Farmers hail a rainy spell

By Deborah Buckhalter

Published: June 30, 2008

Farmers rejoiced when the skies opened up to deliver a bit of rain last weekend and Monday.
Jackson County Extension Service Director Ed Jowers said the widespread showers and thunderstorms dropped an average of 1.5 inches of rain on the area.
Peanuts, cotton and corn are benefiting from the soaking, he said.
Jowers said producers are hoping for another outpouring of help from Mother Nature in a few days, with more rain predicted for later this week and into the weekend..
“It’s like ice cream; the more you get, to a point, the better it is,” Jowers said.
The rain came early in the growth cycle for peanuts and cotton.
Most peanut farmers planted in May, although a few got an early start in late April or waited until early June.
The majority of plants have grown to be two-to-three inches across, while some are lapping over in the middle.
Some cotton plants are showing just a few leaves now, while otherse already have early blooms.
The rain was welcome, at whatever state the plants were in, Jowers said. 
Corn is also in the ground right now and nearing harvest-size. Most corn fields are irrigated and are not as dependent on rainfall, but it’ll help keep the crop healthy for its main harvest season of mid-to-late July.