Summer rains in Sequoyah County have proven a problem for residents in the hay business, but not for those growing soybeans and corn.

Tony Yates, Oklahoma State University agriculture and 4-H county extension director, said the unusually wet summer has put cattle producers a month behind on harvesting their hayfields.

Yates explained that hay is best when it's cut relatively young. When it's older, the protein levels are less, and while there is more quantity, there is less quality, he said.

Yates said major crops, such as soybeans and corn both did well, and weren't affected by the rains or cooler temperatures.

Yates said farmers will harvest the soybeans in October, but the rains put them behind on planting. He said farmers had to change the time schedule on planting and choose a seed rated on different maturity levels, which made it a longer season bean.

He said the hay, or Bermuda grass, is usually cut in June, but the rains put farmers a full month behind, forcing them to wait and cut the hay in July.

With the rains, cooler summer temperatures have also been felt. Yates said temperatures haven't really affected agriculture in the county.

"It's been easier on livestock," Yates said of the cooler temperatures.

He said insects have not been as bad on livestock this summer, since the area has seen more rain this year than last summer.

"There's a lot more moisture this year than last," Yates said.

Ed Brockman of Vian and his son-in-law, Keith Boshers, bale hay as a side business.

"It's (the rains) affected us and most hay balers," Brockman said.

Brockman said the summer rains have slowed many hay balers down since rains came during the first cutting season, putting them a month behind.

He said some hay balers are just now getting their first cutting. Brockman said in a summer with average rainfall, most farmers can get two cuttings. Since the area has seen more than average rainfall, people are getting stuck baling hay late.

"Some people won't get a second cutting," Brockman said.

Brockman said the growth of the hay is good, but the quality may not be as good since it was cut so late.

If hay is not cut and baled during the right stage, the grass is also more coarse.

"It's not as desirable for cattle to eat," Brockman said.

He said hay farmers want as much protein and vitamins as possible.

Brockman said he doesn't really sell hay, and to most people hay is hay, but larger operations want quality hay, and that might make it harder for farmers to sell.

"The rainfall is wonderful," he said. "I don't know anyone who is unhappy with it, but it's put hay balers in a bind."

According to data compiled by the Oklahoma Mesonet, Sallisaw has seen over 21 inches of rainfall in the last 90 days.

The Oklahoma Mesonet is a network of environmental monitoring stations designed and operated by scientists at the University of Oklahoma (OU) in Norman and at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.

The network consists of over 110 automated stations covering Oklahoma, which includes three in the Sequoyah County area, in Sallisaw, Cookson, and Webbers Falls.

The Oklahoma Climatological Survey (OCS) at OU receives the observations, verifies the quality of the data and provides the data to Mesonet customers.

According to data compiled by OCS from the National Weather Service Cooperative Observing Network for records set through 2003, the record for the amount of rainfall received in one day in Sallisaw in June was 5.7 inches in 1945. The record for the amount of rainfall received in one day in Sallisaw in July was 6.04 inches in 1961.

The water treatment plant, which records rainfall data for the National Weather Service's National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, shows that this year Sallisaw has broken the July record for the amount of rainfall received in one day. The plant recorded 7.2 inches of rainfall on July 2, which would exceed the record set in 1961.

The Sallisaw Municipal Airport recorded a different rainfall amount. The airport recorded 5.43 inches of rainfall on July 2. Baron Wylie, airport operator, said the airport's information goes to a satellite link to the National Weather Service.