North Carolina Farmers Brace for Heavy Rain That Could Devastate Harvest

RALEIGH, N.C. — Farmers across North Carolina are racing against the forecast this weekend, as heavy rain, flooding, and strong winds threaten to destroy crops at the peak of harvest season.

Crops at Risk

Pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and squash are among the crops most vulnerable to prolonged wet conditions. Farmers say too much rain could rot pumpkins left in the dirt and damage flowers and mums grown alongside them.

“We’ll do our best to try and pick and cut as many pumpkins as we can,” said Lisa Penny of Penny’s Produce. “But if they sit in the wet dirt, then they could potentially rot. We can lose a crop of pumpkins, and the heavy downpours can also mess up mums and flowers.”

Farmers Fear Financial Loss

For other farmers, the concerns go beyond crop damage to the bottom line. Melissa Austin of LNG Farms explained, “If they’re not harvested quickly, they will sit in the ground and just mold and mildew, just rot. That’s a total loss of income. That’s devastating for any farmer.”

Fields already soggy from early rainfall could make it difficult to even reach crops. Braxton Deal of Lee’s Produce said, “You can get a lot of erosion and wash off, and it’ll just carry a bunch of stuff with it. And all that water gets in the ground; it’ll make it soggy. You can’t get a tractor or anything through the field. So if you got to go through the field to pick stuff, you’ll get stuck.”

State Officials Monitoring Conditions

The North Carolina Emergency Management Office confirmed it is preparing for multiple scenarios, from a passing cold front to the possible arrival of a tropical system next week.

“There is no certainty in the forecast. We should definitely be prepared for heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and gusty winds,” said Justin Graney, chief of external affairs for the agency. He added that emergency operations will scale up if conditions worsen.

Preparing for the Worst

Officials urged all residents, not just farmers, to review disaster plans, sign up for weather alerts, and stock emergency kits.

For farmers, however, the strategy remains simple: harvest as much as possible before the rain sets in. “I hope it stays dry, I really do,” Austin said.

Have you seen flooding or crop damage in your part of North Carolina this harvest season? Share your updates and experiences in the comments on SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.