IOW farmers cope with crop loss

ISLE OF WIGHT, Va. (WAVY.com) - Isle of Wight farmers have plenty of corn, it's just not something you would want to eat. The ears are small and most are missing kernels.

"Worthless, useless," said Jerry Butler, standing a field that's a total loss.

Butler works for Carolina Eastern and supplies farmers with the chemicals to squeeze the most out of a seedling. He just can't give them what they really need.

"None of these crops need huge amounts of moisture, but it needs it timely and as you can tell here it's not been timely at all," said Butler.

High temperatures and lack of rain stunted the growth of fields of cotton plants. Smaller plants cut the harvest in half. Peanut plants are also not producing as many nuts.

"Anytime you're talking about a 50 percent crop loss it's extremely severe," said Board of Supervisors chairman Phillip Bradshaw.

County leaders have requested an estimate of the crop loss to apply for federal drought aid.

"All we're talking about is getting loans, short term loans or no interest, things like that," he said.

Neighboring Southampton County already applied for aid, estimating more than $3 million in lost corn crops. Bradshaw believes the more surrounding counties that apply, the better off the chance of getting some money.

Meanwhile, farmers continue to tend to their fields because each flower has potential to yield a product.

If only it would rain.

"Every rain brings optimism. It brings an extra bushel of beans, brings an extra pound of cotton and extra few pounds of peanuts hopefully," said Butler.

The Board of Supervisors plan to make a decision about federal aid at their next meeting on August 19.