Newspapers / Bertie Ledger-Advance (Windsor, N.C.) / March 15, 2000, edition 1 / Page 9
Part of Bertie Ledger-Advance (Windsor, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Wednesday, March 15, 2000 Bertie Ledger-Advance Page 9 Agricultural losses from hurricanes nearly $18-inillion Extension Director says commodities pricing is what is really killing farming By JEANETTE WHITE ' WINDSOR - Bertie County farmers suffered losses of al most $18-million because of flooding from last year’s hurri canes. And U.S.D.A. Farm Service Agency (former ASCS) is get ting the credit for helping those farmers begin the long trek back this year. Cooperative Extension Ser vice Director Billy Griffin said, “If it hadn’t been for FSA, we’d have nobody farming in Bertie County this year.” Griffin said federal money is getting farmers back on their feet this growing season, but this must be a good year if growers are going to make it. “We’ve got to have a good one (year). If we don’t, there will be numerous farmers who will not be able to farm next year. This year will be the breaking point for Bertie County,” Grif fin said. First there was too little rain during the growing season, particularly for corn, then there was too much rain at harvest time making 1999 one of the lowest years for agriculture in recent history. Bertie County farmers really need a good year in 2000 to continue to operate—and the predictions are for another dry year and more severe storms. (Photo by Carroll Credle) Because of falling commod ity prices and increasing pro duction costs, workers who till Bertie’s sod were having a hard time even before Floyd’s flood- waters. Now it is estimated that the flooding added another $17,879,890 to agriculture’s loss. Farmers had about 60 per cent of tobacco in the field when Floyd arrived. All other fields were unharvested except a small percentage of land planted in such early crops as sage and wheat. It is estimated that flood loss in tobacco was $2,212,840. There was another $5,670,489 loss in peanuts; $5,267,028 in cotton; $1,414,341 in corn; and $651,880 in soybeans. The county lost another $2,147,262 in government pay ments (which are based on pro duction); $41,050 in livestock; and $475,000 in machinery, dwellings, structures and land damage. So far, growers have not re ceived state funding to help cover losses. Farmers are hop ing an 8.5 percent of loss pay ment from the state is immi nent and hoping for another 8.5 percent later, for a total 17 per cent. Money received to date has come from federal Farm Bill funds. Bertie FSA has received or anticipates from federal Even though profits have been falling, the acreage is more than in years past as govern ment support programs have died and farmers are planting from “hedgerow to hedgerow,” Griffin said. In 1999, the county had 2,258 acres of tobacco; 33,763 acres of cotton; 16,629 acres of pea nuts; 17,461 acres of corn; and 16,296 of soybeans. But even with increased This year will be the breaking point for Bertie County —Billy Griffin sources $3,400,000 from loan deficiency payments; $627,000 for peanuts; $630,000 from the crop loss disaster program; $70,000 for soybeans; $125,000 from cotton seen oil; and $1,700,000 from AMTA. Griffin says this money is the only thing which allows many farmers to go back into the fields this growing season. Bertie County has about 95,000 acres of row-crop land. acreage, the county’s estimated gross income from agriculture has dropped in recent years. Total gross income in 1996 was $55,806,724 and was $53,491,068 in 1997. By 1998, to tal had dropped to $48,565,213 and drops even lower to $29,261,795 for 1999 after last year’s floods. The top three money-produc ing crops are tobacco, cotton and peanuts. Tobacco grossed $11,705,199 in 1996; $15,188,014 in 1997; $11,780,113 in 1998; and $8,851,360 in 1999. Cotton grossed $20,991,425 in 1996; $16,288,168 in 1997; $18,379,195; in 1998; and $7,444,521 in 1999. Peanuts grossed $13,575,000 in 1996; $13,367,704 in 1997; $14,073,167 in 1998; 'and $8,231,355 in 1999. Cotton growers in Bertie County expect a minimum of 750 pounds per acre in a normal year. Last year production fell to 500-550 per acre average. But the flooding did not cause damage to soil which has not or wUl not be reversed. Griffin says farm land is not wetter now than usual, but there is more moisture in sub soil. Flooding caused an increase in Ph levels initially, but those levels traditionally correct themselves in about six months. Growers must increase ap plications of potash, sulfur, ni trogen and boron this season to combat leaching caused by heavy volumes of water. People are having difficulty finding good things in last year’s flooding, but one good thing was the removal of salin ity from county waterways. Farmers were not able to use water last year to irrigate crops because of salinity. The grow ing season began wet and was followed by drought conditions, which prevented the normal push of fresh water into larger bodies of salt water. The lack allowed salt to flow into smaUjer rivers and creeks. • Griffin said the county lost at least one large Bertie County farmer this season and several others are not sure they wUl be able to get financing to grow this season’s fields. i “We need a good year, ad equate rainfall and tempera tures,” Griffin said. “Then I siee no effect last year will have bn our crops. But they are already predicting a dry year and pos sible severe storms again. “But the thing that’s killing farming is commodities pricbs. We cannot keep going with the commodity price farmers are getting now.” :D. JOYNER & ASSOCIATES REAL ESTATE • APPRAISALS • CONSULTANT DAVID C. JOYNER State-Certired Gemeral Real Estate Apprajser P. O. BOX 551 129 E. GRANVILLE ST. :WINDSOR, NORTH CAROLINA 27983 BUS: (252) 794-5025 - FAX: (252) 794-5015 “ Ron Cooke, Appraiser Thomas Cobb, Appraiser The Sign of Windsor's Complete Real Estate Company When your buying or selling real estate, you want to deal with professionals who know Bertie County. That’s D. Joyner & Associates. If you need any type of real estate or real estate appraisals, contact one of our professional brokers or appraisers. We want to thank all the volunteers, the employees of the Town of Windsor, and others who helped in the flood recovery. Bertie County is a great place to live and work because of our people. Just like General Douglas MacArthur, Cooper Insurance Agency has returned to 103 South King Street. Our old offices look like new. So stop by for all your insurance needs. We know how a flood victim feels because we were one. Cooper Insurance Agency, Inc. 103 South King Street, Windsor, NC 27983 (252) 794-4036 Here's to your health New Location. Same Experienced, Compassionate Care for Women. Eastern Carolina Women’s Center, a part of Chowan Hospital, is pleased to announce the opening of its new office at 401 Sterhngworth Street, Suite A, in Windsor. We take the time to get to know you and your healthcare needs. So when you visit Eastern Carolina Women’s Center, you can be sure that you’re getting the specialized care you deserve. ' We offer a wide range of services including prenatal care, yearly exams, contraceptive counseling and help with high-risk pregnancies. Our other valuable services include family planning, infertility and obstetric services, gynecological surgery, menopause care and osteoporosis screenings. And, because we are part of Chowan Hospital, you’ll have access to state-of-the-art facilities including labor and delivery rooms in our modern birthing suite. Bernie Baker, MD Joyce Noriega, MD Efrain Perez, MD Eastern Carolina Women’s Center 401 Sterlingworth Street, Suite A, Windsor 252-794-4878 Appointments available everyfirst and third Monday, 2:00 pm-5:00 pm www.chowan.uhseast.com A part of our community Chowan Hospital University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina m A part of your life Chowan Hospital is part of University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina, which includes Pitt County Memorial Hospital, other community hospitals, physician practices, home health and other independently operated health services. University Health Systems is affiliated with the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina Universiry.
Bertie Ledger-Advance (Windsor, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 15, 2000, edition 1
9
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75