Dry, hot conditions in North Carolina are taking a huge toll on farmers, and everyone's wallet.

Big cash crops that farmers rely upon for their own families are withering under a long heat spell.

So far through June, North Carolina has seen several days with temperatures in the 90s and little to no precipitation.

Bob Etheridge, the executive director of The Farm Service Agency, says he doesn’t see that changing in the forecast anytime soon.

“It's one thing not to get rain,” he said. “It's another thing to see day after day of 95, to 98, to 100 degrees.”

The impact trickles down to the average consumer.

“We're not just having hot weather here in the U.S. and southeast, we're having it around the world,” said Mike Walden, North Carolina State University ag-extension economist.

Walden calls it a strong chain reaction in the agricultural market, including costs rising at the dinner table.

“In other words, when someone bought at the grocery store in the main area this year, it's likely up doubled digits,” he explained.

Walden projects costs could increase by as much as 25% since 2023. It impacts everything from soybeans, peanuts, and even tobacco; a crop that has helped farmers cover their losses in the past.

Etheridge says are farmers aren’t just losing their crops, they're also losing money they used to buy items like diesel fuel and seeds.

Wade Roberson a framer, said despite best efforts, some farms go through total crop loss, adding he quit tending to potatoes and corn about a week ago.

He said the loss is taking its toll.

“That’s a big thing … because it’s stressful to know you’re losing thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars,” he said.

Michael Williams, a farmer and a near neighbor of the Robersons said things aren’t getting any better.

“It’s getting pretty ugly now,” he said.

Source - https://www.wral.com