(Note: This is the first in a series of articles with Halifax County Extension Agent Larry McPeters about how farmers can best deal with the rainy growing season. This article deals with tobacco, and in our next edition, McPeters will discuss wheat and hay.)
By KEITH STRAGE
G-V Staff Writer
"We've been experiencing a growing season like no other
that I'm aware of," Halifax County Extension Agent Larry
McPeters said Friday. "I know some farmers 75+ years old
who say they never remember a season like this."
The extension agent said tobacco farmers were especially concerned
about getting their plants in the ground to meet the federal crop
insurance deadline.
"We're sitting here in the middle of June and don't have
25 percent of our tobacco planted," he said. "We normally
try to plant the crop by May 20."
The deadline for planting to receive 100 percent of federal crop
insurance is June 14.
Farm Service Agent Kevin Bohon said Friday that special provisions
have been implemented to allow tobacco producers to transfer allotments
in order to be able to get their leaf planted this spring.
"These provisions will allow farmers to move their tobacco
allotment to farms better suited for planting in this wet weather,"
Bohon said.
In order to move their allotments, Bohon said that farmers must
file an application at the Halifax County FSA office.
"One or more of the tobacco producers on the transferring
farm must also be a producer on the receiving farm," he said.
The transferred leaf will still be marketed using the marketing
card from the transferring farm.
Producers may begin filing applications immediately. The deadline
to file is July 15.
McPeters said the unusually wet planting and growing season is
creating a "very difficult" set of circumstances for
leaf producers to deal with.
"I've been out among the people this whole week," he
said. "One of the things producers want to know is how to
guess how much fertilizer is hanging around."
It's very difficult for farmers to try to put back fertilizer
that has been washed away or leached out, according to McPeters.
"You can count on between 35 and 50 percent of your fertilizer
having been washed away," he said.
The major problem farmers are facing is a shortage in nitrate-based
nitrogen, McPeters said.
"There has been such a heavy demand that there's a shortage,"
he said.
McPeters said that nitrate-based nitrogen is the best thing for
farmers to use under the circumstances.
"We try to put that on this time of the year because it doesn't
last very long," he said. "The problem is we're running
short because the farmers are having to refertilize after the
rains."
But farmers need to be careful not to over-fertilize their crop,
McPeters cautioned.
"It would be a mistake to over-apply fertilizer, either base
fertilizer or side dressing, this time of the year.
"We need to apply enough to make a decent crop, but over-fertilizing
causes immature tobacco," he said. "With a large percentage
under contract, if you carry the companies a lot of immature tobacco,
you may not have a contract next year."
The extension agent urged farmers to think quality, not necessarily
quantity.
"We need to grow and think quality tobacco," he said.
"Much of our poundage is contracted and quality is the important
thing in tobacco production.
"Fertilizer has the most to do with quality," McPeters
said.
He said that this late in the growing season, farmers need to
top their crop two or three leaves lower than in the past.
"We are going to run out of time this year, and late tobacco
topped lower always produces better quality," McPeters pointed
out.
But things aren't all negative, according to the extension agent.
"On the positive side, what tobacco is planted is really
coming along," he said. "It's growing fast with the
hot weather and rainfall.
"We need to get in there and get dirt to it as soon as possible,"
he added. "Just be careful not to throw wet soil up against
the tobacco plant."
McPeters said that weeds are going to be a problem this season.
"The problem is you can't get to the crop to fertilize it
and the herbicides have been washed away or leached out,"
he said.
"We do have a product that will kill grasses only,"
McPeters said. "I recommend that farmers use Poast."
Poast should be used at 1.5 pints per acre "added with two
pints of crop oil concentrate."
He said that Poast won't control all weeds, so farmers "can
spray Command 3ME at a pint to a pint-and-a-half per acre."
Producers also need to be on the lookout for tobacco budworms,
McPeters said.
"Farmers need to keep an eye on those and control them with
sprays or baits," he said. "Tracer is very effective
for this.
"The hand-dropped baits do an excellent job, but if you can't
get into your field, Tracer does a good job," he added.
Two North Carolina residents have been arrested by members
of the Halifax/South Boston Regional Narcotic Enforcement Task
Force on suspicion of being involved in a "major international
cocaine and methamphetamine operation," according to Maj.
R.S.B. Pulliam of the task force.
Mario Popeca Toledo, 29, of Hillary Court in Asheboro, N.C., and
Leticia Garcia Toledo, 31, of the same address, have been arrested
on federal indictments and charged with distributing more than
50 grams of cocaine, conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams
of cocaine, distributing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine
and conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine,
Pulliam said.
They are currently being held in an undisclosed location without
bond.
"We aren't in a position to disclose where the Toledos were
arrested or where they are being held," Pulliam said Friday.
"This was a very large organization and we expect to be making
more arrests."
The charges against the alleged drug dealers stem from a multi-year
investigation, Pulliam said.
"The success of this investigation was the result of undercover
agents purchasing cocaine and methamphetamine as well as valuable
information provided by concerned citizens," the major said.
Police officials suspect that this organization was responsible
for approximately 100 kilograms of cocaine being distributed in
the Halifax County/South Boston area alone over the past three
years, Pulliam said.
"The investigation has revealed that this organization was
obtaining large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine from
Mexico and distributing these drugs in many locations in the United
States," he added.
The task force was assisted in the investigation by the Drug Enforcement
Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the
Asheboro, N.C. Police Department, the Virginia State Police, The
Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and the officers
of the South Boston Police Department and Halifax County Sheriff's
Office.
A 40-year-old Halifax man was killed early yesterday morning
after losing control of his motorcycle on Route 360, according
to the Virginia State Police.
Trooper D.J. Cline reports that Jeffery Dale Wilmoth, of North
Terry's Bridge Road, was killed after he ran his 1963 Harley Davidson
"Fatboy" motorcycle off the side of the highway.
The accident occurred at 12:01 a.m. at approximately one-tenth
mile east of Route 729.
According to Cline, Wilmoth was thrown into the road during the
accident, where he was struck by a 2000 Ford F-150 pickup.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.
No information about the driver of the pickup or whether any charges
were filed in the accident was available at press time.
In other police business, a resident of The Woodview, missing
for eight hours Friday night, has been located, according to the
South Boston Police Department.
Investigator B.K. Lovelace said yesterday that 75-year-old Myrtle
James walked away from the nursing home at approximately 7 p.m.,
and was located at approximately 3 a.m. near Halifax Christian
School.
"I think it was a citizen that saw her and called authorities,"
Lovelace said.
Lovelace reported that Sergeant Randy Redd and Officer Chris Carswell
went to the location and found the missing woman.
James was returned to The Woodview after being located, Lovelace
reported.
· Luke Marable Jr., 52, of River Road in South Boston,
was arrested Saturday and charged with felony assault and battery.
The alleged offense occurred Saturday.
Deputy W.G. Yancey was the arresting deputy.
· Keith Hamilton Watts, 31, of Cluster Ridge Trail in South
Boston, was arrested Friday and charged with possession of a controlled
substance.
The alleged offense occurred December 6, 2002.
Deputy D.W. Martin was the arresting deputy.
In a one-week period, two Halifax businesses
have been broken into and robbed.
One, Pino's Pizza, was robbed of "a very large amount of
money," an expired American passport, American citizenship
papers and business papers the weekend of June 7-8, according
to Town of Halifax Police Sgt. Glenn Stanley.
Yesterday, Stanley was investigating the robbery of Halifax Auto
Suppliers, located just south of the railroad crossing on U.S.
501.
"Someone broke the glass out of the front door, entered and
stole a quantity of wheel rims over the weekend," the officer
said of the Auto Suppliers robbery.
The break-in occurred sometime between 4 p.m. Saturday, June 14,
and 10 a.m. Sunday, June 15, according to Stanley. Halifax Auto
Supply is owned by Bob Allnutt.
Elsayed "Sal" E Amin of Pino's said yesterday that thieves
took a coin safe, his briefcase and personal and business cash.
Pino's is located at 50 North Main Street in Halifax.
The businessman said the Pino's robbery occurred sometime between
11:30 p.m. Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8, at 10:30 a.m.
The Halifax officer said that federal authorities have been contacted
regarding the break-in at Pino's.
Stanley added that town police are being assisted by the Halifax
County Sheriff's Department and Virginia State Police in the investigations.
Sgt. Stanley urged anyone with information regarding either break-in
to contact Crimestoppers 476-TIPS and 575-TIPS.
By DOUG FORD
Jake Hobgood made his first win of 2003 a memorable one Saturday
night, winning the last Goody's Dash Series race ever run at Big
Daddy's South Boston Speedway.
Hobgood, driving a Toyota, edged his brother, Justin (Pontiac),
to take the checkered flag in the 150 lap-event, after passing
season points leader Robert Huffman for the lead on lap 82.
Pole sitter Brandon Ward (Toyota) took third, while Robert Huffman
(Toyota), finished fourth.
Danny Bagwell, driving the only Ford in the field, finished fifth,
while T.J. Majors, Scott Weaver, Zach Brewer, Mike Watts, and
Kelly Sutton rounded out the top ten.
Majors, Weaver and Brewer drove Pontiacs, Watts, a Mercury, and
Sutton, a Pontiac in Saturday's Dash Series race, a series that
features what could be described as scaled- down versions of NASCAR
Winston Cup cars.
This is the final season for the series in its present form.
"It really means a lot to me to be the last winner of the
Dash Series here," said Hobgood after the race.
"This is a wonderful race track, probably one of my favorite
short tracks to run.
"There are so many ways to run here, you can be aggressive
or use finesse.
"It's a fast track and a beautiful facility."
Saturday's race quickly evolved into a duel between four of the
top five in points this season.
Ward, who stood fifth in points going in, surrendered the lead
to Justin Hobgood before one lap was completed.
Justin Hobgood withstood a challenge by Wade Day as he held the
lead through three cautions until lap 40, with Jake Hobgood and
Huffman running third and fourth.
All the leaders except Huffman pitted after a caution on lap 40,
with Huffman and Sutton running first and second on the restart.
Huffman still led after the fourth caution on lap 57, with Bagwell,
Justin and Jake Hobgood moving by Sutton by lap 65.
Jake Hobgood made his move after the fifth caution of the race
on lap 79, with Bagwell and Justin Hobgood racing for third.
Day, who had used his experience on the track as a Late Model
driver to run in the top five until lap 79, was assessed a one-lap
penalty for pitting too early under caution, and never recovered.
After several laps of door-to-door racing, Jake Hobgood passed
Huffman for the lead at the line on lap 83.
The race became a brother to brother affair when Justin Hobgood
moved into second after lap 100, with Bagwell right behind for
third.
With only 15 laps remaining, the seventh and final caution of
the night bunched the leaders together, giving Ward an opportunity
to move up, and he did just that, passing Huffman for third with
10 laps remaining.
Jake Hobgood held off his brother the final laps for the win.
The race winner said the key was around lap 65, when he slipped
by both his brother and Bagwell .
"If you get behind traffic, it alters what you can do,"
explained Jake Hobgood.
"I just followed Justin through the pack all the way to third,
and he kind of got hemmed in behind the #10 car, and I slipped
by both of them.
"That was the key, because he's been real tough to pass.
Once in front, I could get my rhythm, open up the race track and
pull away."
Both brothers admitted to being competitive on the track, but
familiarity does not breed any contempt, not in this case.
"I think that's fair to say we race each other harder than
we do anybody else," said Jake Hobgood. "Probably, because
he knows I won't wreck him and I know he won't wreck me.
"We get along really well, and it's really fun. We share
a lot of information...we have a good time."
Justin Hobgood, the younger brother by four years, said they pair
had finished one-two too many times to recall.
"We have fun racing each other, banging on each other, but
we know we're not going to wreck each other," said Justin
Hobgood.
"I'm confident with his driving ability, and it's the same
with him. "It makes for good racing."
Justin Hobgood said his driving style was a bit more aggressive,
and that might have prevented him from a last-lap challenge.
"My racing style is a little different," he said.
"People tell me I drive a lot harder (than Jake), a little
too hard, and I abuse the car.
"So, they have to set my car up a little tighter to try and
keep the tires under it for a long race.
"That's exactly what happened tonight. Coming back through
the pack burned the right rear tire up.
"But, coming back through the field, racing hard and rubbing
with people. It makes for good racing.
"The cautions helped me at the end, it helped me to cool
my rear tire, but basically, what I was doing was trying to hold
onto third.
"I could have hustled the car up to him, but I don't think
I had enough to pass him."
Ward said he was surprised at his third-place finish.
"I was quite surprised because I didn't think we were that
good in practice," Ward noted.
"We had a top-ten kind of qualifying run," said Ward,
who was fifth in points coming in.
"We changed a lot of things on the car. Unfortunately, we
couldn't work on the cars after qualifying, and I feel like one
of the changes we made caused the car to be real tight the whole
race.
"We tried to change it when we pitted, but it still wasn't
where we needed to be."
Ward felt that his team had a good night, nevertheless.
"With about two or three laps left, we caught Huffman, and
I'm glad for the finish," said Ward.
"We were third in points going into Charlotte and had some
bad luck there, so, hopefully we got a little closer.
"The cautions helped us and played in our favor," he
added.
"When we pitted with the leaders, we were running fourth.
We made a chassis adjustment, and went to the back of the field.
"All in all, to fight back through the field, put the car
in third and keep it in one piece, we're pretty happy."
Jake and Justin Hobgood, as well as Ward, are thinking about next
season, and the imminent demise of the Goody's Dash Series in
its present form.
Ward said he may try to hook up with Toyota to run in the NASCAR
Truck Series next season.
Both Jake and Justin Hobgood are leaving their options open.
"There are two guys who are thinking about taking over the
series next year," said Justin Hobgood.
"If we come up with nothing else, we can run our own series.
We have five dash cars of our own between my brother and myself.
"We work on race cars together at the shop...we build our
cars and hang our own bodies."
Jake Hobgood is also looking ahead to next year.
"Hopefully, we can put something together for Toyota and
run in the truck series next year, but it's all speculation now."
A graveside service for Long Island resident
Shelton Horsley Cardwell, 83, will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday,
June 16, at Mulberry Baptist Church Cemetery.
The service, with military honors by VFW Post 4165 and DAV Chapter
46, will be conducted by the Rev. David Heerspink.
Mr. Cardwell died Saturday in the Medical Care Center in Lynchburg.
He was born August 16, 1919 in Halifax County, a son of the late
John Richard Cardwell and Pauline Carr Cardwell.
He was predeceased by three brothers, John Alford Cardwell, Thomas
Richard Cardwell and Claude Cecil Cardwell.
He was a retired farmer, a member of Mulberry Baptist Church,
an Army veteran of World War II and a member of VFW Post 9805.
Mr. Cardwell is survived by several nieces and nephews.
A funeral service for Mrs. Pamela Logan
Ferguson will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, June 16, at Mountain Grove
Missionary Baptist Church, with burial in the church cemetery.
Dr. Arthur E. Crews will conduct the service.
Mrs. Ferguson, 39, of Meadsville Road, Nathalie, died Thursday
evening in Halifax Regional Hospital.
She was born in Halifax County on December 16, 1963, a daughter
of Eugene Logan and Edna Jackson Logan.
She was a member of Mountain Grove Missionary Baptist Church,
a member of the Usher Board and a former member of the Angles
and Junior Choir.
Mrs. Ferguson was employed by Wabash Magnetic Company and the
South Boston Recreation Department.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by two children, LaQuay
S. Ferguson and Daniel A. Ferguson, both of the residence; her
maternal grandmother, Mrs. Hallie Ferrell Jackson, of South Boston;
her mother-in-law, Mrs. Shirley Ferguson, of Vernon Hill; three
aunts, seven uncles, four great-aunts and one great-uncle.
The family is at the 3157 Meadsville Road, Nathalie, residence.
A funeral service for Dewey Wayne Lancaster
of Ball Park Loop, Halifax, will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, June
16, at South Boston Church of God, with burial in Halifax Memorial
Gardens.
The Rev. Bruce Hagy will conduct the service.
Mr. Lancaster, 55, died Friday in Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical
Center.
He was born in Durham, North Carolina, on September 19, 1947,
to the late Darrell Victor "Red" Lancaster and Hessie
Allgood Lancaster.
Mr. Lancaster, a retired painting contractor, was a member of
the South Boston Church of God.
He was a Navy veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Phyllis Davis Lancaster, daughter
Tabitha Denise Lancaster and son Samuel Wayne Lancaster, all of
Halifax.
Other survivors include five sisters, Marion Clark of Altavista,
Gwen Lancaster of Creedmoor, North Carolina, Kathy Keaton of Virgilina,
Darlene Slaughter of Nelson and Shirley Moya of Bay Town, Texas,
and one special brother, Wesley Powell of Halifax.
Mr. Lancaster was predeceased by one daughter, Charity Lancaster
Perry.
Anyone wishing to give memorials is asked to please consider the
LifeNet Memorial Fund, 5809 Ward Court, Virginia Beach, Va. 23455.
Graveside services for Mr. Oscar Davis Lee
Jr. will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 18, at the Oak
Ridge Cemetery in South Boston.
The Rev. Elbert Williamson will officiate.
Mr. Lee died Sunday, June 15 at the Stratford Health Care Center
in Danville.
He was 84.
Mr. Lee was born on July 13, 1918 in Columbia, S.C., to the late
Oscar Davis Lee Sr., and Ida Belle Lee.
He was married to the late Florence Slate Lee.
Mr. Lee lived most of his life in South Boston, Rocky Mount and
Danville. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War
II.
He was the vice-president of marketing for Dibrell Brothers Tobacco
Company, and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include two sons, Oscar Davis Lee III, of Greensboro
and William S. Lee of Charlotte, one daughter, Florence Brown
Lee of Wilmington, N.C. and one sister, Marshall G. Morris of
Greensboro, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Graveside services for Mr. Jeffery Dale
Wilmoth will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Bethel Baptist Church
Cemetery.
The Rev. Dr. Tony Brooks will officiate.
Mr. Wilmoth, of North Terry's Bridge Road in Halifax, died Sunday,
June 15, in Halifax County.
He was 40 years old.
Mr. Wilmoth was born in Halifax County on April 17, 1963, to Samuel
A. Wilmoth and Jean Wagstaff Wilmoth.
Survivors include one son, Dustin Wilmouth of Oxford, N.C., one
brother and sister-in-law, Timothy Wilmoth and wife Rhonda of
Alton, one niece, Melanie Chappell and a great-niece.