Extreme summer weather taking a toll on NC crops
OFF AND COOLING COMING NEXT
WEEK. WE'LL HIGHLIGHT THAT
COMING UP IN LESS THAN 15
MINUTES, LENA. ALL RIGHT.
THANKS, MIKE FARMERS.
MEANWHILE, ACROSS NORTH
CAROLINA ARE DEALING WITH
SIGNIFICANT DAMAGES TO THEIR
CROPS, THREATENING OUR FOOD
SUPPLY WRAL'S CLIMATE REPORTER
LIZ MCLAUGHLIN SHOWS US HOW TO
STREAM WEATHER EVENTS INCLUDING
FLOODS, THE HEAT AND DROUGHT
HAVE KILLED HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF CROPS.
>> THESE DRIED BROWN, DEAD CROP
SPANNED THOUSANDS OF ACRES
ACROSS WILSON, NORTH CAROLINA,
FARMERS ACROSS THE STATE ARE
FACING SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES
FROM CLIMATE EVENTS, INCLUDING
DROUGHTS, STORMS
AND FLOODING.
>> THE USDA SAYS THERE HAS BEEN
AT LEAST 100 MILLION DOLLARS IN
DAMAGES FROM WIND ALONE AND THE
FULL EXTENT OF CROP LOSSES IN
THE STATE WON'T BE KNOWN UNTIL
LATER IN THE HARVEST SEASON.
BUT THAT NUMBER MAY DOUBLE.
>> EVERY YEAR WE HAVE STORM
AFTER STORM EXTREME WEATHER
AFTER EXTREME WEATHER AND IS
IMPASSABLE. WHEN YOU FARM IN
THE WEATHER EVERY DAY AND
DEPEND ON THAT FOR YOUR
LIVELIHOOD TO BE ABLE TO MAKE
A PROFIT. DO.
>> NOW FARMERS ARE ASKING FOR
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO STAY
AFLOAT. THIS FARM SAYS IT WILL
LOSE HALF ITS INCOME FROM THESE