By CHABELLA GUZMAN
Scottsbluff Star-Herald

Anyone driving the country roads in the Panhandle or eastern Wyoming may notice the usual green of the corn crop this year is a bit more yellow than green.

According to Rob Ford, an advisor for Simplot in Scottsbluff, there is no real cause for alarm on the color.

"The color is caused mainly by the cool temperatures," Ford said. "There are several factors that go along with the cool temperatures, including the fact some people had put their nitrogen down before they planted."

When most farmers were putting their corn crops into the ground in May, the area was still pretty dry. Following the cool May temperatures, there was above average rainfall in June for both the Panhandle and eastern Wyoming.

According to Art Hutchenson, the observation program team leader at NOAA's National Weather Service in Cheyenne, Wyo., rainfall for the area has not been in record amounts, but has been well above average.

Rainfall in Alliance was 3.97 inches above average and 3.8 inches above in Sidney, he said.

Most places throughout the Panhandle and eastern Wyoming have had at least half again as much rainfall as usual. High amounts of rain have added to the yellow corn situation.

"Some of the nitrogen has been leached away and the roots can not reach it," Ford said. "It's a bad thing for the farmers that have spent the money on the nitrogen, and it is now below root zone and the crop can't tap into it."

Ford suggested there were a few things farmers could do to remedy the situation, the first one being to rely on Mother Nature.

"Heat will help a great deal, once it warms up and the corn gets a chance to grow," he said.

Unfortunately, according to Hutchenson, heat may not be forthcoming, as temperatures are expected to be slightly below normal.

According to Ford, farmers might take several other steps, including the addition of more nutrients or cultivating. "Farmers can give the crop a folier spray of zinc and magnesium to give the crop a jump start and get it going," he said.

Ford also suggested that they could go in and side dress some more nitrogen and sulfur, but it might be more costly than other options.

"Some of the yellow could also be caused by the heavy rains. The soil is compacted and the ground needs cultivated to get the soil opened up and allow air in," he said.

If farmers are going to cultivate, Ford suggests they do it sooner rather than later as most of the corn will be ditched and ready to irrigate in a couple weeks.

"We are only slightly behind where we usually are compared to normal years. With the heat, crops will catch up quick," Ford said.