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Mississippi River bottom farmer fears another year of unplanted fields

An Illinois farmer says he is concerned about flooding again this year as planting gets underway.

“I’ve still got ground with water sitting on it from last year that we have never gotten off.”

Daryl Cates farms corn, soybeans and wheat in the Mississippi River bottoms of Columbia, Illinois. He tells Brownfield with the river only 3 feet below flood stage in St. Louis he is fearful some fields will go unplanted again his year.  

“Right now, we should be able to get a lot more planted. Last year we have about 525 acres of prevent plant. Right now, if things don’t change, we’re going to have about 100 to 150 acres of prevent plant this year.”

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) puts basins along the Mississippi River in the moderate to major flood risk category for March through May.

Cates serves on the American Soybean Association board of directors.