From Hyde County government office

North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler visited Hyde County on Oct. 6 to discuss concerns with local farmers regarding recent widespread flooding and subsequent crop damage.

Rep. Paul Tine, Sen. Brent Jackson, Rep. Jimmy Dixon, Rep. Bob Steinburg and N.C. Department of Agriculture staff members accompanied Commissioner Troxler to Hyde County where they were met by hundreds of Hyde County farmers at the Hyde County Government Center in Swan Quarter.

Hyde County farmers have been devastated by a terrible combination of several weeks of precipitation, torrential rain from a low pressure system that soaked most of the Carolinas and a storm surge caused by Hurricane Joaquin. Hyde County Cooperative Extension estimates tens of thousands of acres in crop damage. Soybeans and cotton were particularly hard hit. Below is the most recent damage report provided by the Cooperative Extension.

ESTIMATED CROP DAMAGE IN HYDE COUNTY

Soybeans

• 28,071.84 total acres
• Early soybeans: ~16,000 total acres; 50-100 percent of harvest lost
• Double crop soybeans: ~ 12,000 total acres; 25-40 percent of harvest lost

Cotton

• 10,463.28 total acres; 40 percent of harvest lost

During their meeting with Commissioner Troxler, several farmers expressed frustration with the existing regulations and permitting process required to pump water off of agricultural land, calling for greater coordination between regulatory agencies. Others voiced concern with use of water control structures and implementation of drainage plans on National Wildlife Refuge properties.

As a member of the Environmental Review Commission, Rep. Dixon offered to facilitate consideration of legislative changes that would address specific drainage issues.