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Some Corn Farmers Mow Fields as Drought Worsens

Posted: 6:45 AM Jul 11, 2012
Reporter: The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Some corn farmers are mowing down fields as the drought in the middle of the country worsens.

The most severe drought in nearly 25 years spreads from Ohio to California. Some of the hardest hit areas are in the corn belt, where the lack of rain has combined with unusual heat to damage plants.

David Kellerman says he and the neighbor he farms with cut down their corn near Du Bois, Ill., after more than a week of temperatures over 100 degrees.

Corn doesn't develop properly if temperatures rise above 95 during pollination.

Matt Johnson's popcorn fields in Redkey, Ind., have been burning up by day, and he expects his insurance adjuster to tell him to mow them over if no rain comes by next month.