Storms wipe out part of Edgecombe tobacco crop
Edgecombe County's tobacco farmers lost about 10 percent of their crops as a result of Sunday's severe thunderstorms
Posted — UpdatedArt Bradley, cooperative extension director for Edgecombe County, said Tuesday that about 600 acres were destroyed by wind and hail.
About half of Wayne Harrell's crop in Leggett was destroyed, he said. Another 1,800 acres were damaged.
"It makes you wonder how you're going to get through the rest of the year," Harrell said.
Although insurance will cover some of his loss, he says, the storm will cost him about $300,000 in revenue.
This is the second time in less than a year that Harrell has suffered such losses. About half of his crop was also destroyed in August by flooding from Hurricane Irene.
Harrell says he's just hoping any future storms spare him and his land.
"Three in a row would be bad," Harrell said.
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