With Highs in the 80s, What's Stopping a Marion Farmer From Starting His Harvest?

Marion farmer Brian Lensch told KGAN that the delightful weather could lend him a head start for the growing season.

But there's one thing stopping him from getting started: crop insurance.

Crop insurance coverage starts in mid-April, regardless of weather conditions. That means if Lensch plants now and a frost damages his crops, he's out of luck and a lot of money.

"I'd like to be out planting today," he told KGAN. "Unfortunately, I don't have a crystal ball that tells me that it's going to stay warm like this through the first of April."

That's despite the fact that, according to the National Weather Service's seven day forcast for Marion, we won't see temperatures that dip down below freezing. The lowest predicted temperature for next week is 48 degrees, this Saturday.

But frost isn't the only danger.

There's a possibility of a drought in the coming weeks, or rain runoff that would threaten to wash away soil and crops. Replacing the crops would cost $70 per acre, which is way too much, said Lensch.

For now, Lensch said he will be busy getting prepared for when his insurance kicks in.