Lack of rain, dry weather affecting the Pine Belt according to local Extension Office Agents

Anyone who has been casting spells or doing special dances to bring rain to the Pine Belt area haven’t been successful lately, but state officials say summer crops were lucky this year.

Matt Thornton, an Extension Agent in Forrest County, said crops fared well with the dry weather because of the earlier planting and harvest schedule.

“For the most part, we had a fairly wet spring and summer,” he said. “The soil was in fairly good condition. We are probably seeing the biggest impact on the homeowners. There are not major losses, but we may see wilting and having to use irrigation more often.”

Thornton said early-season food plots may be affected, along with the fall gardens that include greens.

Jones County Extension Agent Kim Hancock said the precipitation amount is definitely in a deficit. For her area, cattle farmers are being hit hard.

“The biggest effect of the dry weather has been for cattle producers,” she said. “Jones County is one of the largest cattle producers in the state, and it has been difficult. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a large or a small farm; it has been hurting everyone.”

Hancock said cattle farmers have had to move their calendar around.

”A large number of cattle farmers have been forced to use their winter forages,” she said. “Because the ground has been so dry, cattle farmers are starting to feed hay. The early hay distribution means that they may come up short on feed in the winter.”

For fall gardens suffering from the dry conditions, Hancock said water distribution has been critical.

“I have seen a lot of people irrigate their gardens,” she said. “They need to get the nutrients into the ground by putting a lot of water down.”

In Covington County, Extension Agent Ellen Russell said northern and central Mississippi farmers were the most affected by the dry weather.

“Cattle producers are monitoring drought conditions closely as it can cause not only short hay supply, but can seriously impact the establishment of winter annual forage crops and restrict the possibility for grazing,” she said. “Timber producers are more fire aware (especially because of the burn bans). A small fire can very easily start and spread in dry conditions.”

Homeowners who are worried about their lawns have begun irrigating them, Russell said.

“Please remember that lawns need to be watered early enough in the day so the foliage will dry before dark,” she said. “Grass left wet overnight increases the risk for disease. Insects can cause additional damage to lawns that are already under drought stress so pay attention to your lawn and make plans to irrigate if you can.”

Ross Overstreet, Mississippi Cooperative Extension agent in Lamar County, said most crops were harvested before the dry conditions escalated.

“We have had a very sharp decrease in the moisture in the soil,” he said. “Luckily, the corn came in before the drought. Soybean crops may take a hit.”

The typical homeowner has seen higher water bills because of the lack of rain, Overstreet said. Yards and landscape needed the moisture.

“Young plantings may be affected,” he said. “I have seen a lot of irrigation, especially places like golf courses and such. Luckily, we missed out on the driest days.”

The damage may show up later, Overstreet said.

“There are a lot of tree farmers in the area,” he said. “The dry conditions may have stressed out the trees, and that could make them susceptible to pine beetles.”

The southern pine beetle is the most destructive insect pest of pine in the southern United States. A recent historical review estimated the beetle caused $900 million of damage to pine forests from 1960-1990.

Other areas of the state apparently are even drier because the Mississippi Forestry Commission has placed burn bans in 30 counties. Those counties include Adams, Amite, Clay, Copiah, Franklin, Hinds, Itawamba, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Lincoln, Madison, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, Panola, Pike, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, Tallahatchie, Tate, Walthall, Wayne, Webster, Yazoo.

Burn bans are normally requested by the county Board of Supervisors and approved by the Mississippi Forestry Commission. Violating a burn ban is a misdemeanor and the conviction on the charge brings fine of at least $100 and not more than $500.

Not allowed: Campfires, bonfires, fire pits, fire rings, burn barrels, debris burning, field burning - anything with an open flame that produces an ember. The wind can carry floating embers away from the original fire and start a spot fire up to one-half mile away from the burning area.