All farmers weather many storms each growing season.
In the past four years, North Carolina farmers have experienced first hand the damage to their crops from hurricanes. In July 1996, Hurricane Bertha slammed into the southeastern coast of NC, dumping torrential rains and causing severe damage from winds. Two months later, Hurricane Fran came ashore in the same area and headed inland. Hurricane force winds blew for over 10 hours in the Raleigh area. When the sun rose, tobacco farmers discovered what force Mother Nature can unleash.