DANBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — The dry summer weather has been a challenge for many West Michigan farmers.

Sandborn Farms near Portland says improvements in technology and rain near the end of August helped reduce the impact on its corn crop. The farm is expecting a smaller yield this year because of the conditions, according to farmer Jeff Sandborn.

"It was warm earlier, then it was cooler when I was planting so the earlier plantings that people were able to get in came out of the ground quicker then it all depended on the rain and heat we had this summer. It's been a year of ups and downs and temperature and rain and spotty rain," Sandborn said.

Sections of the field seen from the air show the impact more clearly. One of the new varieties he planted was able to better handle the dry c

See Full Page