VIDALIA — Earlier this year farmers were worried about a drought, but as summer ambles its way into August, they’re hoping the rain will stay away.

Though conventional wisdom may say pouring water on plants is good for them, the onslaught of on-and-off torrential rain the area has had in the last few weeks isn’t good for crops.

With milo and soybean crops starting to mature, the beans and grains don’t need any water on them because it can cause damage to the grain itself, Vidalia farmer Tim Welch said.

“It hasn’t really caused a serious problem yet, but if it keeps on it will,” he said.

The rain can also cause the ground to get muddy and soft, Welch said.

Dealing with mud is fairly easy, but the crop damage is irreparable, Welch said.

“If we get too much rain on the milo, it will cause the seed to sprout and eventually rot,” he said.

“After the grain has matured, it doesn’t need any rain,” Welch said. “We’ll lose more quality the more rain we get.”

There is also a threat that the hot, wet weather August is likely to bring can usher in certain molds, rots and insects, but Welch said those are not really a problem for the mature crops.

“It might come in to play with some of the later crops, but we’ve never really had a problem with that once the grain is matured,” he said.

Though he does not grow it himself, Welch said corn crops could use a little more rain.

“Soybeans, rice and milo, though, they don’t need a drop of water,” he said.