Baldwin County peanut farmers say a special ingredient has boosted the crop this year

SILVERHILL, Ala. ( WKRG ) — Local farmers are keeping a close eye on the track of Helene, especially peanut farmers since this is peak harvest time for the crop.

Baldwin County could get a decent amount of rain this week depending on Helene’s path.

Jimmy Fidler, a local farmer in Silverhill, said his crops could use rain.

“Well actually, we could use some rain,” Fidler said. “I mean we need rain, about two inches a week.”

For over 30 years, Fidler Farms has been a hot spot for peanuts in Baldwin County.

“I mean they just get after these boiled peanuts now,” Fidler said. “I can’t believe it.”

Thanks to the help of a secret ingredient up his sleeve, Fidler said that this year, the peanuts at his farm are better than ever.

The special ingredient is rain.

“The rain’s been just right. I mean we’ve had really really good rain,” Fidler said. “Last year, we had about 90 days that it didn’t rain, and last year was just terrible.”

He said last year’s drought hurt his crop and the farm’s profit. Last year, the farm harvested about 25 bushels of peanuts an acre. This year, that same land is growing more than 100 bushels thanks to more rain in the area.

“We’ve been lucky this year,” Fidler said. “I mean if I could always grow peanuts like this year, I would be good.”

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