Moderate drought conditions worry Wisconsin farmers

BURLINGTON -- Extreme heat and no rain for weeks means parts of southern Wisconsin are now in a moderate drought. It's not just our lawns feeling the effects. Farmers are worried about their crops.

One of the farmers worried about the conditions is Ralph Rice, the owner of Rice Family Farm in Burlington. He says the moderate drought is having a big impact at his farm.

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"We are going to have a big reduction in the amount of corn and soybean. We have a big reduction in the amount of hay," said Rice.

Rice has been farming since he was 15-years-old. But he says this is the worst he has ever seen it in terms of dry conditions.

"We've had some dry times, but generally, we get a little rain, we get something out of it, but if this keeps up like it is now, we are not going to get anything," said Rice.

Rice says if his crops go another ten days without rain, the fields will be completely brown.

"If we don't have a crop to sell, we don't get anything. We aren't guaranteed a pension. We aren't guaranteed health insurance. We aren't guaranteed anything. We are on our own," said Rice.

Rice says it's too early to gauge financial losses on his farm. But he says those losses are inevitable.