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Little moisture has Tennessee hitting up USDA for assistance

By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — This year’s spring rains quickly gave way to another dry summer for Tennessee, with little relief in sight for fall. The conditions have put most of the state in varying stages of drought, prompting Gov. Phil Bredesen to ask for a federal designation of agricultural disaster for 28 counties.

Bredesen made the request Sept. 22 for the affected counties, which include Anderson, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, Cannon, Coffee, Fentress, Franklin, Grainger, Greene, Grundy, Hamblen, Henry, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Overton, Pickett, Polk, Scott, Unicoi, Warren, Washington and Weakley.
Some of these areas have reported crop losses, as high as 35-70 percent, because of below-normal rainfall, low water levels and a cumulative rainfall deficit that has carried over from last year, according to information from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA.)

“Farmers in these areas have suffered two and, sometimes, three years in a row of difficult growing seasons due to lingering drought conditions,” said Bredesen. “Anytime you have this kind of long-term impact to agriculture, it makes it doubly hard for farmers to keep farming and make ends meet.

“We want to ensure that our state’s farmers have access to any assistance that will help them manage through this agricultural disaster.”

It is estimated that some areas of Tennessee are as much as 12 inches below normal in rainfall, affecting the state’s major crops such as corn, soybeans, tobacco and hay, as well as some nursery and fruit and vegetable crops. The latest information from the U.S. Drought Monitor reports that some eastern portions of the state are listed as being in extreme drought, which means this request could be just the beginning.

State Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens expects additional requests for federal agricultural assistance as the harvesting season progresses.

“Although this year’s drought is not as widespread as last year and crop production has been favorable in some areas, we know that many farmers are struggling from persistent drought conditions,” he said. “We expect that other counties will likely qualify for an agricultural disaster designation and we’re prepared to work with our federal partners to make sure that Tennessee farmers have access to federal assistance.”

The state’s hay crop is suffering as well, though it was much improved over last year’s. The latest USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) report rated nearly three-fourths of the pastures in very poor to fair condition.

Monroe County extension agent Bob Sliger said in the NASS report, “Another week without rain has pastures, late hay, soybeans after wheat all suffering. Available water for livestock is a growing concern for producers. Fall seeding is at a near standstill because of the lack of moisture.”

About the only positive has been for those harvesting tobacco and soybeans. The dry conditions have allowed for a speedy harvest, including an advantage for corn growers who had stalks on the ground from winds owing to Hurricane Ike.

Neal Denton, Knox County extension director, said he can’t remember when it has been so dry.

“We’re on about a four-week dry spell and just have no moisture in the ground right now,” he said.

“Our pastures are really suffering. We have many farmers already feeding hay. Our hay is about 50 percent off from where it should be. We have more hay than last year, but it is still early to put it out.”

He also said the county soybean crop wasn’t in much better shape. “We’ll get about a third of the crop and some farmers won’t harvest at all. Our corn yields will be down but the rain we had in July helped out some,” he said.

If there is an upside for livestock producers, it is that last year, many farmers cut back on their herds by as much as 30 percent because of the dry weather, so some of the pressure is off this year, said Denton.

“The unusual thing about this year is that the driest portions are here in the mountain area of the state,” he said. “That doesn’t bode well for fire season. If we don’t get some rain soon, we’re going to be in big trouble.”

10/1/2008