<p><b>South Georgia's watermelon crops</b> are getting <b>delayed by excessive rain and wind</b>, according to local news outlet WALB.com.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Some growers have had to <b>delay or replant</b> their plantings, due to <b>waterlogged fields</b>.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">"We've had to go back and replant some of the melons because of wet conditions. Some of them died, declining, you know," said grower Randy Ellis.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><script type='text/javascript' src='http://WALB.images.worldnow.com/interface/js/WNVideo.js?rnd=276702;hostDomain=www.walb.com;playerWidth=500;playerHeight=385;isShowIcon=true;clipId=10094755;flvUri=;partnerclipid=;adTag=News;advertisingZone=;enableAds=true;landingPage=;islandingPageoverride=false;playerType=STANDARD_EMBEDDEDscript;controlsType=fixed'></script><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.walb.com" title="WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports">WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports</a><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The setback was caused by <b>excessive rain this season</b>, and the sprouting watermelon plants have been adversely affected.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">"We've had a lot of rain. We've actually had anywhere from <b>5-7 inches more rain this year</b> than we did at this time last year," said Justin Lanier, Crisp County Extension Agent.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The majority of Crisp County's growers are reportedly about <b>three weeks behind schedule</b>. "There's no need to panic yet. We still got some time. I talked to some guys today, they said they thought they could get their melons out still mid to late June," said Lanier.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The tough season is <b>not predicted to raise watermelon prices</b>, however. Farmers and Extension Agents are also optimistic that they'll still have a good harvest, with plenty of fruit in stores by July 4th.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to follow this developing story.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
