Nut Talk

More News on Southeast Drought

DROUGHT IN SOUTHEAST – A cold front swept across the Southeast Wednesday, May 16, but again the front died out before it reached peanut country in Georgia and Florida and now weather forecast say it could be a week before rains return. Meanwhile irrigated farmers have to irrigate with higher priced fuel to get the seed to germinate. Officials met today with Federal Crop Insurance Companies about the drought. Peanuts and cotton have a planting deadline of May 31, two weeks away. Farmers could get paid under the preventative planting clause; however, officials said today that if any grower plants in the area, the preventative planting clause is no longer a valid excuse. Irrigated peanuts are not eligible for preventative planting. Some farmers are considering dusting in the seed just before the deadline to keep crop insurance coverage. Some indicate they may use lower priced seed, but what if it rains and seed vigor becomes a factor? No mention of extending the deadline so far. More information will be released Friday by FSIS.



Stewart Parnell