As of Wednesday, May 9, 2012
© Copyright 2013
Gwinnett Daily Post
MACON (AP) -- Despite a drier-than-normal spring, farmers in central Georgia say they're optimistic about their crops.
One reason for their optimism is that most of the largest row crops -- including peanuts, cotton and soybeans -- haven't been planted.
Farmers say they're waiting for rain to have enough moisture in the ground for the seeds to germinate.
Some early crops appear to be in good condition, including winter wheat, farmers say.
One summer crop that has been planted is corn, which is in good shape because most of it is irrigated, said Jeff Cook, county agent for Peach and Taylor counties.
Greg Bennett is a part-time Pulaski County farmer who tends about 700 acres of wheat, peanuts, cotton and grain sorghum. About 70 percent of his land is irrigated.
"If you don't have water, you can't make a crop," he said.
Cook noted that last year's planting season began under drought conditions, but farmers ended up having a good year overall.
"If I hadn't seen last year, I would be down in the dumps right now," he said.
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