The recent storms from Hurricane Isaac proved to be too late in the season to make up for the lack of rainfall plaguing the Midwest, and the nation. Food supplies suffer both locally and nationally due to the drought.

The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) released reports Sept. 13 that said the state of Illinois is still experiencing a broad-scale drought with conditions varying from moderate to extreme. However, the outlook is likely to improve according to the latest land and weather assessments, as August was the first “normal” month, in regards to precipitation and temperature.

Nationally, the contiguous U.S. is facing drought-like conditions from coast to coast. Wide ranges of moderate to exceptionally dry conditions have increased throughout the Midwest and the heartland, while abnormally dry conditions have developed in the southeast and southwest regions, as well as along the east and west coasts.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NAAS) reported that in the state of Illinois alone, 21 percent of the corn crop has been harvested, compared to the normal state average of only 6 percent at this point in the season. The nationwide average is not far behind with 15 percent of corn crop harvested, with a norm of 5 percent. The report also noted that 85 percent of the U.S. corn crop is located in the heart of the drought. Seventy-five percent of that crop is considered to be in poor to very poor condition, impacting the size, taste and quality of the corn. This reality is pushing farmers to harvest early, in order to try and salvage what is left of this year’s yield, which in turn has increased the price of corn by nearly 35 percent in the last three months according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Sangamon County is feeling the impacts of this year’s drought in more ways than one. NIDIS stated that the county has been impacted by the drought in six markets: agriculture, water supply, business and industry, energy, relief and response, and public health. This countywide breakdown is an improvement to the national report of nine markets impacted.

Seaney Farms, located in Tallula, Il., is owned by Bob and Pat Seaney. The farm produces 40 acres of sweet corn and 2,000 acres of field corn, along with soybeans, flowers and other produce at three locations in Sangamon County. They are just one local farm feeling the many effects of the drought this season.

Pat Seaney said that the farm went two solid months without rain, which posed a problem because of the fact that they do not irrigate their land. However, they were able to yield what they could, due to the quality of soil on their land.

The farm is on trend with the rest of the nation with their last yield of sweet corn on Sept. 15, nearly a month earlier than usual.

“The field corn has been severely affected by the drought, so we have used some of that field corn as silage to feed the cattle,” Seaney said. “Feed for animals is going to be very high this season, and consumers are going to feel the effects. A farmer just has a roll of the dice, and you just have to hope for the best and carry on.”

Another local farm impacted by the drought is Sally’s Fields in Chatham, Il. Owned and operated by Sally McDaniel-Smith; the farm produces sustainably grown fruits and vegetables.

This small town farm started up earlier this year, and has been prospering at the Old Capitol Farmer’s Market in downtown Springfield, but it has been no easy feat with the drought.

“We had to irrigate with city water, and we’ve had to use a lot of irrigation, which is okay, but it’s just not the same as good ol’ rain,” McDaniel-Smith said. “Irrigating will get the top of the soil wet, but a two-day long rain will get it wet two to three feet down. And there was no snow last winter either, so the soil was dry.”

McDaniel-Smith also said that her produce had to be harvested three weeks earlier than planned due to the heat and the drought.

The drought has kept farms across the nation on their toes, and with this year’s season coming to an end Sangamon County’s local farms have high hopes for the success of next year’s growing season.

Seaney Farms and Sally’s Fields can be found at the Old Capitol Farmer’s Market in downtown Springfield, open Wednesdays and Saturdays 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. until October 27.