‘It’s pretty much a disaster’: Middle TN farmers devastated by drought, intense heat

WILLIAMSPORT, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennessee farmers are seeing the devastating impact of the ongoing drought and extreme heat in the quality of their crops.

In Williamsport, Neil Delk runs a 600-acre century farm that produces corn and soybeans. In late August he should be preparing to harvest his crops; however, the current weather conditions have prevented the produce from reaching its full potential.

“It’s pretty much a disaster,” said Delk. “It’s hard not to get depressed sometimes seeing all this.”

His fields have turned yellow and dry when they should be green and growing. Even in tough years typically one of the crops survive, but this year both are impacted.

“If we make a half crop we’ll be lucky,” said Delk. “That may be wishful thinking, but that’s what I’m hoping for.”

Delk said there was a surplus of corn last year, so what is able to be harvested in 2024 will have very little value.

With decades of experience, this is not the first time Delk has dealt with poor weather conditions. Thankfully, he said, they have crop insurance and a solid community.

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“We’ve made it through a lot of hard times,” said Delk. “The good years make it worth it, I mean, there’s nothing better than raising a really good crop.”

He said it is in his blood to continue farming.

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