National Drought Mitigation Center
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National Drought Mitigation Center
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Crops, planting affected by drought in Wilson County, North Carolina
6/25/2019 12:00:00 AM



CATEGORIES:
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
Water Supply & Quality
AFFECTED AREAS:
Wilson County, NC

Start Date: 5/29/2019 -  
Crops were stressed in Wilson County because less than an inch of rain fell since mid-April, according to Norman Harrell, director of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension office in Wilson County. The late-set tobacco on sandier soils was stressed. Growers were beginning to stop cultivating to try to conserve soil moisture. Some soybean growers stopped planting soybeans until rain falls to increase the soil moisture. Corn leaves were beginning to roll, due to the drought stress. Many sweet potato growers stopped planting, due to the dry soil. As pastures dried out, some farmers resorted to feeding their livestock hay, when they would typically be grazing on green grass. Hay growth is usually underway to be cut later and fed during the winter, but dry weather in May will lead to poorer quality and quantity of hay. Irrigators began refilling irrigation ponds because they became depleted. wilsontimes.com (Wilson, N.C.), May 29, 2019
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