Rains from Ida add to misery for Alabama farmers

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Rain and wind from Tropical Storm Ida slowed harvest operations for farmers across Alabama and added to what has been a mostly wet and miserable harvest season.

The communications director for the Alabama Farmers Federation, Jeff Helms, said harvest operations had already been delayed by one of the wettest Octobers on record.

Helms said the rains from Ida did not destroy crops, but added to the misery caused by an already very wet fall.

Andy Wendland grows cotton, corn, soybeans, wheat and other grains on about 2,500 acres near Autaugaville in central Alabama. He said he normally he would almost be finished harvesting cotton, but is only about halfway done this year.