Effects of last year’s drought still impacting Mississippi landscape

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – It’s been nearly a year since Mississippi was dried out by a record-breaking drought, but the state’s farmers and timber landscape are still feeling the aftermath.

“No one has been exempt from the effects of that drought last fall,” said Russell Bozeman, State Forester for the Mississippi Forestry Commission.

As of Tuesday, Mississippi’s drought conditions are very similar to what they were this time last year. The difference is that rainfall has been much more common.

Right now, Bozeman says conditions for trees to recover from last year’s drought are optimal, but the damage left behind will be felt for years to come.

“Even if we keep moisture moving through the state,” he said. “These trees are still going to be seeing the effects of that drought for three to five years.”

In several areas of Central Mississippi, WLBT 3 On Your Side has seen contracting crews cutting down dead trees and removing stumps.

Bozeman says that’s going to be a familiar sight for a while, as all of that dead timber could be future fuel for more widespread wildfires.

“Those are big fuels, and when they ignite, it takes them a while to burn out,” he said. “So, we are a little concerned about fall fire season and next spring fire season as these trees make their way to the forest floor.”

While the amount of rainfall we’ve seen this year may help prevent a widespread drought later this year, Mike McCormick with the Mississippi Farm Bureau says it has prevented several farmers from getting specific crops planted before they wash out.

“We got a lot of rain earlier in the year, which was much needed to put down some sub-moisture, but it also caused some of the crops to be delayed,” said McCormick.

He says in order for farmers to ensure a substantial crop yield this fall, there needs to be steady rainfall, and not too much at one time.

“Rain is important to get when you need it, but it’s kind of important to go away when we need to get the crops or the hay in,” he said.

McCormick says farmers are planning to harvest their crops within the next two to three weeks, and he expects this to be an “average year” for crop yield.

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