Local Farmers Want More Rain

Local farmers’ produce and profits are subject to the weather each year.

Schroeder’s Vegetable Farm’s Owner, Rick Schroeder, says this year, it’s been hard dealing with the lack of water.

“8 weeks without a decent rain out on Jackson Road, and it has had some effect. I’ve been doing some irrigating, ” says Schroeder.

He says March and April were great because of the warm temperatures, but he says the May frost could have done some damage.

“Fortunately, I have some good neighbors and some good friends. We covered up 2,300 tomato plants and 3,000 pepper plants the night of the frost. So, it was a challenge, but everything is coming, ” says Schroeder.

Schroeder’s biggest concern this year though deals with another environmental factor…the bugs. He says the potato bug, in particular, has been having a hay day this year on his farm, and because Schroeder’s Vegetable Farm is organic and can’t use pesticides, Shcroeder says he’s had to pick the bugs off the plants himself.