Expert speaks on heatwave and a local business supports farming efforts
MARYLAND – Temperatures are rising, and some farmers are having difficulty maintaining their crops. A local farming expert in Maryland showed us how his plants are faring in the heat, and whether the weather is to blame.
Virgil Shockley has been a farmer for over 50 years and has seen all types of weather that affect crops. He says that many farmers have already seen these effects. “July is this way on Delmarva, and you kind of get used to it. What we’re lacking is the thunderstorms that go with the heat… Summer is not over yet, July has just began. We had an early heat wave in June, which was early, and that kind of started the trend. So you’ve got days now that are into the 90’s.”
The weather forecast has put out many heat advisories recently, and the weather really takes a toll on the crops according to Virgil. “Normally, the ear of corn would probably be about shoulder height, and what you’re getting is corn that is waist tall. So, the plant itself has not grown height-wise like it would in a normal growing season, lack of rain more than anything else.”
If we do get that rain, Virgil says some plants, like the soybean, may have a fighting chance. “Hopefully, what you’ll get with the weather coming in, you’ll get the rain, temperatures will drop, you’ll get the wind and you’ll get a good pollination… These [soybeans] are shorter, same reason- lack of water, okay. They will have time, this plant will have time. This plant will have time. They’re not hurt yet, if we get rain and temperatures, normal temperatures for the rest of the month, the rest of the growing season, you will not see any effect on the soybean plant.”
When the weather presents a challenge like this, he says it’s so important to recognize and appreciate farmers for the work they do to ensure we don’t go hungry. Virgil says that he hopes other farmers have the proper systems in place to handle the heat, and that he will continue to buy locally to support all the local efforts on the peninsula. “The guys who are growing your fruit stands, and your sweet corn, and all that. Your watermelons, and your cantaloupes, you’re getting ready to have, Be thankful for those guys, because that is a huge amount of effort, and stop by a local fruit stand.”
Baked Dessert Cafe
Speaking of supporting local farmers, a Berlin Restaurant has decided to do just that. Baked Dessert Cafe is a family-owned business that’s been around for the past 14 years. They are a small all-natural Bakery that shops local and gives back to the community.
Owner Robin Tomaselli says she has family members who are educators and Firefighters, so it was a no brainier for them to provide 10%t discounts to First Responders and Teachers. But this year due to the heat wave, they decided to extend that right to those who have a green thumb.
“Just the last heat wave that we’ve experienced over the last couple of weeks has really reinforced to us, and we have a small very manageable garden, how stressful it must be for local farmers… To also have to stress over watering their crops and even watching the crop die before their eyes, it just had me thinking that we definitely need to add farmers to the list of people list.”
The Cafe says the heat made them realize that “If it weren’t for farmers in this county, we would not be fed.” They encourage the community to go and support your local markets.
