Rain Still Complicating and Devastating Regions on Southeast by Jordan Okumura

<p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The Southeast US was doused with too much rain this year and too quickly, growers note. As the southeast continues to pull itself back onto its feet, its is still faced with rainy days which are complicating the logistics of harvest as well as replanting. Rotten peaches, drowned tobacco, moldy wheat and waterlogged watermelons are a few examples of how heavy rains have affected crops in the South, according to an NPR Report.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">State agriculture commissioners across the region estimate the crop losses could add up to billions of dollars. The Southeast did have the second-wettest January through July on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Growers in places like York, South Carolina are feeling the pain. One grower notes that they were not used to having two feet of water in the summertime on the orchard. The state has had more rain at this point in the year than it's had in almost five decades, the report states. The South Carolina farmers notes that he lost about a fourth of his total peach crop.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, stated, "The amount of rainfall that we have seen across South Carolina has become absolutely disastrous for the farmers in this state." Haley has asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a disaster declaration for the entire state.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Mildew could wreak havoc on soybeans in Louisiana. And Georgia has seen the heaviest rains, about 40 percent more than usual at this point in the year.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Peach growers in central Georgia told AndNowUKnow, that they had escaped the harsh volumes of rain fairly unscathed. The late season start and those first bouts of rain allowed the fruit to size up nicely. But there season has been winding down and they noted that they were lucky to have a fruit that grew off the ground. Tree nuts, like Pecans may not fare so well. Pecan scab disease is the most economically damaging disease of pecan production in the southeastern United States. The disease affects stem, leaf and nut growth, causing reduced yield. The disease is extremely susceptible to moisture and<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">may mean expensive peanuts and pecans for consumers resulting in less income for farmers and a big hit to the state economy.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>A Tifton, Georgia grower, told AndNowUKnow that they have had a tremendous amount of rain in the area. He wasn't sure he had ever seen this much rain. The regions has had 55 to 62 inches since the first of the year. "We had 17 to 18 in the same time period last year. We have lost days to harvest and plants in fields that just could not stand any more water." </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The grower who specializes in items from bell pepper, cantaloupe, broccoli, squash, cucumbers and tomatoes, stated that they had a long way to go. "I would say right now we have lost 25% AND HAVE TO REPLANT ANOTHER 15%. The spring was challenging enough for the grower and now they are trying to deal with the rain again."</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>On a lighter note, the farmer reflected that the last 3 days brought sunshine that made everyone happy . </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>One grower on the NPR noted suggested dry spells can be easier on farmers than downpours. Steve Troxler is North Carolina's Agriculture Commissioner stated the old adage, a dry year will scare you to death and a wet year will kill you. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for updates on crops and weather in the U.S. Southeast.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&amp;t=1&amp;islist=false&amp;id=215663856&amp;m=215663839" target="_new">Southeast US Crop Damage</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">