Michigan farmers started the year thinking they were going to break records with

this year’s corn crop, but a dry August ended those hopes for most of the state, according to officials.

“I don’t think we’re in any disaster, but it’s taken some of the top end off,” said Bob Boehm, Michigan Farm Bureau Commodity and Marketing manager.

Boehm said officials were forecasting a record yield for corn last month, expecting 148 bushels per acre, up 24 bushels from 2007. How much farmers will see now isn’t known, he said.

“It’s been a real up and down year,” he said.

The lack of rain last month stunted much of the crop’s growth, Boehm said.
“(The) concern is getting the crop to full maturity before the first frost,” he said.

Read more in the Times Herald tomorrow.