By Clint Thompson
The lingering dry period affecting all of Alabama could impact strawberry plantings if there is no rain soon.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, most of Alabama is experiencing moderate or severe drought conditions. That doesn’t tell the whole story, however, says Eric Schavey, regional Extension agent in Northeast Alabama.
“We are dry. That drought monitor is completely wrong,” Schavey said. “Where it’s showing severe drought, they need to increase that pretty much a whole band across, from Talladega up to pretty much DeKalb County; all of that eastern side. We’ve missed rains. We are dry.
“To top it off, we really want to be planted here with strawberries in a few weeks. If we don’t get any moisture, there’s not going to be any beds to make.”
Schavey estimated that July 24 was the last time that a substantial amount of rainfall was recorded in the Northeast region. He added that the only measurable rain that was recorded last month was on Aug. 9 with a quarter of an inch on his farm.
There has been some rain in places across the state, but it’s been mostly spotty.
“We are dry. Ponds are low,” Schavey said.
The Montgomery area has experienced more rain than anywhere.
The lack of hurricane activity up to this point has also contributed to the current drought throughout Alabama.