PARKERSBURG -While corn prices are expected to be much higher this year due to the decline in production, at least one local farm is seeing a banner year in sales.
Todd Stacey with Stacey Family Farm said they are selling more volume corn this year than last. Stacey, which operates a booth at the city's Downtown Farmers' Marketplace, said their farm has been unaffected by the drought, due to the farm's irrigation system.
"We are selling more volume than we ever have," he said.
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Photo by Jody Murphy
Todd Stacey of the Stacey Family Farm puts out white corn for sale Friday at the Downtown Farmers’ Marketplace. Stacey said the hot, dry conditions affecting many corn growers have not hindered their operation.
Stacey sets up at farmers' markets in Parkersburg, Marietta and Athens. He said real growers at markets are seeing an increase in sales.
According to the Associated Press, corn yields are much smaller this year as the drought continues to wreak havoc on crops across the Midwest.
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture projected a massive slump in the corn harvest and a subsequent surge in corn prices.
In its monthly agricultural supply-and-demand report, the USDA projected the corn harvest would plunge by 2.2 billion bushels, or by 22.6 bushels per acre. That's worse than expected and puts the 2012-2013 yield on track to be the lowest since the 1995-1996 harvest.
City Planning Director Rickie Yeager said Stacey and Henseler's Market are the only two vendors selling corn.
Yeager said there are fewer produce vendors at the Downtown Farmers' Marketplace, but it's not due to the drought.
'We've had a couple drop off for various reasons," he said. But none have been affected by the hot and dry conditions this summer.
"Not that I am aware of," Yeager said.
