Rain

May 27, 2009      The Anniston Star

Mike Faulk

May 27, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- More than 60 percent of the state was in a drought at this time in 2008, but now farmers say the state needs more dry weather or some crops will be ruined by surplus moisture from spring showers.

Alabama Cooperative Extension System agronomist Dale Monks said exceptional rainfall and unseasonably low temperatures have damaged some crops and made the ground too moist for farmers to finish their planting.

About 36 percent of topsoil on the state's farmlands is overly moist, according to a May 24 report by the state Department of Agriculture and Industries. In District 30, which stretches from Tuscaloosa to Opelika, 79 percent of the land is holding surplus moisture.

"We can't move equipment in without tractors getting stuck in the mud," Monks said, referring to instruments for planting and harvesting.

Corn, cotton, soybean and peanut planting are all behind schedule according to the report. Cotton, which grows best in dry weather, is farthest behind with about 71 percent planted so far compared to the 87 percent normally planted by this time according to the department's five-year average.

Talladega farmer Mike Duke said the rain has ruined or severely damaged at least 10 percent of his crops. He said rainwater has drowned some plants in low-lying areas and built up on the ground so that it's impossible for him to replant.

Too much water can stress a plant's roots by not letting it get enough oxygen and eventually suffocate it.

Duke said he should have harvested his hay crop nearly a month ago but hasn't been able to get his equipment out in the field. He said now the crop is too mature to sell, but he has to spend money cutting it anyway to make room for the next crop.

"I'll probably fill ditches with it," Duke said.

Duke also said his wheat crop is in danger of being ruined if skies don't clear up over the next few weeks to let the grains dry. He said wheat makes up a third of his crops, but wouldn't say how many acres he has.

"All of that is at risk right now," Duke said.

Alexandria farmer Doug Trantham said before last week he hadn't been able to work his fields since late April, setting all of his crops behind. He said his planting is about 80 percent done at this point, but he's keeping his complaints about the rain to a minimum.

"Rain makes grain, one way or another," Trantham said.

Extension agronomist Monks said the constant rain also has farmers spending more on fertilizer and pesticides that are washed away.

He said it's hard to say what the impact will be on the crops when they're harvested in late summer and fall, but that just a little dry weather over the next week would let farmers cover a lot of ground in finishing their planting.

"Don't underestimate Alabama farmers, they can certainly cover a lot of ground when the conditions are right," Monks said.

Mike Faulk covers Cleburne, Clay and Randolph counties, environment and agriculture for The Star. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama.

Newstex ID: 35297032

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