Blount Co. farmer looking for ways to survive the drought

Blount Co. farmer looking for ways to survive the drought

By HARLOW SUMERFORD
6 News Reporter

MARYVILLE (WATE) -- The Butler family lives off the land and makes their money selling fruits and vegetables at their stand in Blount County. But their fields are struggling because of the drought.

"This little pumpkin here, this one should be a 20 pound pumpkin and it's what, four or five pounds," James Butler points out as he walks through the row.

Pumpkins are a big part of Butler's business. He normally grows between 2,000 and 3,000 a season.

This year, he'll be lucky to grow a third of his normal crop. His fields are mostly covered in weeds, some five feet tall.

On Monday, Gov. Phil Bredesen requested federal assistance for drought-stricken farmers across the state.

Butler has heard that before and says the assistance is never for small time farmers.

"They is a lot of book keeping and every time you apply for it, they say well, you ain't eligible and this and that. I don't expect nothing," Butler says.

Butler is finished with relying on Mother Nature. A few years ago, he started what he calls plastic farming on some of his crops. Water is pumped in underneath a row of plastic covering.

The down side is, the method is more expensive.

"As you see, the ground is moist and it ain't rained here for I don't know how long," Butler says, looking at a row of pumpkins that are doing well.

He says the method takes the gamble out of farming and it may be the only way his family business can survive the drought.