Farmers consider helicopters to pollinate corn
GERMANTOWN - Farmers are doing all they can to salvage their crop this summer. The severe drought has been financially devastating.
"We are at the mercy of Mother Nature," farmer Frank Wiedmeyer told Newsradio 620 WTMJ's Jodi Becker.
Some farmers are even considering unconventional ideas to help spur their crops, he said.
"All that's left is to hire a helicopter and fly over the corn that is tasseling," Wiedmeyer said. "It would help pollinate the corn."
Helicopters? It's true.
Chris Cooper, of Hummingbird Aviation in Eden Prairie, MN, offers this service to farmers.
"Sometimes the weather conditions are very hot with very stale air," Cooper told me. "We fly about 10 to 15 feet above the stalks and help Mother Nature pollinate the corn."
This technique is generally done on hybrid corn, Cooper explained.
Despite not having crop insurance, Wiedmeyer isn't interested in hiring a helicopter.
"We can't afford to put (money) into a crop when we're not sure what we're going to get out of it," he said.
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.