Pender Co. commissioners declare agricultural disaster as farmers face extended drought

BRUGAW, NC (WWAY) — From dried corn rows to shriveled-up blades of corn, many cornfields are showing signs of intense heat, due to drought conditions in Pender County.

Even after several inches of rain fell last week, on average, the amount of rainfall was lower in June than the county typically receives, which is around 5 inches or so.

Pender County saw just 2.30 inches of rain in the entire month of June.

Monday night, county commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution that aims to help farmers like corn and soybean farmer Shaun Wells.

“I appreciate the county commissioners looking out for our farmers,” Wells said. “Its a big industry in this county and we need all the help we can probably get with the crops like it is and hope for the governor will sign it and then we can get some assistance from the government.”

Mark Seitz is the Pender County cooperative extension director.

He said the drought came earlier this year than usual, as Pender County usually doesn’t experience drought conditions until mid-to-late July.

“I equate a crop to you and me sleeping in a tent in our backyards with no air conditioning,” Seitz said. “If you had to do it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in this heat, you would not be happy. And these crops are just not happy. They’re not thriving, they’re not vigorous, they’re just not doing well.”

Although the WWAY Storm Track 3 seven-day forecast calls for more scattered showers and thunderstorms this week, for many farmers like Wells, the lack of rain is just one of their challenges.

“The prices is low, really low for this year,” Wells said. “I couldn’t tell ya, our prices are set somewhere out the Midwest, you know with the crops and stuff like that out there. We don’t get to set the prices. Somebody sets the prices for us and we just, we had to take what we can get and it ain’t, it ain’t at a break even point right now.”

The resolution will next go to Governor Roy Cooper, who will then contact the federal government for any assistance.