By Alabama Public Radio
Mobile, AL – Pecans, cotton, peanuts and plant nurseries throughout southwest Alabama have been devastated. The pecan crop is considered a total loss in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Fifty-to-sixty percent of the state's pecan crop is grown in southwest Alabama. Art Sessions grows pecans in Grand Bay and says he lost about 300 trees. He says it will take eight to ten years before replacement trees will start making money. The nursery industry in southwest Alabama likely will see damages exceeding 20 million dollars. Damages are expected to be worse that what was caused by Hurricane Ivan last year.