Wheat Farmers Take Pounding by Hail Storm

When the hail cut through the state last Sunday, not only did it damage homes and cars but crops as well.

Saturday, May 22nd 2010, 7:33 pm

By: News 9


By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

PIEDMONT, Oklahoma -- When the hail cut through the state last Sunday, not only did it damage homes and cars but crops as well.

"It's the worst I've seen it in the 37 years I've been farming," said Mark Simpson who lost almost 800 acres of wheat crop.

Simpson said 500 acres are a total loss. The rest he hopes he can maybe use for hay.

"There is nothing here now but basically shattered heads, there is nothing in them. They are not going to field now because the hail broke the stalks off and it's basically killed the wheat," said Simpson referring to hail damaged wheat.

Simpson's fields weren't the only ones hit. The Oklahoma Wheat Commission said they feel once the damage estimates are complete, the state could lose as much as 5 million bushels of wheat.

Mike Schulte, the executive director with the Oklahoma Wheat Commission, said fortunately this year produced an average crop. As of last week the state was on target to produce over 127 million bushels of wheat, far more than last year which produced a little more than 70 million bushels.

However for those that were hit Schulte said "the loss was significant." Part of the reason is because wheat farmers had already got off to a slow start this year due to the wet winter. All the snow that fell forced farmers to delay planting.

Some of the areas hit the hardest were Okarche, Kingfisher, Piedmont and northwest Oklahoma City.

Fortunately for Simpson, he bought additional crop insurance this year, which will allow him to recoup a lot of what he lost.

"I just thought it might be bad year, we had such a late winter and it's been cold, damp and wet," Simpson said.

However even with the additional coverage Simpson said there is no way he will be able to recoup all that he lost.

"This would probably have made 40 bushel wheat or better and that's a good crop for us," Simpson sad.

As a longtime farmer Simpson said "unfortunately these kind of things [hail storms] happen."

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