How everyone/ produce making out in this terrible heat?

We have had 4 days of terrible heat greater than 100 degrees. Our butterbeans are suffering terribly, we haven't had any rain in two weeks. We have been running the rain reel two or three times a week to help out. But when it's a hundred outside we can only water for about six hours a morning and that's about half a pull on the gun. How's everyone else making out?

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Permalink Reply by Greg on July 24, 2011 at 7:26pm

Michael,

I was just about to post a similar question. I just this morning said to my wife that with all the floods and drought around, I feel small complaining about the two hail storms we suffered within a week about two weeks ago.

Our crops up here in Montana were (and are) doing good. The Hail will set us back a bit, all the fruiting plants had to be stripped of bruised veggies, but a two week setback is nothing compared to Texas or some other affected states. Because of our high tunnels, we are not too far behind other years.

Actually, this hot weather is just what we needed because we have flood irrigation going strong on the pumpkin fields and corn crops, which is perfect growing conditions for us.

So to answer your question, we are so happy with warm weather and warm nights, and I think it will catch us up a bit more to normal. Our Irrigation water comes right out of Yellowstone Park, which had an over abundance of snow this year, so if we use more water, it is a relief valve for flooding downstream.

I hope all works out well for you in the next couple weeks. We are actually looking for a "best year" senerio this year, as all farmers do.

Greg

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Permalink Reply by Jack Ellis on July 30, 2011 at 5:42pm

We are completly shut-down. In fact our whole project is collapsing - no enthusiasm, volunteers are drifting away, no incoming funds to pay bills, etc. The growers we have with irrigation wells are both concentrating on cattle feed, and vegetables for charity is the last thing on their minds. My four-acre lake is almost dry; the fish are dying.

Now the weather people are telling us that the La Nina conditions in the Pacific will remain firmly in place through next year. No relief in sight. When the first tropical storm of the season (which was south of us) petered-out yesterday, that was the last straw! It was so hot and dry over the Rio Grande Valley that the storm - which was packing 50 mph winds and at least 5" of rain while over the Gulf -literally EVAPORATED!! Nobody has EVER seen anything like that in the history of Texas - it wasn't wind shear, it wasn't blocked by high pressure, it EVAPORATED!!!! Lord have mercy on us.

Jack

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Permalink Reply by bernnie on September 20, 2011 at 8:31pm

We farm sweet corn and it is horrible this year! no taste and to keep the help that is a challenge they seem to be dropping like flys. with all the regulations I might as well hang it up..