Farm buildings damaged by Tuesday storms
By Turner Walston
Published in News on March 11, 2005 1:45 PM
Tuesday morning's storms caused damage to farm buildings across Wayne County, according agents with the Cooperative Extension Service.
Kevin Johnson said that many farm buildings were damaged by the high winds. Nine tobacco greenhouses sustained heavy damage, while others received moderate damage, Johnson said.
Of those receiving heavy damage, one was destroyed while the others lost their inflated tops or curtains.
All of the damaged greenhouses had tobacco plants growing in them. Seven of the nine farmers were able to salvage their plants by moving them to other greenhouses, laying fiber cloth across the plants to protect them from the freezing temperatures, or making other quick repairs, Johnson said. Two farmers were unable to save their plants from the cold and will have to re-seed which will increase their production cost and delay their crop this year. One greenhouse in the New Hope community was damaged beyond repair, and will have to be rebuilt. Several greenhouses throughout the county will need to be adjusted because the high winds bent metal supports, Johnson added.
Tobacco plants are normally grown indoors and transplanted to fields when spring arrives. Tobacco remains is Wayne County's top cash crop. Last year, tobacco brought $15 million into the county's economy.