Moultrie area farmers concerned about potential impact of Idalia on row crops, vegetables

MOULTRIE — For area farmers a little rain is just what the doctor ordered, and a tropical system heading toward Florida and Georgia could deliver that prescription, but heavy winds could eliminate any benefit by damaging vulnerable crops.

“We’re just trying to get everything safe and tied up and string on it (to protect it)from the wind,” said Colquitt County vegetable grower Sam Watson. “There’s only so much you can do. We’re just trying to get everything stabilized in case we do get heavy wind.”

In its latest update at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday the National Weather Service noted that Tropical Storm Idalia has tracked somewhat to the west, and with that change in course Colquitt County has been added to Georgia counties under a Tropical Storm warning. Other south Georgia counties added in the latest warning include Ben Hill, Berrien, Cook, Irwin and Tift.

“We’re pretty dry right now, so we need the moisture,” Watson said. “If we get some 50, 60 mile per hour wind coming through, it’ll lay it down. The wind is probably the biggest fear right now.”

Among the crops Watson, who serves District 11 in the state Senate, has in the ground are bell and hot peppers, squash, cabbage, cucumbers and eggplant.

Cotton is also vulnerable to the wind. Heavy wind can blow the crop to the ground and twist vines, making harvest more difficult.

Some farmers are harvesting corn, and those stalks could blow on the ground in strong wind conditions.

“That’s what’s probably going to take the most damage,” Watson said.

The extreme heat over the summer has taken a toll, with irrigation systems being pushed to pump water to thirsty peanuts, cotton and corn.

All in all, the weather has made for a stressful year for crops as well as for farmers in the region.

“We had hail this spring,” Watson said. “We’ve had the extreme heat, then drought and dry weather on top of that. Now we’re looking at a lot of wind and rain.

“We can take a couple of inches of rain. We just don’t need a lot of rain.”

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]
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