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Drought has Indiana farmers facing big crop losses

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press
Monday, July 2, 2012 - 12:36 pm

INDIANAPOLIS — Agriculture experts say some Indiana farmers are already facing big crop losses because of this summer's drought.

Less than half the normal amount of rain has fallen across much of the state since May 1.

The Agriculture Department reports that corn is beginning to tassel early in the dry weather and that soybeans also are blooming early.

Purdue Extension economist Chris Hurt says farmers who sold a large percentage of their anticipated crops on future delivery contracts could be especially hard-hit financially if they don't grown enough to meet those contracts.

The National Weather Service says last month was the driest June on record for Indianapolis and Evansville. Indianapolis recorded only 0.09 of an inch of rain.