TIFTON, GA (WALB) -
In the last couple of months, our area has gotten welcomed relief from the drought. Farmers are happy their crops are thriving and even happier because they don't have to irrigate as much.
Tift County is getting used to the slow rain in the evenings. It is just what the farmers have been waiting for. They expect all of their crops and wallets to be more green because of the rain.
Farmers who have struggled in the past months because of drought are now glad to be dancing in the rain. Mother nature's gift to south Georgia means farmers are using irrigation less.
"Normally, you spend four and five hundred dollars a day in fuel. Anytime you can leave it switched off and let mother nature provide for you, it is certainly beneficial," said farmer Ryan Rutland.
Cotton and peanut farmers are especially happy because their fields are looking greener with every rain shower. Food businesses like Lauri Jo's in Norman Park are also seeing positive effects.
"I was with Commissioner Black last week," said Lauri Jo Bennett. He said, 'LJ, how is the rain coming in south Georgia?' He is really excited about how the ponds are filling up so that people can irrigate later on."
Steady rain is what the Ag community wants. Strong rains like those that were initially predicted from Tropical Storm Isaac could be hurtful.
"You don't want any flash floods because when you have that in certain crops, it is just like anything else, it will actually flood and the plant will die," Rutland said.
Rain from Isaac began to fall in Tift County as we were in the fields. It is rain that helps the crops now and later.
"Not only is it going to help us now, but it is going to help us in the future. It will help us next spring when we start planting again," Rutland said.
The farming community is just glad to have some good news to smile about because mother nature was not as kind earlier in the year.
"When the hailstorm came at the end of May. It really set us back. It hurt us cost wise. We needed some good things to happen and the Lord has taken care of us," Rutland said.
The farmers will continue looking to the skies for help in the field.
Rutland Farms has been hard at work harvesting their tobacco. They say the want the slow rains to continue right up through harvesting time for peanuts and cotton.
Farmers are changing their routines because of the rain. They say they're doing most of their work in the mornings.
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Tift Co. farmer Ryan Rutland
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