THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 9, 1996 TAG: 9607090224
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LINDA McNATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 79 lines
Jesse A. Williams, a strapping 18-year-old, will head off to school this fall. Meanwhile, he's doing what he's done every summer since third grade: working hard and watching the corn grow.
An eighth-generation farmer, Williams plans to attend diesel mechanics school, followed by a couple of years at a Virginia or North Carolina agricultural school. He's made the decision to follow in the footsteps of his family, and this could be the year that restores his faith.
``If only the dry weather will hold off for a couple of weeks, we'll have a corn crop this year,'' Williams said Monday, as he stared above his 6 feet 3 inches at tassels that appeared to reach for the clouds. ``We've had dry weather and low prices in recent years, but maybe things are changing.''
Early indications are that area farmers this year could have the best corn crop they've seen in several years. Because the corn harvest has been drastically cut by drought in years past, there is little left in the nation's granaries, so the price is up.
And with corn acreage no longer under governmental guidelines, farmers could plant according to market demand.
The weather has been equally favorable for other crops. Even though they were planted late because of an usually wet spring, peanuts, soybeans and cotton have caught up. They, too, are thriving in fields from Virginia Beach to Southampton County.
``Generally speaking, all the crops are looking very good,'' said Robert D. Goerger, a Virginia Tech Extension agent in Isle of Wight County. ``The corn crop is beautiful; everything seems to be off to a good start.''
Rainfall through June at the Virginia Tech Tidewater Research and Extension Center in Suffolk measured 24.44 inches, about two inches above normal. That is nearly three inches more rain than crops had gotten by that time last year.
The extra rain sent crops like corn, which needs the moisture to germinate and mature, soaring. And Williams is excited that for the first time in several years he's seeing signs of an excellent harvest - two ears on individual stalks rather than one.
Last year, much of Eastern Virginia was declared a disaster area because of the drought. With just a little more rain this year, local farmers could have a bumper crop of corn and do well with most everything else.
``We're hoping and praying for two or three more good rains in the next few weeks; it would be good for corn and peanuts as well,'' Windsor farmer Wilson Holland said. ``If that happens, we may make up for what we lost last year and maybe have a productive year this year.''
Goerger said he's trying not to get too excited because last year, crops looked good up until about this time.
``We've just got to keep in mind that things can look good this week and, two weeks down the road, we could be facing another disaster,'' he said. ``We're a long ways yet from completing a crop year.''
Williams and his father, Jesse D. Williams, understand that. Standing next to a 20-acre field of corn, the son had only to look one field over Monday to see irrigation equipment being moved in. Williams said they would begin irrigating their corn if predictions of showers in the next couple of days don't materialize.
``Southwest, toward Richmond, it's beginning to look real dry,'' said Dr. Ames Herbert, entomologist at the Virginia Tech Tidewater Research and Extension Center. ``Around here, we need one more good rainfall before the ears fill out. Cotton is looking like it has as good a potential as we've seen. And so far, we're looking at a good, strong peanut crop. Corn is what we're worrying about now. It's the least drought-resistant.''
Wes Alexander, agriculture extension agent in Southampton County, said recently harvested wheat has looked about average. More than 80 percent of the corn in that county looks good, and it should be an above-average year.
``Cotton is a little late, and some fields were hit by hail earlier this year, but things are looking good,'' he said. ``Peanuts are growing well; they are flowering and establishing underground. If we get another rain for corn, I think we're looking at a better than average year for everything.''
Young Williams, who displays a bumper sticker that says ``Farmers Celebrate Earth Day Every Day,'' is counting on it. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
JOHN H. SHEALLY II/The Virginian-Pilot
RIGHT: Corn towers over the 6-foot-3 Williams as he stands with his
sister Brook in their father's field. by CNB