Rain puts planting on hold

HOMER – The bright sun warmed Kent Krukewitt's farm fields in rural Homer on Tuesday afternoon, but it was too muddy to get into the fields to plant.

"I still have 60 percent of my soybeans left to plant, and a good portion of the 40 percent that is in the ground may have to be replanted," Krukewitt said.

"It is too wet to do anything. It's going to take a number of good drying days before we can get back into the fields."

Krukewitt's situation isn't unique. Record rains have left farm fields muddy and waterlogged, and some are sprinkled with pools of standing water. Local farmers worry the crops that are already planted are ruined. They are concerned that thousands of dollars spent on fertilizer have washed away. They fear that it soon may be too late to plant crops that need to be harvested before it frosts in October or November.

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