As Sampson County farmers continue monitoring their fields following weeks of dry weather, agricultural experts say the effects of the recent drought could linger well beyond the arrival of recent rainfall.
Sampson County is one of North Carolina’s leading agricultural producers, with thousands of acres devoted to corn, soybeans and cotton. While scattered showers have provided some relief in recent days, the prolonged dry spell earlier this spring has already created challenges for growers across the county.
Colden Bradshaw, field crops agent with the N.C. Cooperative Extension in Sampson County, said many farmers began seeing the effects of drought conditions during planting season and are likely to experience more as the year progresses.
“Growers are going to see some yield loss due to drought, especially in corn,” Bradshaw explained. “When farmers were planting corn, it was extremely dry. We were in about a month-long drought, which slowed emergence and caused some loss of leaf area. That will ultimately reduce yields.”
Corn has been among the crops hit hardest by the lack of rainfall. According to Bradshaw, drought stress can affect plants long after the initial dry conditions occur.
As corn enters the critical stage of producing tassels and pollen, adequate moisture becomes increasingly important.
“Drought stress can impact pollen production and how it fertilizes the silks on corn,” Bradshaw noted. “If drought conditions continue during that stage, growers could experience even greater yield losses.”
Soybeans have also been affected by the dry weather.
“Some growers are going to see yield losses in soybeans as well because the crops are under stress,” Bradshaw added.
Beyond visible signs of stress in the field, drought can create challenges beneath the soil surface. Bradshaw said many nutrients applied by farmers require rainfall to move into the root zone where plants can absorb them.
“Some of the nutrients farmers apply may not be getting where they need to go without rainfall pushing them into the soil,” he pointed out.
While irrigation can help offset dry conditions, Bradshaw said only a small percentage of Sampson County farmland has access to irrigation systems.
“I think only about 4 percent to 6 percent of the farmland in Sampson County is irrigated,” the ag agent pointed out. “Most growers who irrigate are pulling water from ponds or wells.”
That leaves many farmers dependent on natural rainfall to sustain their crops.
“If you’re relying on natural rainfall, you’re at the mercy of Mother Nature,” Bradshaw remarked. “We typically receive timely rainfall, but no year is ever the same. Not having the ability to irrigate your crops is definitely a disadvantage, and times like this highlight the importance of irrigation on the farm.”
While drought presents one set of challenges, Bradshaw cautioned that excessive rainfall can be equally damaging. With hurricane season approaching, growers could soon find themselves facing the opposite type of issue.
“Too much rain can be just as bad as not enough rain,” he emphasized.
Heavy rainfall can leave standing water in fields, preventing roots from receiving the oxygen they need to survive. Saturated conditions can also delay harvests by keeping equipment out of fields and, in severe cases, damage crops through flooding and high winds associated with tropical systems.
“Those roots underground are trying to respire, and they need air just like we do,” Bradshaw explained. “You can drown crops when they remain under too much water.”
Despite recent rainfall, Bradshaw said it remains too early to determine the full impact the drought may have on this year’s harvest. Reduced yields, however, could eventually affect supplies and commodity prices if production declines significantly.
“It comes down to supply and demand,” Bradshaw observed. “If drought reduces yields, it affects how much growers can produce and could impact their ability to meet the needs of local communities.”
For now, many Sampson County farmers remain hopeful that additional rainfall throughout the summer growing season will help crops recover and minimize further losses in one of the county’s most important economic sectors.