By Staff
The state of Alabama added seven more counties to its burn ban Friday, preventing several counties in north and central Alabama from issuing burn permits or allowing fireworks.
Although Escambia County is not among those counties, the area still remains in a drought. Rain earlier this week did little to help area farmers.
"Corn farmers all across the area are having the same problem with their corn," said Buck Farrior, county agent for the Escambia County Extension Service. "You only have about a one week window when it comes to getting a good corn harvest. During a crucial time for most farmers, that window didn't see any rainfall. Even though we did get some significant rainfall last week, it was just too late for corn crops."
Farrior said farmers across Escambia County usually plant a combined total of 5,000 acres in corn. With the lack of rain, the yield on those crops will be significantly lower than in year's past.
For more on the area drought, see Sunday's edition of The Brewton Standard.