Rain-sodden spring puts Indiana corn in jeopardy

Indiana's wettest spring in a century has put the planting of the state's corn crop so far behind schedule agricultural experts predict the delay could cost the state's farmers about $1 billion in losses.

Indiana farmers normally would have planted two-thirds of the state's corn crop by now, but just 29 percent of the crop is in the ground due to soggy fields. An average 9.22 inches fell last month over the state, making it the rainiest April since 1895.

The director of agronomic research for Weatherbill Insurance Co., Jeff Hamlin, estimates Indiana could see yield losses this year of between 137 million and 203 million bushels of corn.