Triangle farmers hope rain will ease dry spring

HURDLE MILLS, N.C. (WTVD) -- As rain moved into the area Thursday evening, it offered long-awaited relief to farmers struggling through an unusually dry spring.

Farmers across the Triangle said the rainfall could help salvage crops that have been hit hard by weeks of limited moisture.

"I've been farming for 15 years. This is the driest spring I can ever remember. It's been really rough," said Ashley Parker of Parker Farm & Vineyard in northern Orange County.

Parker said the lack of rainfall has significantly reduced production, particularly for hay, a key crop for her farm.

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"Our hay production is way down. We cut hay this past week, and we're at about 20% of what we were at last year. So it's rough. It's been a rough spring," she said.

The drought has affected nearly every aspect of the farm's operations, especially crops that rely entirely on natural rainfall.

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"Our pastures are not irrigated, our corn is not irrigated. We haven't been able to plant beans just because of the amount of moisture in the soil," Parker said.

A few raindrops began to fall at the farm earlier Thursday evening, but Parker said more sustained rainfall is needed to make a meaningful difference.

"I am optimistic. There are a lot of opportunities in the future cast coming up over the next couple of days," she said, adding, "So we keep looking forward to that next rain."

Forecasters are calling for continued chances of rain during the next several days, potentially extending into the weekend. For farmers like Parker, that outlook offers cautious optimism after a challenging season marked by dry conditions and reduced yields.