Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 33 comments Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
Farms fight floods
Published Monday, March 31, 2008
NATCHEZ — While the creeping waters of the rising Mississippi River have encroached largely on areas without houses, flood waters are affecting some area farmers.
Flood stage for the river at the Natchez-Vidalia pass is 48 feet, and the river is expected to stand at 49.9 feet at 7 a.m. this morning, at 50.3 feet by Tuesday morning and is expected to crest at 53 feet sometime early Sunday.
In Adams County, farmland in the low-lying Carthage Point Road and Anna’s Bottom areas has flooded.
Photo by Vershal Hogan
Flood waters creep onto Carthage Point Road Sunday, which has now been closed to the public.
How long it takes the river to recede after its crest is vitally important for farmers whose farmland has been flooded, National Weather Service Hydrologist Marty Pope said.
“The lesser the flood stage the better chance farmers will have to salvage at least part of the season,” Pope said.
Assuming the river will behave as predicted, once it recedes it will still take two weeks for the farmland to dry out enough for planting to begin, said farmer Mike Guidon, who uses farmland in Warren, Jefferson and Adams County that has been flooded.
“Generally, it takes about two weeks to dry out after the water goes out,” Guidon said.
Waiting for the land to dry before they can plant may cause some farmers to reevaluate what they are going to plant late in the game.
May 25 is the optimum planting date for corn, and June 15 is the date for planting soybeans.
“There is a time frame for planting certain crops, and it may be too late for us to plant corn or cotton,” Guidon said. “We might have to go in with soybeans, but this year they’re already having a problem finding good seed.”
The land that Guidon uses does not flood every year, and when it does cleanup is not usually that hard, he said.
“If there has been some logging in the area, there may be some chunks of debris in the field that you have to clean out,” he said.
When it comes to the rising — and then receding — floodwaters, Guidon said it’s just a matter of waiting.
“You just do what you can and know that the good Lord will take care of you.”
Comments
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 7:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anybody know if the land where Magnolia Vale is located flooded? curious
Posted by Natchez3 (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
why don't you walk down and look.
Posted by hawk (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Natchez3 sayitloud asked a simple question cant you give a simple answer????
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
thanks hawk.
some people, no wonder they're alone.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks csguidry....that is what I thought. That is a beautiful home down there and I was only curious so thank you and thanks again hawk.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why's everyone getting in an uproar. Natchez3 only meant that the question could be answered with a 2 block walk. I'd check myself, but ain't had the time.
Posted by elvisss (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What is a birdge?
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
But you got time to leave comments on the ND?
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
wow .... you HAVE been dead a long time haven't you Elvis.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 11:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You betcha.
Posted by jack (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i still see the sheriff's office in the river hope they catch someone breaking in a camp and the court does their job be careful guys the wind and high water is dangerous
Posted by notfromnatchez (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Elvis never died. He still lives. He's the real king. Not like that other guy from fiction who came back after a few days.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To satisfy curiosity I just made a quick run down to see Magnolia Vale. Its still above water and always will be, to my knowledge. Can't vouch for the road that passes it. Sure is a nice day with the sun and everything blooming. The homes on Linton look great. And I circled back by Choctaw which is a lovely old home. I remember when it was restored. Too bad I had no time for more.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks for that update OldGrandDad! I'm glad YOU remember when they restored Choctaw because I don't. Must have taken a long time huh?
Posted by hawk (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You are welcome sayitloud no problem.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yep. It was a slow restoration. I knew the fella that did it. Thats when I met the current owners.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 12:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
who is the owner OldGrandDad? Have you been in there lately?
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Now, now.... I ain't naming names. I'd end up sounding like a ditzy blond.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
whatev
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ditzy blondes aren't that bad.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey sayitloud! How was the weekend?
I think Magnolia Vale has its own levee to keep the water out, and it sits pretty high up too. The Peabodys have been working to restore the grounds to the original plantings from the 1800's. It is a really beautiful place even in a town full of beautiful places.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 3:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey free! Great weekend how about you?
Thanks for the info on that house! I think it is one of my favorite houses in Natchez because of its seclusion but it is so low that I was concerned with it flooding. Its own levee...awesome! and smart!
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 3:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah I heard that too! Wonder who bought it? Local person?
Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 3:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hear Cherokee was sold.
Posted by ghost (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 4:49 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 5:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WHOA!
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 5:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And the snow hasn't even begun to melt up there yet. Does anyone remember what year it was we had chunks of ice floating down the river? It seems like the 70's maybe? But I know it was in Jan. or Feb. because it was still cold.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on March 31, 2008 at 6:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It could have been January, 1984. The Red River at Shreveport was frozen over,
Posted by Scooter (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 11:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The current crest level is expected to be 53.5 on the 7th of April 2008. Please do not try to induce panic in the community. If the crest levels change we will let the public know.
Posted by dshacks (anonymous) on April 1, 2008 at 1:36 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by VillageIdiot (anonymous) on April 1, 2008 at 7:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No offense Douglas, but what if this is YOUR situation - you are hard up to sell your "floodwalls" and see rising water along the Mississippi river as a good excuse to start cutting and pasting marketing communication materials and standard promotional texts into regional online newspapers editorial and comment boards? Let us show YOU the way... to the door my friend. Thanks for your genuine concern in our well being.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on April 1, 2008 at 7:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on April 2, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm glad they removed that! Totally uncalled for at this time. If he wants to sell his flood walls he needs to come here and show us what they do when everyone has time to listen.
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)