Land lost to flooding poses massive challenge for Haywood farmers' recovery
Oct. 16—It will be months before the full extent of agriculture losses are known in Haywood, but a windshield survey shows plenty.
Acres of ripened tomatoes still hanging on brown and withered vines, green peppers and pumpkins clustered in areas where flood debris is trapped and fields that have disappeared along the Pigeon River in the Crabtree community tell the story, as do fragments of barn walls and shredded metal roofs.
While barns may be rebuilt, submerged tractors possibly salvaged and fences repaired, one of the biggest challenges may be dealing with the loss of rich topsoil in what has been some of the county's richest farmland. There are fields where that soil has been stripped down to almost-rock-hard clay or to bedrock itself.
Topsoil losses
When Tropical Storm Fred hit in mid-August in 2021, far fewer vegetable crops had been harvested and remained in fields, according to Haywood County Extension Director Sally Dixon.
With Hurricane Helene arriving in late September, there weren't as many tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash and other crops lost. But there appears to have been a greater loss of livestock, hay and silage.
"The biggest loss, and it's one that's hard to quantify, is the loss of soil," Dixon said. "Chunks of land were washed away. The erosion is extensive in pretty much every river basin in the county."
Three years ago, when losses were largely concentrated in the Cruso, Bethel and Canton areas, the response area was much smaller than it will be this time.
"This is different because it is pretty much everywhere in the county. The destruction is far more widespread," she said.
Stream debris
Duane VanHook, director of Haywood County Soil and Water, has been at the heart of the stream debris removal effort for the past three years.
He's the first to admit that the federal and state programs, along with mountains of rules, are anything but quick. Still, he believes the amount of debris taken out of the East Fork of the Pigeon River in the Cruso and Bethel area helped lessen damages this go-around.
Additional stream debris removal efforts were underway as the storm was approaching.
"I have to hand it to the contractors," VanHook said. "They went above and beyond knowing this storm was coming. I have to think that make a big difference."
If there is a silver lining for Haywood, it's that when the federal flood relief programs become available, those who will be filling out the applications already know the drill and won't time trying to figure out the process or rules.
"We're all very familiar with how to do this," VanHook said. "For some of us, this is the third and fourth time we've done flood recovery."
Shipping costs
Crystal Greene, manager of the Smoky Mountain Farmers Cooperative in Jonathan Creek, hears the stories of heartbreak from customers and those sustaining losses.
"Lots of farmers are just devastated," she said.
Livestock losses were reported by customers, one with up to 70 head of cattle missing at one time, but some were later found in fields far from home.
With so many roads closed into the region, supply trucks have to take different routes to get to the co-op, something that will increase costs due to the extra freight charges.
With the main route through the gorge on Interstate 40 closed, feed and other supplies are being routed through U.S. 64 in Franklin, while some flatbed trucks are getting through Mars Hill.
The co-op has set up a disaster fund where those interested in helping farmers stuck by Hurricane Helene can contribute. The funds will go directly to farmers known to have storm damage. Send contributions to Smoky Mountains Farmers Co-op, 4082 Jonathan Creek Road, Waynesville, NC 28785.
