Local Farmer Thankful for Recent Rains - WTRF 7 News Sports Weather - Wheeling Steubenville

At Ebbert's Farm Market in St. Clairsville, crops grown and sold by the family attract savvy shoppers wanting vegetables fresh from the farm.  Recent rains have caused the corn to grow, and withered at least some worries.

Owner Jerry Ebbert said, "There, for a while, the dry weather was really affecting the outcome of our crops, but now, things are looking pretty good."

Other farmers in the nation's midsection haven't had the same good fortune.  7News meteorologist Dr. Dave Walker explains what has happened to the corn crop in our area, given our weather.

"Corn was very high by early July -- much higher than it typically is.  But -- we also had some very dry weather, like June and early July, it was very dry.  And for corn, the rain has to hit at the right time, or you don't get very much of a crop."

Ebbert agreed with Dr. Walker's analysis.  "The last couple of weeks, we've seen at lot of improvement in our corn, the quality, the ear size, the flavor," he said.  "It's back to the way it should be, because of the three inch rain we got a couple weeks ago, and this rain over the weekend."

As for other vegetables,  Ebbert says green beans did poorly during the dry spell.  He said his tomato plants were okay, but home gardeners might find this problem.  "Tomatoes have had it a little bit rough. A lot of people who grow tomatoes will experience a little bit of rot on the blossom end that's totally related to the dry weather."  He went on to say home canners should find a good supply available.

Ebbert also says he pays attention to a higher authority about the weather.

"We forget sometimes how, in our business, we can't do anything without the proper rain and sunshine.  And we were really sweating it out there for good weeks.  But the good Lord really blessed us, with the good rains right when we needed them," he said.