What rain does to Farmers

This year, the first two weeks June have had more rain than any past June in recent history.  It’s a bummer for our upstate farmers, who have found themselves dealing with the swampy soil–an impossible setup for summer plantings, as the machines rolling across wet earth compact the earth.  Sitting water rots the seeds, roots and stems of crops, and wet leaves make a happy home for grubs, slugs and fungal infections.  I’m not usually one for random finger crossing (I’d rather shape fate than beg about it), but if you’ve got an in with the weather gods, please join me in hoping for a few drier days coming up. 

Thursday June 25th, 2009 in Plant Stories | No comments »