Farmers and growers in North Carolina are facing challenges due to the ongoing drought and extreme heat. Despite recent rainfall, the past couple of months have been difficult for growers, with many reporting slower business compared to previous summers.

Impact on Crops

The heat waves have led to smaller crops, and some farmers have had to cut back on their production. Grower John Harmuth said, “We just have enough water to grow what we normally grow. We didn’t expand any more this year. Our cut flower business we cut back on because that was grown in the field, and we can’t really water them in the 100-degree weather. So we cut back on that.”

Many farmers have their own wells and irrigation systems, which has helped them to continue growing crops without having to scale back. However, they may have to make difficult decisions with their next batch of crops, such as managing irrigation to ensure enough water for establishing a strawberry crop for the fall.

Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.