APB agenda 082102 - Laserfiche WebLink

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lift- - - i UNITED STATES Farm Orange County Farm Service Agency DEPARTMENT OF Service 306B Revere Road AGRICULTURE Agency Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278 Wayne R Yarbrough, Jr,, Chairperson, proceeded to hand out to all attendees a copy of a report obtained form the State Climate Office Of North Carolina which contained the rainfall data for Orange County, North Carolina. Mr. Yarbrough farther explained to all attendees that this report indicated that Orange County, as a whole, had a rainfall deficit of —21.26 inches compared to normal average rainfall levels for the period of September 1, 2001 through June 21, 2002. Mr. Yarbrough explained to all attendees that this was data compiled from the Chapel Hill reporting station for the State Climate Office Of North Carolina. Several attendees to the meeting expressed a concern that some parts of Orange County were even more deficient on rainfall amounts due to the fact that the southern extreme southern part of Orange County where the Chapel EM recording station was located received more occasional showers of rain during this period than did other areas of Orange County. Mr. Yarbrough also further informed the attendees that this deficit in rainfall amounts in conjunction with higher than normal temperatures had caused an even more detrimental effect on crops and livestock within Orange County. D! CROP CONDITIONS IN ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA A. Review of Crop Conditions within Orange County, North Carolina. Wayne R Yarbrough, Jr., Chairperson, asked all attendees for input as to current crop conditions or tosses that may have been already suffered due to the sustained drought conditions within Orange County. After several minutes of discussion, the following crop losses were established due to sustained drought conditions within Orange County; Flue -Cured Tobacco — 20% Wheat — 30% Corn (grain) —100% Corn(silage) — 90% Soybeans — 60% Pasture — 90% Hay(mixed Forage) — 80% Vegetable crops — 30% It was notated by several attendees that Corn(grain and silage) had also been affected by the late spring frost/freeze that had occurred in early May, 2002. It also was the feeling of all attendees that the above crop Iosses were based on assuming that some relief in the form of rain were to be received and it could be worsened if no rain were to be received within the neat week or two. IV. WATER SUPPLY CONDMONS A. Review of Water and Irrigation Supply within Orange County, North Carolina Wayne R. Yarbrough, Jr., Chairperson, requested information from all attendees in regards to the water and irrigation supply within Orange County. After a few minutes of discussion, it was determined that ponds had suffered a 60% loss in keels -of water since September, 200L This would further complicate recovery from the current drought conditions due to the fact that irrigation would not be sustainable for a long period of time before water supplies to irrigate would be exhausted. Also, it was notated by several attendees that water supplies for livestock were beginning to shorten with