Blackbirds causing problems for farmers

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Farmers in parts of Southeast Missouri are busy replanting corn, thanks to some pesky blackbirds.

"Birds are always a challenge," said agronomist Anthony Ohmes of the University of Missouri Extension office in Charleston. "It's very frustrating to see the birds out there."

David Reinbott of the University Extension office in Benton said it seems like there are more birds than usual destroying cornfields in the region this year. Some farmers have had to replant two and even three times.

One explanation for the increase of damage this year could be the slower germination due to the warm weather in March and a cooler April, Ohmes said.

The birds see recently planted corn as an easy food supply, said David Herbst, a farmer from Chaffee.

"It's easy for them to dig the seed out of the soil that was freshly worked by the farmers," Herbst said.

"They can wipe out a whole field in three or four days."