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450 ACRES. PRICED AT 2000 DOLLARS AN ACRE. IF THE WEATHER DOESN’T CHANGE IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, AVOYELLES FARMER JOHNNY RAY COULD LOSE ALMOST A MILLION DOLLARS.
“It’s hectic, it’s nerveracking.”
THESE SWEET POTATO FIELDS ARE SUFFERING IN THE OPRESSIVE HEAT. SAME STORY IN THE SOYBEAN FIELDS. BUT ON *THE BRIGHT SIDE* ONE OF JOHNNY RAY’S CROPS LOVES THESE CONDITIONS.
“I’m torn because i’m harvesting watermelons right now, but I really do need the rain.”
LAST YEAR WAS BRUTAL FOR AVOYELLES PARISH FARMERS. TWO HURRICANES BROUGHT MAJOR FLOODS LIKE THE REGION HAD NEVER SEEN- AND SO MANY FARMER’S DIDN’T HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE.
JOHHNY RAY LOST 80 PERCENT OF HIS CROPS.
IT DIDN’T JUST HURT HIM, IT HURT THE 30 WORKERS WHO TEND HIS FIELD. THEY’RE ON EDGE RIGHT NOW TOO.
“If there’s nothing to harvest, there’s a lot less work for them. It’s a really bad situation and those soybeans are going down hill fast…more…”
TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF HISTORY, JOHNNY RAY HAS BEEN FARMING IN AVOYELLES SINCE 1976, HIS FATHER RAN THE FARM BEFORE HIM. JOHNNY RAY SAYS THIS DROUGHT IS THE WORST HE CAN REMEMBER.
SO THE WATERMELONS MAY BE LOOKING SWEET, BUT WITH TIME RUNNING OUT FOR THE SOYBEANS AND THE SWEET POTATOS- LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE IS GETTING HARD.
IN AVOYELLES PARISH MM REPORTING NEWS CHANNEL 5
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