Extreme weather plagues state industry - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

From extreme heat to heavy rains, inconsistent weather has some farmers fearing the worst.

This year's drought has made it hard for farmers to even grow crops. But Hurricane Isaac's downpours made keeping whatever crop they had nearly impossible.

Now the state is stepping in to help troubled farmers make it through another season.

"North Alabama has some of the lower corn yields they've ever had while here in a pocket, we've had some of the highest yields we've ever had," says Greg Pate, Director of the Auburn University E.V. Smith Research Center.

Areas in and around Montgomery actually got rain this year. But state Agriculture Commissioner John McMillan says other regions haven't been as fortunate.

"We virtually lost our corn crop except for the fields that were irrigated," says McMillan.

It got so bad for some farmers, their counties have already been declared disaster areas. Now the state Department of Agriculture is trying to do the same for areas affected by Hurricane Isaac.

"We had a good bit of wind damage and flooding," adds McMillan.

He says South Alabama farmers went from extreme heat to extreme rain, thus wiping out any chances of reaping a crop.

"We saw some flooded peanut fields in south Mobile county earlier this week. Pecan trees, a lot of the green pecans that are still in the hulls fell off of the trees," adds McMillan.

State Ag officials sent a letter to Governor Robert Bentley asking him to request federal assistance to help farmers who won't make a profit this year.

"I think we'll get a positive response because they already know how bad things have been in Mississippi and Louisiana and other areas."

Officials say that federal assistance usually comes in the form of low-interest loans.

"Getting ready for next year, they'll take advantage of some of those programs," adds Pate.

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