Indiana crop farmers find benefits from rapid weather change

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) — Farmers face some of the biggest impacts from the weather, but this recent extreme temperature change has actually been a positive thing.

Local crop farmer Greg Gilbert said the rapid change in weather can bring more good than bad.

“With the negative temperatures and this drastic temperature change, we still got a lot of time,” Gilbert said.

Planting season starts in early April. Gilbert said the rapid change in weather hasn’t done enough to cause any planting delay so far. 

“We did not have an excessive amount of rain or snow mixed with the sub-zero temperatures so that was one of the benefits that I saw come out of it,” Gilbert said. 

Rapid weather change also helps kill off bugs who eat away at the crops. Gilbert said he’s expecting it to be a good year for crop growth.

“A lot of producers are looking forward to 2019. I even think from a financial standpoint, some of the commodities have stabilized, where we’re not seeing rapid price swings,” Gilbert said. 

Gilbert grows corn and soybeans. He said the weather has actually brought a boost to the corn market.