Massachusetts drought conditions, coronavirus making it tough on farmers: ‘Mother Nature’s revenge’
Farmers are having a tough time growing crops this summer as much of the Bay State is experiencing moderate drought conditions — making this year’s “very, very difficult situation even worse,” a farm owner tells the Herald.
More than 50% of Massachusetts is under moderate drought conditions and the entire state is facing abnormally dry conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s update on Thursday.
The significant drop in rain has had a major impact on Breezy Gardens in Leicester, where they are “irrigating like crazy.”
“Anything that doesn’t get irrigated on a regular basis doesn’t do well,” owner Kim Miczek said Thursday. “It has added to the buckets of fun we’re having this year.
“How do you make a very, very difficult situation even worse? Throw in Mother Nature’s revenge,” she said.
The coronavirus pandemic has impacted Breezy Gardens just like any business, Miczek said, as they’ve spent a lot on safety measures for customers and employees.
“Dealing with the virus and trying to keep people safe is time, money and labor,” she said. “Then with the drought, it’s time, money and labor. That’s what we’re doing this summer. It’s tough, it’s the toughest year we’ve had, but other businesses have it worse.”
She later added, “Give me a recipe for a rain dance.”
According to the National Weather Service, the amount of rain in Boston has been about 6 inches below normal for the end of July. The 19.2 inches this year compares to the 29.6 inches measured last year at this time.
The abnormally dry conditions have sparked water-use restrictions in many parts of the Bay State. As of July 22, at least 120 cities and towns have implemented nonessential outdoor water use restrictions.
“Ever since May, we’ve been piling up a deficit in rainfall,” said David Boutt, a professor in the UMass Amherst Department of Geosciences.
“A lot of restrictions are definitely warranted given how dry the early part of the season was,” said Boutt, a hydrogeologist.
The state’s Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides has declared a Level 2, Significant Drought, in the Western, Connecticut River Valley and Central regions; and a Level 1, Mild Drought, in the Northeast and Cape Cod regions.
“Despite recent sporadic rainfall, conditions remain dry and there continues to be a precipitation deficit in much of the Commonwealth,” EEA spokeswoman Katie Gronendyke said in a statement.
Deputy State Fire Marshal Maribel Fournier said in a statement, “Hot and dry conditions like we’ve had recently increase the risk of brush and wildland fires. We’re reminding everyone to use extra caution when grilling, smoking, building a campfire, or using any other type of heat source outdoors.”
from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2DpPVcU
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