This year has not been a good one for local grain growers, and the recent heavy rains have not helped matters. Much of the 2005 crop is still in the fields, where it will stay at least until the fields dry out.

Some of the crop, it is feared, will never make it out of the fields.

Bell County agriculture extension agent Dirk Aaron said he estimates that about 50 percent of the corn planted in Bell and surrounding counties is still in the field.