Drought and high temperatures devastate corn crops in Southeastern NC

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A lack of rainfall and blazing temperatures in recent months as left many area farmers worried about their crops this year, but particularly corn.   

Pender County Cooperative Extension Director Mark Seitz said corn requires water to become pollinated.  

“The pollen’s coming from the tassel, it drops down onto the silks and pollinates the kernels in the ear, and if it’s too hot, that pollen dries out and it just will not set kernels,” Seitz said. 

Seitz added that the timing of these dry conditions are coming at the worst time for corn farmers. 

“The drought hit basically a month and a half to two months earlier than we usually see it,” Seitz explained. 

In Pender County, many corn fields are only about half the height they should be at this point in the season. Farmer Don Rawls said this year is not looking good for area farmers. 

“In years pasted, in the 20s we’ve had some very good years. This year’s not one of them,” Rawls noted. 

Seitz said to top it off, the market price of corn is at the lowest it’s been in years.  

“Even if we made the crop right now, the crop markets are lower than they’ve been in a long time, so what corn we do make, there’s not going to be a lot of revenue there for that,” Rawls said. 

Although several inches of rain are expected to reach the area over the next few days, Seitz said it won’t be enough.  

“We need 10 to 15 inches of rain to get us back on track for a normal year,” Seitz explained. 

Seitz added that the extension is working with commissioners to declare a disaster in the county, which could offer some financial relief to farmers, but Rawls said most are just hoping to break even.  

“Everybody is going to need all the help they can get to make this year end and start another year,” Rawls said.