Southern Indiana Farmers Begin Harvest Amid Unseasonable Heat and Disease Concerns

Farmers in southern Indiana are starting their harvest early this year due to an unseasonable blast of heat that accelerated crop maturity. J.R. Roesner, a Dubois County farmer, began harvesting corn on September 1st.

The intense heat has been both beneficial and challenging for farmers like Roesner. While it helped crops mature quickly, the temperatures have made working in the fields extremely uncomfortable.

Roesner's yields are looking promising, but not record-breaking. Last year's crop set a high bar, and this year's may be slightly lower due to disease pressure and pollination issues caused by excessive rain during that critical period.