Ohio City, Ohio -
For Dave Allmandinger, being a farmer is a game of chance.
Farmers who plant early, get a head start on the competition, but those farmers also risk freezing temperatures.
"We try to deal with mother nature the best we can, and it's usually a wild card," said Allmandinger.
Allmandinger works with Randy Roe, an agronomist with Mercer Landmark. Roe says some of his customers have been out in the fields for the past three weeks and their corn is already beginning to sprout.
But the three generations on the Allmandinger farm held off on planting their corn because it's popcorn, and the seeds aren't as hardy as field corn.
"It doesn't have the vigor and growth that the regular corn does. We are hopeful we'll get started today, and we're going to try to get it in this week," said Allmandinger.
Even though the Ohio City farmers are getting a later start than some of their neighbors, it's still a full week earlier than usual, and two months ahead of last year's rain delayed start time. However, cooperative weather now doesn't necessarily equate to a good crop later.
"Mother nature and what happens here in the summer will determine what will happen," said Roe.
But with demand and prices high, farmers are hopeful the risks associated with their profession will pay off this season.
"We are excited. Prices are good. Agriculture is doing well right now, and last year it was wet, but this year it's dry and looks like we might get off to a great start," said Allmandinger.
