Record rain negatively impacting farmers

BOURBON COUNTY, Ky. (WTVQ)- Several parts of the state are still under flood warnings and advisories through the week, and that’s a problem for some Kentucky farmers.

Bourbon County farmer Nathan Courtney grows crops and raises cattle.

“It’s just made it really hard to get through this year,” Courtney said.

It started last year. Courtney measured 84 inches of rain on the farm when 44 is average and that liquid isn’t translating into liquidity.

He says the rain destroyed his tobacco crop.

Now, it’s making it hard to find low-cost, quality hay for his cattle.

His cows are struggling to stay warm and aren’t gaining weight.

Courtney says he’s already lost one calf due to weather and friends have lost 5 to fifteen.

“You spend years building up your herd and have good quality,” Courtney said.

It’s so bad right now, Courtney is trying to find work outside of the farm to replace the income he’s losing.

“Really, there’s nothing that’s profitable right now on the farm so sometimes we just got to do what we got to do what we got to do, not what we want to do,” Courtney said.

It’s tough.

He worries about providing for his young family and he knows he’s not alone.

“Mentally, I know a lot of farmers are struggling right now,” Courtney said.

There are some loans out there for farmers, but Courtney says it would be better if fields just dried out.