Devastating

Infobeat reported on June 19, 1998:

State inspectors assessed the damage Friday from a drought estimated to have killed half of Georgia's corn crop and that threatens to turn cotton stalks to twigs, wiping out the state's No. 1 cash crop. "The corn is the most damaged of all our crops right now," said a spokesman for state Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin. Irvin has asked Gov. Zell Miller to seek federal disaster designation for the farm losses, and state agents must assess crop damage before the request can be sent to Washington. "We've been keeping a close eye on this situation in south Georgia, and it looks like there is no relief in sight from the hot, dry weather that's literally killing our crops in the field," Irvin said.