ZEELAND, Mich. (WZZM) -- Local farmers say conditions are the lack of rain has made conditions so dry that they are seeing whirlwinds in their fields.
The last significant rain in Grand Rapids was on June 18, when just over an inch fell. Showers and storms that have passed through West Michigan have been scattered and dropped too little rain to be of any help, say farmers.
At Visser Farms near Zeeland, shades of brown are becoming more common than green in the fields.
"We've had quite a few peppers tip over because the whirlwinds came through, which is typical of real dry weather," says Phil Visser.
"It's very bad," says his wife, Cindy. "We need rain so bad."
The Vissers say it's so dry that some of their plants have dried up.
"The potatoes should be twice as big, lush and green, shouldn't be able to see any of the soil at all," says Phil.
The Vissers do not have enough pond irrigation water to go around to all of their crops.
"We do what we have water for, but the pond only goes so long and it goes dry," says Phil, "then we have to wait for it to replenish again."
The family is using drip irrigation to help them conserve every last drop. They're also deciding which plants will live and which will have to die.
"Anybody with any logic can see how dead these plants look," says Cindy. "It's just sad to see plants starving and looking like they can't make it."
The Vissers say they are like many other vegetable farmers -- their plants are not insurable. That is making the waiting game more difficult for them.
"We pray a lot of rain," says Cindy. "We ask God for the rain, and ask him to bless us with rain. It's difficult to wait."