The powerful and oftentimes unpredictable force of the weather is something farmers are always dealing with, but for those on the East Coast this past weekend the weather became an even greater foe than usual. Hurricane Irene hit the East Coast, from North Carolina to Vermont Saturday morning covering an area of over 1100 miles and affecting millions of people.
The agriculturalists of North Carolina were especially hit hard. Flooding and high winds have caused a great deal of property and crop damage. Corn, cotton, and tobacco fields, along with buildings such as grain bins, greenhouses, and poultry houses, have been damaged by the wind, greatly affecting area farmers’ businesses.
In an address to the public after touring affected areas, North Carolina Governor Bev Purdue spoke about the difficulties facing citizens, including farmers, who were greatly touched by the storm. She described the farmlands as destroyed, but called citizens to remember that though these are difficult times they can get through them if they stick together. For now, citizens and governmental officials are trying to assess the damage and will work to rebuild. The state is hoping to get federal aid, and if it is declared a national agricultural disaster, farmers could receive low-interest loans.
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