Indiana Corn Crop Not 'Knee High By Fourth Of July'

THORNTOWN, Ind. -- Indiana farmers typically want the corn crop to be at least "knee high by the Fourth of July," according to an old saying, but this year's crop is about 30 days behind schedule in the Indianapolis area.

Farmers said that although Indiana got off to a late start this year because of an over abundance of rain, corn is growing quite well now, 6News' Tanya Spencer reported.

Donnie Lawson's family has been farming for a half-century in Boone County. Despite late planting, Lawson expects this year's yield to be very good, if the weather cooperates.

Because the second-highest amount of corn in 60 years was planted this year across the U.S., there could be record-high yields nationally.

If the news is good for farmers, it can be a boon to local economies.

"The hardware stores, every place where we spend our money is most generally local," Lawson said. "A rain like this, when it boosts our yields up and we have record yields, then we have more money to spend."

Last year, the high price of corn in grocery stores, coupled with high gas prices, translated to much higher prices for just about everything at stores, including beef, chicken and all products that came from grain-fed animals, such as milk, cheese and eggs.

If corn stays inexpensive this year, the prices for those other products should stay relatively low, too.

While farmers are optimistic about this year's corn crop in Indiana, a lot could still go wrong.

Critical pollination happens in a couple of weeks, and cool, wet weather aids that process. If it's extremely hot and dry, the crop could be hurt.