Farmers in the Laveen area of Maricopa County are dealing with an unexpected setback as October rain has saturated fields just as the fall planting season began. Eric Amadio, who runs Amadio Ranch Heritage Farm with his wife, told reporters that the excess moisture has ruined seed in the front field, requiring a complete re‑plant.
Rain timing disrupts specialty and vegetable crops
“Our big specialty crops are peaches and sweet corn and tomatoes,” Amadio explained. “Right now we’re planting kale and broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, beets, carrots.” The recent monsoon‑season rain, which continued past the official end of the monsoon on Sept. 30, turned the soil into a soggy mess that farmers cannot work.
First Alert meteorologist Pete Mangione said the region has received an estimated 148 billion gallons of rain since Saturday. “For the most part, it’s been kind of a nice blanket of rain without the widespread flooding,” Mangione noted, adding that such extended rain into October is not an annual occurrence.
Impact on planting and farm operations
According to Amadio, the rain did not affect the mature peach trees, but the saturated soil in the front field rotted the seed and destroyed the initial planting. “And so what happened is it saturated that field, rotted the seed, it ruined that planting. So we’re getting to do it all over again,” he said.
Re‑planting the field has already required extra labor and equipment. Amadio is using a wheel hoe to clear an unusually high amount of weeds that have sprouted in the moist conditions. He described the setback as “just life on a farm” and emphasized that rain, while a blessing, demands humility and adjustment.
Farm’s broader community role
Amadio Ranch Heritage Farm also operates a bakery that sells homemade pies, a play area for children, and a small petting area where visitors can feed animals through a fence. The recent rain has kept many customers away because the business relies on outdoor seating and activities.
“Rain really is a blessing. It’s fine. You know, it’s just one of those things you have to stay humble about and adjust,” Amadio said, underscoring the farm’s commitment to serving the local community despite weather challenges.
Looking ahead
Farmers in the valley are monitoring weather forecasts closely, hoping for a dry spell that will allow them to get back on schedule before the first frost. While the extra moisture has created short‑term difficulties, many see it as part of the cyclical nature of agriculture in the desert Southwest.
“We can’t count on rain out here,” Amadio added, echoing a sentiment shared by other growers who rely on careful planning and hard work to bring fresh produce to the Phoenix metro area.
Original reporting: azfamily KTVK/KPHO Phoenix (news) — read the source article.
