An update on farmers struggling to save their crops. We showed you last week how the lack of rain is interrupting this year’s growing season.

According to the Extension Director for Beaufort County, things are not looking good here. He says nothing has been confirmed yet, but farmers could take a loss this year.

That’s a reality for one farmer just 20 minutes away.

“You work all year for nothing. That’s what its gonna amount to maybe," says farmer Kirk Tice.

Off of Tice Road in Martin County lies Tice Farms. A multi-generational farm now owned by 74-year-old Kirk Tice. A farmer, a father and husband who lost his wife in March. Due to the lack of rain, Tice is now experiencing another loss.

"The corn crop is gone. I don’t think there's no coming back on corn," says Tice.

Crop loss also causes income loss. Insurance typically protects farmers in unforeseen circumstances. Tice says this only goes so far.

"Insurance money is probably what we’ll end up with. That’s not gonna pay much but it’ll help you out of a situation maybe. All you can do is depend on somebody else," says Tice.

Tice is depending on several other crops to make a profit this year but it’s not looking good for area farmers. He believes this situation will cause a domino effect.

“It aint gonna look good. At the end of the year, it aint gonna look good. The stress puts everything in a stress. When the crops are stressed, the farmers are stressed. But when the farmers are stressed so does the economy," says Tice.

According to studies these weather conditions could impact farmers, products, and prices. While farmers wait for the rain, we’ll have to wait and see the impact.

Source - https://www.wcti12.com