A cool wet spring meant putting off planting for some growers across Bamberg County in 2009.

Once fields were dry enough to plow and plant, temperatures were conducive to a relatively good growing season, with some exceptions. Farmers saw slight relief in the areas of fuel and fertilizer costs, two inputs which make up a large part of their budgets.

Bamberg County farmers continued to grow a diverse selection of fruit and vegetable crops, as well as row crops. While acres of fruits and vegetables remained about the same as in 2008, the acres planted in row crops fluctuated somewhat.

According to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, just more than 25 percent of Bamberg County, approximately 4,889,339 acres, is farmland. The average age of farm operators in Bamberg County is 57 to 58, with only 37 percent relying on farm income as their primary source of income.

Corn

Chris Wallace, county director with Farm Service Agency in Bamberg County, said that a cool, wet spring either delayed or prevented the planting of corn for many across the county. He reported that around 3,663 acres of non-irrigated and 1,362 acres of irrigated corn were planted in 2009. Yields varied greatly depending on location.

For the county, corn (nonirrigated) averaged between 75 and 140 bushels per acre while irrigated corn averaged between 160 and 240 bushels per acre. The average price received for corn was between $3.75 and $4.50 per bushel.

Soybeans

Farmers planted more acres of soybeans overall this year, despite the wet weather that prevented about 530 acres in beans from getting in the ground. Non-irrigated soybeans accounted for 7,985 acres planted, Wallace said, while 530 acres planted were irrigated.

Marion Barnes, Colleton County Extension agent, assists Bamberg growers as well. Lack of rain in the summer months, Barnes said, affected both corn and soybean production.

“I would have to say we suffered more drought damage to the soybean crop,” Barnes said.

Soybeans yields will vary widely (20 to 50 bushels per acre) with an average price between $9.50 and $10 a bushel.

Peanuts

Fewer acres of both runner and Virginia-type peanuts were planted in Bamberg County in 2009. Just under 20 acres of green peanuts were planted, Wallace said. Irrigated peanuts made up 370 acres and non-irrigated about 2,113 acres of the nut peanuts grown for processing.

Early and mid-October rains came to some areas of the county just as mature peanuts were being dug. Despite having to wait longer than usual between digging and combining, most farmers still saw respectable yields.

Peanuts averaged anywhere from 2,700 pounds to 5,000 pounds per acre while runner peanuts received $400 per ton and Virginia peanuts received $425 per ton.

Cotton

Close to 1,000 acres of cotton remained unplanted this past spring because of unfavorable weather. Non-irrigated acres planted were at 3,650, down from the 3,953 that made it in the ground in 2008. Acres of irrigated cotton came to 745, down from 806 the previous year. Farmers began picking cotton in late October, and continue through November with yields looking good.

Cotton (nonirrigated) will probably average around 750-900 pounds per acre while some irrigated cotton yields may average up to 1,500 pounds per acre. The cotton price this past week was 67 cents per pound.

Fruits and vegetables

The number of acres in commercial fruits and vegetables in Bamberg County remained about the same this year as in 2008. Gilbert Miller, area vegetable specialist with Clemson Extension Service, said watermelons led the way once again at 2,000 acres. Around 800 acres of cantaloupe were grown. Melons as well as other fruit and vegetable crops were more susceptible to foliar disease pressure due to numerous spring rains and cooler temperatures.

“Last year, through early July, we had around 7 inches of rainfall; this year the total was around 20 inches,” Miller said.

According to Wallace, a late spring freeze caused some watermelon and cantaloupe damage. Watermelons, Wallace said, made just over a half of a normal crop.

Cucumbers, squash, tomatoes and peppers were grown as both spring and fall crops. Summer and zucchini squash combined made up about 100 acres. Fifty acres of bell pepper, 75 to 85 acres of tomatoes and close to 200 acres of cucumbers (pickling and slicing combined) were grown in 2009. Approximately 140 acres of sweet potatoes were also grown in Bamberg County in 2009. With the exception of sweet potatoes, the vast majority of fruits and vegetables grown in the county were drip irrigated, Miller said.

Grains and grazing

Acres of various grains planted were down somewhat in 2009. In a look at both irrigated and non-irrigated combined, the following acres were recorded: wheat (1,115), rye (331), oats (150), and sorghum (109). Acres planted for grazing were: rye (880), oats (380).

Wheat averaged between 50 and 80 bushels per acre with an average price received for the crop of $4.50 to $5 a bushel.

Oats averaged between 60 and 100 bushels per acre with an average price received for the crop around $2.50.

Conservation programs

A number of landowners took advantage of conservation programs on the farm in 2009. Wallace explained the programs that were ongoing or new.

“In conservation programs, the continuous longleaf signup program has added some new eligible longleaf soils, so it is not as restrictive as it used to be,” Wallace said.

Bamberg County, Wallace said, is one of only three counties in the state (along with Allendale and Barnwell counties) to offer a State Acres For Wildlife Enhancement program, which benefits quail and other songbird species. Natural Resources Conservation Service offers the Conservation Stewardship Program.

“There is also a new program called the Biomass Crop Assistance Program that assists agricultural and forest land owners and operators with matching payments for the amount paid for the collection, harvest, storage and transportation of eligible material by a qualified Biomass Conversion Facility,” Wallace said.

Summary

Row crop farmers were basically dissatisfied with respective crop prices because input prices of fertilizer and potash have not fallen as much as the prices the farmers have received this year, making it harder to turn a profit, Wallace said.

“Famers are cutting corners as much as they reasonably can while still using good management practices.” Wallace said. “Overall it has been an average crop year with a wide range of yields for each crop.”

Barnes pointed out that fuel and fertilizer continue to make up a large part of farmers’ budgets, and when the cost of those two items increases, it negatively impacts the bottom line of farmers since agriculture is heavily dependent on these two inputs.

“Fertilizer prices have stabilized or gone down somewhat, but are still very high compared to two years ago,” Barnes said. “Fuel prices are still tied to the price of oil and who knows where that will end up. Prices for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are down from the historical highs we saw this spring and early summer.”

Farmers also had to contend with multiple crop production problems. Drought, deer depredation to crops, feral swine problems (damage to crops) and herbicide resistant pig weed troubled some farmers, Barnes said.

Miller noted an increase in calls regarding pest problems in 2009 and therefore more requests for specifics regarding to control agents. Scouting for insect and disease problems in all row crops was an instrumental management tool in 2009.

“Growers have greatly improved their ability to identify the specific pest and apply the appropriate pesticide,” Miller said. “Also many of the pesticides available for protecting fruit and vegetable crops from disease and insect pests are becoming more pest specific.”

Growers’ management decisions on the farm are constantly improving, Miller added, in regards to water and nutrient application to their crops.

Educational opportunities for growers and farmers in 2009 included three field days at the Edisto REC in Blackville and several row-crop-production-type programs presented during monthly meetings of the Colleton/Bamberg Young Farmers.

T&D Correspondent Minnie Miller can be reached by writing to her at 138 Nature’s Trail, Bamberg, SC 29003.

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