Matthew threatens crops, livelihoods for farmers
SAMSON MORE HAVE OUTAGES IN THE
THOUSANDS.
>> THE AFTERMATH OF MATTHEW IS
THREATENING PEOPLE'S
LIVELIHOOD.
>> LOCAL FARMERS ARE WORKING
OVERTIME TO SAVE AS MUCH OF
THEIR CROPS AS THEY CAN.
CANDACE WHAT ARE THE FARMERS
SAYING?
>> Reporter: WELL, I SPOKE
WITH A HANDFUL OF FARMERS
TODAY.
RIGHT NOW T IS ALL ABOUT
WORKING OVERTIME IN THE FIELDS
TO GET THESE CROPS OUT OF THE
WATER.
THEY SAY THAT PRESENTS A
CHALLENGE.
>> OKAY.
THAT IS 7 1/2 POUNDS.
THAT WILL BE $2 DOLLARS AND A
HALF.
>> Reporter: THEY ARE SAYING
IT IS SIMPLE.
FLOODED FIELDS ARE DIFFICULT TO
HARVEST.
>> BY THE END OF THE WEEK IT WE
CAN NOT GET OUT THERE THERE AND
START PICKING YOU WILL SEE AN
EMPTY STAND.
>> HE WORKED WITH BETHMOORE
FARMS FOR DECADES.
SWEET POETATE OWES RIGHT NOW
ARE HIS CHIEF CONCERN AND HE
TELLS US WITH ALL OF THE WATER
IN THE FIELDS THEY WILL ROT OR
GROW TOO LARGE.
BOTH SCENARIOS ARE BAD FOR FOR
BUSINESS.
>> THEY CAN ROT.
NOT CUTTING BACK ON YOUR
PROFIT.
>> THEY WILL TO WHAT THEY CAN
TO MAKE SURE THE PRODUCT GETS
HERE TO THE FARMER'S MARKET.
>> WE HAVE A CREW IN THE FIELD
RIGHT NOW.
THEY ARE GOING TO DIG PROBABLY
100 BINS OF POTATOES ITED.
>> TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET OUT IN
THE FIELDS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
AND THAT THE DEPARTMENT WANTS
TO HELP FARMERS RECOVER AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE.
THE PUMPKIN FARM, GETTING IN
THE FIELD IS ON HANDS AND FEET.
NO TRACTORS, NO TRUCKS.
>> MATTHEW HAS COME WE NEED TO
GET EVERYTHING OUT WITH WHEEL
BEAR ROWS AND GOING ALL OF THE
WAY UP TO OUR KNEES IN WATER TO
GET IT OUT.
>> PUMP KINDS ARE HER FAMILY'S
LIVELY HOOD.
SHE KNOWS SUCCESS THIS SEASON
IS NOT GUARANTEED.
>> THEY CAN NOT LAY IN THE MUD
VERY LONG.
SO, WE ARE JUST DOING THE BEST
WE CAN TO GET THEM OUT.
IF WE DON'T GET THEM OUT THEY
WILL DECAY IN THE FIELD.
>> Reporter: ANOTHER CONCERN
THESE FARMERS SAY THEY HAVE IS
THE EMPLOYEES THAT GO OUT IN
THE FIELDS AND HARVEST THESE
CROPS THEY ARE CONCERN CANNED
THAT THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
GET OUT THERE AND DO THEIR WORK
BECAUSE THEY ARE DEALING WITH
THEIR OWN PERSONAL PROBLEMS
BECAUSE OF THE FLOODING BECAUSE
OF MATTHEW.
THAT IS ANOTHER ADD FRUSTRATION
ON TOP OF ALL OF THIS.
BUT, I WANT TO SAY THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
ACTUALLY HAS A HOT LINE SET UP
FOR ANY FARMER WHO MAY NEED
ASSISTANCE DURING IT THIS
TIME,GER ALD?
>> A RACE AGAINST TIME FOR