AdroughtacrossmuchoftheUnitedStatesisforcingfarmerstomakedifficultdecisions. Damagetocornandsoybeansisalreadysevereinthehardest-hitareas.
AlanBowersJuniorisafarmerinthestateofIllinoisintheMidwest.
ALANBOWERSJR.: "Yougetupinthemorning, andyouthinkitmightbeanotherthirteenmonthsbeforewegetapaycheck. Thecornandsoybeancropisourpaycheck."
Thecornonhisfarmissodry, thestalksbreakapartjustbytouchingthem. Themaizeisunusable. SointhemiddleofJuly, AlanBowersdecidedtocutdownhiscroptoavoidatotalloss.
ALANBOWERSJR.: "Wearemakingwhattheycallcornsilageoutofthisfortheanimals, forthecows. Andifyouwaittillit'scompletelydriedup, itwon'tevenmakesuitablefeedfortheanimals."
AlanBowersandhiswife, Lori, arehopingforasmallinsurancesettlementtohelpthempaytheirbillsuntilnextyear.
LORIBOWERS: "Peopledon'trealizewehavenobossandwehavenobodytohelpus. Andit'stough. Youhavetoworktogether. Youhavetoworkwithahusbandandawifeandfamily, andtogethertrytoworkthroughit."
TheBowerscouldalsolosetheirsoybeanstotherecordhightemperaturesandlackofrainintheworstdroughtinmorethanhalfacentury.
AndAlanBowerssaysifnextyearisanythinglikethis, thefarmitselfmaynotsurvive. Thefarmhasbeeninhisfamilyforfourgenerations.