© 2024
Virginia's Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Cotton Yield Almost Double Last Year's

 

 

Most areas of Virginia saw little to no rain for all of September, and that’s actually been a good thing for many farmers.

 

Farmers who need a dry spell to harvest were thrilled with this year’s summer and fall weather patterns. For cotton, it’s meant a 90-percent jump in production from last year.

“Before they harvest the poofs come out -- those big puffy balls of cotton. If you get too much late season rain it just pounds the life out of the cotton bolls,” explained Elaine Lidholm, communications director with Virginia’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service.

The dry weather has also been a boon for peanuts, pumpkins and wine grapes. What’s great for one farmer though, can be a real drag on another.

For instance, cattle ranchers will be feeling the pinch this winter when they run out of hay early. The lack of rain has meant pastures haven’t kept green and farmers will have to turn to hay to feed their herds earlier in the season.

But for the economy as a whole, Lidholm says it all balances out. At $91 billion a year, agriculture continues to dominate Virginia’s economy.

This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.

Related Content