MARLA PISCIOTTA
For The State Journal
West Virginia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Gus Douglass said July 11 his office is doing everything possible to help with damages occurred by the June 29 derecho and severe storms that followed it.
Douglass said he is concerned about the fruit productions and the possibility of a drought.
"What we are doing is trying to determine the damages from the June 29 storm. If reports show enough damage we can ask for designated help from (the Federal Emergency Management Agency)," said Douglass.
Douglass said officials from soil conservation districts met in Martinsburg July 11 regarding damages from the storm and would be filing a report with his office.
"I am also requesting the Farm Service Agencies for a report. They will be evaluating what has been reported to each office. Hopefully with the FSA and soil conservation reports we will be able to acquire federal help," said Douglass.
Douglass said reports in to his office included wind damage across the state.
"I'm also getting reports of drought damage now — a lack of water. That is something I am asking the districts to evaluate as well," said Douglass.
Douglass said if there are significant water shortages, he plans to open floodgates at dams in specific areas.
"We have done this in the past for watering livestock and needs other than human drinking water," said Douglass.
The derecho caused some localized hail, which damaged fruit crops in the Eastern Panhandle. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that hail was heavy and about marble size and some had sharp edges causing fruit cuts. This fruit was rendered juice fruit, at best.
The USDA also reported apple conditions statewide ranged from very poor to excellent with most orchards in fair to mostly good condition.
Peach conditions ranged from very poor to excellent with most orchards in good condition.
Berkeley County escaped the worse of the storms, according to Douglass.
"Last year Berkeley County produced 275,000 bushels of apples. This fall the estimate for apple production in that county is 500,000 bushels," said Douglass.
"The worse news was received from Monroe County. The Morgan Orchard is the largest orchard outside the Eastern Panhandle. They reported 40 apples and a total loss on peaches."
Jefferson County is expecting a good crop of peaches, according to Douglass, and the apple crop in Hampshire County is relatively good.
Garry Shanholtz, owner of Shanholtz Orchard in Hampshire County, said his apples survived a late season freeze earlier this year, as did some of his peaches.
"What I'm concerned about is the shortage of rain. The extreme heat has (evaporated) the rain. We are short about 6 to 8 inches," said Shanholtz.
The July 10 U.S. Drought Monitor shows all of West Virginia as being abnormally dry, and the National Weather Service shows above-normal temperatures throughout the sate.
"We don't know what other activities we can activate at the moment," Douglass said. "We will do whatever we can."
Buddy Davidson, a spokesman for the state Department of Agriculture, said the department is encouraging any farmer with losses, including livestock, to keep personal records and "report to their local FSA office so we can get a better handle on the scope of this thing."
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