By: Erin Smith
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The Farm Service Agency Executive Director Bob Etheridge was touring farms in Bladen County on Tuesday and meeting and talking with farmers about the losses and set backs suffered as a result of Hurricane Matthew. Farmers have 60 days to report any losses or damage affiliated with the storm.
The crop losses from Hurricane Matthew in North Carolina could well climb into the hundreds of millions of dollars, according to FSA Executive Director Bob Etheridge. For many farmers, the weather has been devastating.
For blueberry producers, the long-term impact on the crops may not be known until next year’s harvest. Ralph Carter of Carter Blueberry Farm located on US 701 at White Lake said his farm has ditches that are completely filled in (with sediment and debris) and he is uncertain how much sediment has washed into the irrigation ponds. Carter said that on his farm repairs are under way to roads to fields where they have gullies two to four feet deep cut across them. He said that he has plants in the fields with the root systems exposed due to erosion.
Irrigation ponds are required to have at least five days supply in them. Carter said that on his farm they can’t see how much sediment has washed into the pond due to the fact they can’t drain the pond down because all fo the area where they would normally pump the water to is full.
Carter also said this time of year the blueberries are beginning to produce fruit buds for next year’s crop. He said in some cases blueberry plants had leaves blown off bushes which could also impact the crop.
“We know one field we will be picking next year, all you could see were the tips of the plants,” said Carter.
Chris Tatum said, “In Ivanhoe we probably still have blueberries that are underwater.”
Carter said many of blueberry plants were in a 20 acre field and looking stressed. This was field that Carter said has a new field and this will be the first year it has been picked.
Carter said it takes about four years for a blueberry plant to begin producing fruit once it is planted.
Officials did say that Blueberry bushes have been added into the CHAP program this year.
Officials said that blueberry bushes in the region were already stressed due to the weather last year.
Etheridge said a peanut field in Bertie County completely washed away.
Etheridge put it in perspective. He said a consumer in the grocery store doesn’t pick up on all of the issues that were being discussed. He said many consumers have no idea that if a farmer’s crop is washed away that his source fo income for that year is gone.
“If I’m a consumer in grocery store, I don’t pick up on that,” said Etheridge.
When crops are either washed away or damaged in some way, the farmer has lost his whole years work, said Etheridge.
“It’s not just income for the company, it’s what you buy groceries with,” said Etheridge.
Etheridge also said that it is difficult to recover when a farmer loses his market share.
Carter said, “In today’s world it is very challenging. It is not easy to walk back through those doors.”
Etheridge and Carter both said that when you lose your market share, either as a farm group or as a state, some one else is ready to fill in the gap.
Currently, Carter said blueberry growers in North Carolina are competing with growers in Georgia for shelf space. “They are right there with us,” said Carter.
Etheridge also said farmers need to photograph and document all damage to their crops, livestock, and buildings.
“The key to this I think, is if you have a loss turn it in,” said Etheridge.
Etheridge also said Tuesday was the first day the FSA offices have re-opened. He said some offices were closed due to no power and some were closed because agents couldn’t get to them. He said the FSA agents wanted to get out in the filed but simply couldn’t because roads were too hazardous.
Other crop losses Etheridge itemized included substantial loses of sweet potatoes and soy beans. He said a majority of the corn was picked. All crops were also damaged.
Etheridge said that farmers also lost production last year due to the weather.
Fences and tree removal also involved in ECP Fences are a separate form
Blueberry nurseries were also impacted. Carter said that blueberry farmers with greenhouses had to cut the plastic in order to save the plants in the nursery. Carter explained that the plastic covering the greenhouses is two sheets and when the power is out, there is no air flow to the plants.
“We will be able to help the producers with LIP,” said Chris Tatum.
After they completed their visit with Carter Blueberry Farm, they traveled to Clarkton to the farm of Wilbur and Dan Ward located on Britt Road.
The Wards were also busy attempting to dry out the peanut crop. they said on Tuesday they, too, are uncertain exactly how much of the crop they have lost.
There have also been losses of poultry and livestock in Bladen County due to Hurricane Matthew. As of Tuesday, agents were still visiting farms.
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