USA - Wet March weather creates challenges for Delaware farmers

22.03.2018 469 views
An impending nor'easter along with wet March weather could delay planting for a couple of crops in the First State, reducing yields and causing some farmers to forgo planting them this year. High tide and winds could push salt water onto farmland. University of Delaware extension vegetable specialist Gordon Johnson says that can make it harder for water to enter the roots of a crop. “In some cases the plants won’t grow, but more commonly you’ll just get very, very reduced yields,” Johnson said. Mid-March is when many Delaware farmers put fertilizer on their small grains and start to plant peas and potatoes. Sussex County farmer Richard Wilkins said he had to rush out Monday to put his spring fertilizer on the ground before it becomes too wet to do so. Wilkins, who farms in the Milford, Harrington and Greenwood areas, typically grows corn, soybeans, lima beans and peas, among other things. According to the 2016-2017 Delaware Agricultural Statistics Bulletin, farmers typically begin planting green peas around March 1, but with recent wet weather and another storm coming, Wilkins said he wasn’t willing to take the risk. “It’s not looking very good for peas for this year,” Wilkins said. “In fact, we probably won’t be able to grow peas this year. I’m not going to plant them late.” He continued, “We just don’t have good luck if we plant peas late.” Wet weather this time of year alongside recent nor'easters in Delaware won’t have a huge negative impact on the agricultural economy, said Delaware Department of Agriculture Secretary Michael Scuse. However, if it delays potatoes by several weeks, it will create competition in the market. “Then what happens is those potatoes will be coming off the same time as our neighbors to the north are harvesting and then you have the increased competition, which could, depending on the size of the crop, could push the crop price down,” Scuse said. Scuse said if planting is delayed or farmers are prevented from planting, they’ll be able to fall back on their crop insurance. Farmers pay for crop insurance like drivers pay for car insurance – it’s a security measure in the case of a drought or bad weather. Source - http://delawarepublic.org
28.03.2024

Canada - How Sask.'s new budget does and doesn't address climate change

The world is facing record heat from human-caused climate change brought on by carbon dioxide and methane emissions, but the words "climate change" don't appear once in Saskatchewan's newly released 75-page 2024-25 budget.

28.03.2024

Kenya - How crop insurance is transforming agriculture

Kenyan farmers continue to face challenges due to unpredictable weather conditions. As a result, they are turning to insurance coverage for their crops and livestock. Insurance experts have reported that most farmers who are insuring their crops are smallholders who rely on rain-fed agriculture and use low-technology farming methods.

28.03.2024

USA - How spring temperature fluctuations, early blooms are impacting Centre County fruit farmers

Plenty of people in Centre County got outside to enjoy temperatures in the 60s and 70s earlier this month, but spring weather fluctuations continue to cause concern for local fruit farmers.

28.03.2024

USA - Farmers use helicopters to warm crops amid spring freezes

An early spring this year means more work for farmers as early blooms face freezing temperatures. Les Dozier's Sta-N-Step Farms has served Northwest Arkansas since 1989. His farm is one of many facing freezing temperatures that could ruin crops.

28.03.2024

Ireland - Potato will be scarce by June, farmers praying for rain to stop

Farmers have to "watch, hope and pray" for a "sweet spot" of dry weather in the coming weeks or many will have to debate whether to plant at all this year. As continuous rainfall adds to already saturated ground, many big and small potato farmers are warning that the Irish favourite variety of Rooster may be in scarce supply by June.

28.03.2024

USA - Several metro Atlanta counties declared natural disaster zones after severe drought

More than 30 Georgia counties — including 10 in metro Atlanta — have been designated “primary natural disaster areas” by the United States Department of Agriculture, the agency announced Thursday.

27.03.2024

Turkey - Climate change may affect grape cultivation

A recent study has highlighted the impact of the climate crisis on viticulture in Turkey, predicting that the expected rise in temperatures and reduced rainfall could shift the suitability of vineyard regions for grape production over the next three decades.

27.03.2024

Crop crisis reveals El Niño’s toll on Southern Africa

New findings from the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (Enso) reference group highlight the significant impact of the 2023/24 El Niño event on various aspects of climate and agriculture in Southern Africa.

istanbul escort şişli escort tbilisi escort şişli escort şişli escort maslak escort istanbul escort beşiktaş escort taksim escort izmir escort ümraniye escort mecidiyeköy escort şişli escort taksim escort ümraniye escort kartal escort şirinevler escort maltepe escort istanbul escort ümraniye escort kadıköy escort vip escort mersin escort istanbul escorts ataköy escort avcılar escort beylikdüzü escort okmeydanı escort şişli escort tuzla escort işitme cihazı sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop