The weather in the last two growing seasons have not been kind to South Carolina, with tropical flooding rains washing out the plants in both falls.  So far this year the storms have moved far enough away to minimize damage to their cotton and they are on track to produce their best crop ever.  As you can imagine, they need a good crop after their losses in the last two years, so they are watching the tropics with special concern this year since it has been so active.

Fortunately, I think Maria is probably going to turn north before it gets close to the coast, so while there will be high waves and coastal erosion and perhaps some gusty winds from the storm, it probably won’t do the kind of damage that either Irma did this year (only farther south) or Matthew last year did with the floods. You can read more about it at the Southeast Farm Press here.

Source: USDA ARS