“As of June 30 we were 7.44 inches below the long-term average for this location. That is the driest first six months of any year that I have seen since I came to work here in 1999,” said Bob Pitman, superintendent of the Eastern Virginia Agricultural Research and Extension Center.

Despite those startling figures, Pitman says the distribution of rain has a bigger impact on crops than the total amount. This explains why corn crops in Callao, Lottsburg and Lewisetta appear brown and burnt to a crisp while fields in Heathsville and Burgess are much greener.

“The differences in crop appearance in Lewisetta and Heathsville are not due to soil differences, but mainly due to rainfall differences exacerbated by high temperatures, which is typical of summer thunderstorms,” said Pitman.

These rainfall differences were evident June 22. Pitman said he received 1.5 inches of rain at his home a few miles north of Kilmarnock. One of his staff members who lives in Lara received 5 inches of rain from the same storm system while only 0.02 inches fell in Warsaw.

“This kind of rain pattern can make or break corn crops only a few miles apart,” said Pitman.

“We’ve been very lucky compared to a lot of people,” said David Hudnall, who farms land in Lancaster and Northumberland counties. Hudnall says he expects his corn yields to be cut by 30% this season.

“The beans will do a lot though,” said Hudnall.

Making things worse is the extreme heat, which increases evapotranspiration and reduces the success rate for pollination of corn in particular, he said. The most critical time for corn is at tasseling and silking time in late June to early July, when pollination of the ear occurs. Hot, dry conditions dry out the silks and reduce or kill viability of the pollen that is shed from the tassels.

“Dry and hot are not favorite conditions for pollination and can leave the crop with lots of blanks on the cob, especially the ends,” said Kelly Liddington, agriculture and natural resources Extension agent.

Rainfall is needed after pollination to properly fill out the kernels that are forming on the cob, said Pitman.

The collection of 3.22 inches of rainfall at the extension center in Warsaw over the last eight days may have some wondering if the crops might be salvaged.

“No,” said Liddington. “The rain has to have been coming when it is needed to help the stand accumulate and photosynthesize food for the plant. Much of what we have now is corn that was poorly pollinated that rain won’t help.”

Pitman said corn crop recovery depends on when tasseling and silking occurred in that particular field—before, during, or after the extreme heat and dryness hit. The fields that are burnt to a crisp will not be helped, he said.

Hudnall, however is a bit more optimistic.

“Every little bit (of rain) helps produce weight,” said Hudnall.

Pitman said most farmers carry crop insurance these days, so they need to be in contact with their crop insurance agent if they have a claim.