the latter part of May, and many
farmers who could not get their
oats in the ground, due to the
rains, are going to plant extra
beans.
Of less Importance, but still
disappointing to many farmers,
was the inability to get a flax
Group planted due to the rains.
1--WE had several farmers who
were planning to try and raise
a little flax this year." Mr.. Green
eisen said. However, due to the
late spring, this should not be
considered for the present year" !"
Other Work Hit
Besides the terrific setback to
plowing and oats planting, the
weather has also delayed much
other spring work. There still
remains a lot of manure to. be
applied to the fields. Fences are
not repaired. Winter frost dam
age is not tended to. These are
all lesser jobs than blowing, but
still important on every farm.
But, while the rains have been
serious and discouraging to far
mers, they have not been with
out some benefit, Mr.. Greeneisen
pointed out.
Meadows, in particular, are
looking extra-good this spring"
he declared. Alfalfa, which was
not so good in many places, has
been helped immeasurably by the
wet weather"
Wheat is apparently not being
hurt, with the exception of some
spots where the water has stood
too long. But on the whole, this
crop is looking in excellent con-
dition, he added.
Eyes, the farmer has been hit
hard by the weather this year."
he concluded, "but the damage is
not irreparable, aside from the
oats. The farmers are going to
have to work day and night, now,
but they can still get caught up
if the weather is right from here