WOODBURY — The drastic weather devastates local farmers and puts them in poverty. The weather has been affecting farmers negatively over the past few months in Connecticut with flooded fields, weeds overgrowing crops, and not being able to harvest crops or do any maintenance to take care of the crops.
Our local farm-fresh food isn’t being produced fast enough since the vegetables are rotting. Since vegetables and cash crops are being delayed by all this rain, it’s hard to feed animals, let alone ourselves.
¨The rain impacts the field conditions, making it muddy and hard to maneuver. It complicates the harvesting, fertilizing, and cultivation process,” said Nonnewaug junior Mason Dobrovich.
Not only are the crops not being taken care of with the right equipment or nutrients that these crops need, but Dobrovich isn’t able to do anything at all to help. With these large tractors getting stuck and risking equipment breaking, it slows down the process of harvesting and maintaining these cash crops.
This wet summer has not only affected the farmers and their crops, but their animals have also been struggling with all of the rain, temperature changes and wet ground. It’s hard on the animals and is causing medical issues, as well as financial debt for the farmers.
¨One of the biggest issues that could potentially happen is hoof rot,¨ said Jennifer Jedd, Nonnewaug veterinary science instructor. “It’s already hard enough to find dry ground.¨
“The animals already haven’t been doing well in general because of the temperature swings but adding the rain to it isn’t helping either,” Jedd adds. “They’re just having a hard time adjusting and animals don’t do well with large swings and inconsistent environmental issues.”
This inconvenient weather doesn’t only cause more maintenance for her employees, but also extreme discomfort for the animals at the farm. Due to the storms, the prices of hay and other cash crops are shooting up rapidly, causing unnecessary stress and additional labor on the farmers and employees.
