LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — The USDA named six counties across the Tennessee Valley as primary natural disaster areas.
The announcement comes on the heels of a severe drought, rated a D-4, during the fall. Drought conditions continued into the winter.
Fourth-generation farmer Brady Peek, who News 19 spoke with in November, is planning his harvest and hoping for better results.
“Starting 2025, we’re still in what’s considered a drought zone,” Peek said. “So our input prices are still high, our commodity prices are still low.”
ALFA National Affairs Director Mitt Walker said the natural disaster designation came straight from the drought monitor and is hitting farmers hard.
“We’re in a pretty difficult economic situation with farming right now,” Walker said. “It’s pretty nerve-wracking to come into the year this low on soil moisture because we need a really good year in terms of production to offset some of those other issues we’re facing.”
Making the drought “official” allows farmers to apply for specialized loans or grants that are only accessible with that designation.
Peek said some of the other issues Walker mentioned are the high cost of materials and machinery and the low return on crop sales.
“Where the markets are currently very much at a break even, maybe even at a loss right now. So it’s hard to start a year and be excited about working all year and potentially losing money just because the markets aren’t where they need to be.”
And with the poor markets, coupled with the impending impacts of tariffs, Peek’s mind is not at ease.
“We’re always concerned about the unknown, and there’s just a lot there that we don’t know about,” Peek said. “Feels like it’s kind of the wild, wild West right now.”
When the day is done, Peek said his heart lies within farming, no matter the uphill battle.
“Even in uncertain times, we still take what we do seriously,” Peek said. “We’re still excited about it, and we don’t have plans on going anywhere.”
North Alabama is not currently in a drought.
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