Farm Photo: Hail Damage to Local Farms

Find this page at:
go.ncsu.edu/readext?170536

en Español / em Português

Español

El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.

Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.

Português

Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.

Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.

English

English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.

Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.

Estoy de Acuerdo / Eu concordo / I agree

Collapse ▲

May 23, 2008

Photos by Debbie Roos, Agricultural Extension Agent.

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

A severe hailstorm passed through Pittsboro around 5:00 p.m. Tuesday evening, May 20. At least six farms within a 3 mile radius of Pittsboro received damage, and some farms experienced a total loss of some crops. The photos below depict damage at four of these farms. This was a big setback for these farmers. Many of them lost spring crops that were just about to be harvested, leaving them little to nothing to take to the farmers’ markets for the near future. They also lost many of their summer crops – the sweet corn, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, etc. that had just been transplanted 3-4 weeks ago. Some crops were a total loss, while others will possibly recover but will be set back several weeks and have reduced yield and/or a shorter harvest season.

Although it was not reported in the media, several Lee County farmers also experienced major damage to strawberries, vegetables, and tobacco. The storm finished off the strawberry season for a couple of our local strawberry farmers.

tomatoes and peppers

Tomatoes (foreground) and peppers (background) were flattened.

tomatoes

Close-up of tomatoes. Some tomato plants that have surviving side branches will likely live and eventually produce fruit, but of course the crop yield will be late and reduced. The plants will also be more vulnerable to disease from the many wounds caused by the hail.

pepper

In many cases, plants were completely defoliated, as with these pepper plants.

tomatoes

Defoliated tomato plants.

tomatoes

Close-up of defoliated tomato plants (look closely and you will see the surviving stump of one plant in the upper left corner).

chard

Swiss chard will bounce back as long as the crown survived, but all the leaves ready to be harvested were lost.

brocolli and lettuce

The bibb lettuce on the left is unmarketable after the hail tore away the outer leaves. It was scheduled to be harvested the week of the storm. Broccoli plants on the right were also damaged.