Businesses linked to farming community hurt by drought
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Yields will take a big hit: The drought devastated the corn crop, as evidenced by kernel-stunted ears in Hancock County. The result: Lower yields, which will have a ripple effect through the economy. (Tom Russo/Daily Reporter)
Bumpy road ahead: Chris Smith, co-owner of Smith Implements, sits in one of the company's popular John Deere S680 combines. The drought will likely affect the company's bottom line this fall. (Tom Russo/Daily Reporter)
GREENFIELD — Chris Smith doesn’t need anyone to tell him that this year’s drought will affect more than just farmers.
The co-owner/manager of Smith Implements has already seen pre-orders on planters take a 20 percent slide this summer so there is little doubt the company’s business will be down this fall.
It is two months until the deadline to make combine orders for next year’s harvest. Smith knows he’ll probably see fewer orders as the farmers who make up 80 percent of his business await the returns from a drought-stricken harvest that will be disappointing at best, though more likely devastating in many cases.
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