South Mississippi watermelon farmers face devastating losses after heavy rain and flooding

South Mississippi watermelon farmers face devastating losses after heavy rain and flooding

LUCEDALE, Miss. (WLOX) — Weeks of heavy rain and flooding have left many South Mississippi watermelon farmers watching months of work disappear just days before one of the busiest weekends of the year. Watermelons need rain to grow, but not all at once. When fields stay flooded, farmers cannot harvest. The fruit absorbs too much water, splits, develops disease and eventually rots in the field. “It’s been a rough one for sure,” said Joshua Eubank…