Cotton Crop Suffers From Zeta

The Alabama Farmers Federation said some farmers are reporting a complete loss of cotton they hadn’t already harvested after Hurricane Zeta swept through last week. More than 40% of the cotton crop (the most affected commodity) in affected areas was still in the field when the storm hit. Those without a total loss of their cotton crop have still suffered much lower quality than anticipated before Zeta. Additional farm-related damage, the federation said, includes many damaged and destroyed barns, grain bins, fences, hay bales, poultry houses and greenhouses; orchard damage; further loss of the pecan crop, which had already been greatly reduced by Hurricane Sally; and destroyed irrigation equipment, including center pivots. The federation is conducting a survey, which includes predicted crop losses and structural damage.