Below-average temperatures and little to no rain have farmers concerned about the condition of their crops for the upcoming harvest, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) for the Great Lakes region.

Cool temperatures – 5.5 degrees below normal – have allowed disease pressure to corn and soybeans to persist, while slowing maturity in the corn crop. Corn in dent is lagging behind the previous two years.

Still, Mark Kepler, Fulton County extension director, remains optimistic about the county’s crops. "We have some loss," he said, "but overall, we’re better than some. Corn looks good. The beans look good; not as much SDS (sudden death syndrome) as we expected."

Farmers in Fulton, Marshall and Kosciusko counties were made eligible for disaster area assistance in the aftermath of excessive rain and flooding occurring May 1 and after. Emergency loans may be made to farmers who:

•Are established family farm operators

•Are citizens or permanent residents of the United States

•Have the ability, training or experience necessary to repay the loan

•Have suffered a qualifying physical loss, or a production loss of at least 30 percent in any essential farm or ranch enterprise

•Cannot obtain commercial credit

•Can provide collateral to secure an emergency loan

The emergency loan rate for the month of September, for actual loss, is 3.625 percent. Emergency loan applications will be received through April 12, 2016, for physical and production losses. Loan approval will be contingent on the availability of funds.