It is not uncommon to step outside and hear “crunch, crunch” under your shoe right now.

Unfortunately, this is scary for most of our farmers. Almost everywhere I go in Rowan County (and some areas outside of Rowan), there is a drought situation. With most areas having received less than 3 inches of rain since April, drought is a cause of concern for our growers, and they have to make some hard decisions right now about their crops.

To help with this situation, the Piedmont Research Station, along with Cooperative Extension, is hosting an informational session on July 8 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Piedmont Research Station, 8350 Sherrills Ford Road. Corn specialist Dr. Ron Heiniger and livestock specialist Shannon Davidson will be providing information to growers on options for using drought-stressed corn. The N.C. Department of Agriculture, Farm Bureau, Farm Service Agency and Cooperative Extension will also be available to assist the growers.

All growers who are experiencing drought issues and needing to make decisions concerning their current corn crop are encouraged to attend this free workshop. If you need more information, contact your local Cooperative Extension Agent Danelle Cutting at 704-216-8970.