Soybeans crunched for time on the shore

WORCESTER COUNTY, Md. — Farmers across the Eastern Shore are facing major challenges this growing season, as soybean crops are struggling due to a prolonged dry spell.

Virgil Shockley, a farmer at Oak Shelter Farm, said the lack of rain has caused a significant blow to the local agricultural industry. “The catastrophe basically is everything we produce here on the Eastern Shore is used by the poultry companies. What we don’t produce here has to be brought in mainly by rail,” Shockley explained.

While corn crops are performing reasonably well, Shockley stressed that soybeans are the primary concern right now. “You’re looking at all the money that farmers make usually stays here. You’re not talking about new equipment, new pickups, or new anything. You’re talking about surviving,” Shockley said.

The Eastern Shore’s agriculture economy heavily relies on poultry production and feed, making the soybean shortage even more critical.

Another local farmer, Gino Lowe, added, “They’re the only ones with a crush facility here on the shore. So, they might send some soybeans to other mills, but not all the beans in the area end up going to Purdue,” Lowe said.

Farmers are grappling with an unusually dry summer. “We’ve had a little bit of rain here and there, but no large amount of rain since about June 20th,” Shockley said.

Lowe and highlighted the critical timing of the rain shortage, especially during the pod-filling stage of soybean growth. “Right now, the big concern is during a critical time, like pod filling. We really do need the rain during that period,” Lowe said.

Without sufficient rain, soybean pods cannot develop properly, impacting both the size and weight of the crop.

Shockley added, “Your yield is going to be even worse because trying to put little beans through a combine, all it’s going to do is spit them out.” He estimates that his farm, which usually produces about 60 bushels per acre, will likely see a 50% drop, with yields potentially dipping into the 30-bushel range.

With no significant rainfall in sight, local farmers fear the impact this year’s poor harvest will have on both their livelihoods and the region’s poultry industry.

“We’ve had how many days of beautiful sunshine for Ocean City, but it’s not working too well on the farming side.” said Shockley.