DECATUR, Ala. (AP) -- Farmers and agriculture officials predict
early corn crops in north Alabama will fail if it doesn't rain soon.

An agronomist with the Tennessee Valley Regional Extension
Center, Charlie Burmester, said unless the area gets 2 inches of
rain within a span of a few days, the corn crop will be a loss for
farmers not irrigating.

He said the lack of rain comes at a time when the corn is ready
to pollinate and the crop will be ruined without rain.

Tanner farmer Brent Shaw was irrigating his corn crop this week
to prevent the loss of his crop.

Burmester said rain that fell in the area this week will help for a few days, but more rain is needed